From Leuna vocational school to Dublin: Nadja's extraordinary educational adventure

Fresh from finishing her training period as a chemical technician in Leuna (Germany), a candid and confident 21-year-old Nadja speaks about her experience at DOMO, her penchant for technical things, her ERASMUS adventure in Dublin, and her personal outlook.

An aspiring chemical technician from early on

Early on, Nadja had a clear career aspiration. She wanted to become a chemical technician, and Leuna was the obvious choice. She looked around to see who was offering training and applied to various local companies. Nadja had a good feeling about DOMO right away and was accepted.

Before that, she attended a DOMO "selection day" together with 11 other potential applicants. This day was peppered with non-specialized team tasks and a final knowledge test, which also included math and physics. Nadja had never experienced anything like this at any other company. Other companies also did knowledge tests and interviews, but not a full-day group selection day.

"Especially with apprentices, this kind of thing works well because you're right out of school, you don't have much to show for it yet, and companies all sound similar. DOMO really stood out with this selection process," Nadja recalls.

A lot of know-how through three-track training

At the beginning of the training, Nadja was not 100% sure whether the profession was right for her. But she quickly realized that chemical technician was the right job.

The apprenticeship training in Leuna has many interesting aspects – chemistry, technical understanding, process control and electrical engineering as general fundamentals – and includes three tracks. Nadja and her colleagues learn at a vocational school and gain experience in the DOMO plant. In addition, they attend the Leuna Training Academy to learn basic process techniques and laboratory work.

Nadja is specifically trained in oxidation in the phenol area, which she talks about enthusiastically. She is solidly trained in the fundamentals of process engineering, such as reaction control, distillation, extraction, filtration, and more. Nadja also needs to understand how a chemical plant is set up. This includes the basics of process control technology, safety-related aspects and a lot of calculating, for example, in heat transfer.

Language school and internship abroad

At the Leuna vocational school, Nadja's English teacher introduced her to the European Union's ERASMUS+ program for education, youth and sports. This included a three-week stay in Dublin - a first in the resident vocational school. Nadja liked the idea and immediately applied to the project. After consulting with management, DOMO was able to give her the happy news of confirmation. A convincing letter of motivation in English rounded off the application.

Of course, a three-week stay abroad involves costs for accommodation, flights and meals. A large part of the costs is covered by the ERASMUS+ program. Nadja's own contribution was 500 EUR, which DOMO offered to cover. The package included a three-week stay with an Irish-British host family, one week of language school and two weeks of internship.

Together with some 20 other students, Nadja reflects on many positive experiences with her group of budding business people, mechatronics engineers, florists and laboratory technicians. She found the colorful mix very enriching. Nadja assisted in the secretarial office at an Irish school. Of course, the social side was not to be neglected either and Nadja reports on impressive excursions to the Cliffs of Moher and to the small town of Kilkenny, among others.

A promising outlook – and sheep

For Nadja, it?is important to enjoy her work and to have fun doing it. Interaction and social contact with her colleagues are important, as is humor. "You have to be able to crack a joke," says the newly minted chemical technician. And that fits just fine at DOMO. In her free time, she likes to be with her friends, and she cares for her sheep.

We wish Nadja great success for her future and thank her for the open conversation!