Start of the new apprentices and students at OPTIMA in Schwäbisch Hall

On September 2nd, 37 apprentices as well as one dual and two cooperative students started their professional careers at Optima, followed by seven dual students on October 1st. This year, the Schwäbisch Hall-based company is offering training as a technical system planner for the first time.

Denise Hald and Courtney Street are the first two prospective technical system planners (TSP) to be trained at Optima. 19-year-old Denise decided on this career because she wanted to work both manually and on the computer: ‘The combination particularly appealed to me.’ She became aware of the training programme at a trade fair. Why Optima? ‘Many of my parents‘ friends work here and advised me to do it,’ she explains. Courtney is also enthusiastic about the mix of technical work and an office job: ‘I find electrical engineering exciting, which is why I decided to do the apprenticeship.’ She was already impressed by the pleasant working atmosphere at Optima during her job interview.

Rainer Probst, team leader of the training team, explains that the TSP apprenticeship is the electrical engineering equivalent of the technical product designer. This is why they first undergo basic electrical engineering training. In the second year, the TSPs then focus on drawing and designing electrical systems, and in the third year, they consolidate what they have learnt. 
‘In the past, master craftsmen and technicians created the circuit diagrams, but it became increasingly difficult to find skilled labour for this. That's why we now train them ourselves,’ says Probst.

In addition to the new TSP apprenticeship, Optima offers other apprenticeships, from cutting machine operators and technical product designers to IT specialists for system integration. Co-operative students combine training as a mechatronics technician with a degree course in automation technology and electrical engineering. Dual study programmes are available in the fields of mechanical engineering, business informatics, electrical engineering and industrial engineering.

The new employees started with an induction week, which included etiquette and office training, socialising and a barbecue. Optima attaches great importance to offering sound and up-to-date training, which is supplemented by regular highlights such as excursions to industrial companies or visits to trade fairs. The training centre, which moved into the new headquarters this year, offers a modern learning environment.

A special opportunity is offered to prospective industrial clerks: they can spend three weeks at Optima's US site during their training. Trainees with an additional qualification in International Business Management also have the opportunity to spend three weeks at the sites in France or Mexico, depending on the foreign language chosen. 

The application phase for the 2025 training year has already begun. Applications can be submitted online. Optima also offers work experience placements for those interested. On Thursday, 17 October, young people and their parents can obtain comprehensive information and talk to trainers and trainees at the ‘Night of Training’ at the training centre in Haller Solpark from 5 to 9 pm.

Further information can be found on the Optima careers page at www.karriere-bei-optima.de.