Every year, dozens of young people start their apprenticeships at ZINQ. Many of them choose the path of a process mechanic for coating technology – just like Alex. The 23-year-old has been part of ZINQ since 2019 and works at the Landsberg site. „I actually wanted to become a motor vehicle mechatronics technician, but that didn't work out for health reasons,“ says Alex. He then became aware of ZINQ through friends of his mother – and it was love at first sight: „I submitted my application, immediately received an invitation for an interview, and was already at the company a few weeks later,“ he says.

„I want to get stuck in and have something tangible at the end.“

For him, working at ZINQ is just the right thing. „I don't want to sit at a desk all day typing on a computer. The work as a process mechanic is physically demanding, but as a country boy, that's exactly my world. I'd rather get stuck in and hold something in my hand at the end that I can say: I made that. Even though holding steel components weighing over ten tonnes in your hand is a bit difficult, of course.“

Alex quickly realised that ZINQ was the right choice: „I knew that shortly after I started here. I immediately noticed that the work is very varied. The amount of material that arrives here is actually unimaginable. Especially here in Landsberg, we sometimes galvanise the largest items, meaning steel components with lengths of up to 21 metres and component heights of over 4.5 metres. Some of these are delivered with police escort due to transport regulations – that kind of thing always stays with you.“

Parking posts for the interim examination

But even if the big pieces interest him – his centrepiece remains his examination piece. „For the intermediate exam, I had to build a small bollard, about 20 centimetres high, and then had to galvanise it for the final exam. We were allowed to take the part home with us afterwards – and I still have it.".

Alex had spent three years working towards his final exam. He’d go to the company in blocks, working his way through all the departments there, and then off to school – for several weeks at a time. But not just in Landsberg. Those undergoing training to become process mechanics for coating technology at ZINQ attend vocational school in Gelsenkirchen. This bonds the ZINQ employees together and allows them to meet trainees from all over Germany. „I didn’t have to worry about anything – ZINQ organised it all,“ says Alex.

„A collegial environment and varied tasks“

Alex would definitely recommend an apprenticeship at ZINQ: „If you enjoy physical work where you know what you’ve achieved by the end of the day, if you value a collegiate environment and varied tasks, and want to learn a lot of new things, then this is the right place for you!“

„And what about a recommendation for new apprentices? “Ask questions and don't be shy. You are here to learn. At ZINQ, we have an open culture of exchange and no one will begrudge you for asking questions – even if you make a mistake sometimes,' says Alex.".

Apply now!

If you're now keen christina.geldmacher@zinq.com

Further information on ZINQ and training at ZINQ