How to start at Rohde & Schwarz USA - get on board with the Graduate Development Program!

Alyssa Harder knows from first-hand experience how much it means to be supported and challenged when starting out in the career world.?She herself made her start at Rohde & Schwarz through the Graduate Development Program (GDP). Today she is not only managing this very program.

She loves her job and is proud of her career path. So are we! As a company, it is rewarding to see our employees thrive.

Get inspired by Alyssa!

Interview

R&S: You joined Rohde & Schwarz in North America straight out of college and have now been with the company for 12 years. Why, and what makes Rohde & Schwarz special?

Alyssa Harder: I like the fact that I'm working for a company with a long history that has been in private ownership for decades. That is reflected in how people treat and collaborate with each other. I really love our corporate culture.

Fresh from college on her first day at R&S, the young Alyssa Harder would have said...?

“that she hopes to get up to speed with radio frequencies at some point. Because, to be honest: back then I could definitely spell "radio frequency", but I certainly had no in-depth knowledge.”

R&S: What do you see as the defining features of this culture?

Alyssa Harder: We're good at spotting a person's strengths, even outside the professional context. I feel like the "whole Alyssa Harder" is seen and valued at Rohde & Schwarz. Not just my performance at work, but also my personality, my hobbies, and my interests.

R&S: You made your start at R&S through the Graduate Development Program (GDP), which you've been in charge of since 2020. Why is the GDP so important to you?

Alyssa Harder: I think the energy that college graduates bring to our work is fantastic. These young talents bring in a fresh perspective and have lots of great ideas. My own experience has also taught me how rewarding it can be to be supported and challenged in the right way at the start of your career. ?

My work is more than just a job because . . .

“of the very good working relationships between colleagues at R&S. Achievements are shared, setbacks aren't as painful as they would otherwise be and recognition feels authentic when it comes from people you trust.”

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R&S: You select the talents for the GDP yourself. What do they have to bring to the table to be a good fit for Rohde & Schwarz?

Alyssa Harder: A lot of our colleagues are involved in the selection process. The recruiting team, which I lead, naturally makes sure that the candidates have a strong affinity for technology. But we also look for people who love being part of a team, show creativity, and maybe have also a lot of hobbies.

R&S: Why do you think that having hobbies is an advantage?

Alyssa Harder: I like it when young people are self-starters. And I find that people with hobbies tend to fall into that category. They are capable of immersing themselves completely in new tasks on their own initiative and learning new things. Regardless of whether they're training for a marathon, cooking dishes, or developing a dog collar with an integrated GPS tracker (laughing) ? yes, we really had someone who did that! The point is that this kind of person will display the same level of curiosity and energy when dealing with our customers. That is the ideal mindset for putting themselves in the customer's position, for understanding what makes customers tick, what they need, and how we can provide them with the best possible support.

R&S: In customer relationships, our corporate culture undoubtedly plays a major role.

Alysa Harder: Yes, our culture, our mission, vision and values are a focal point for the GDP. We provide graduates with the soft skills training they need to convince customers that R&S can be trusted as a reliable partner. But the value that we emphasize the most is "impactful". Even people just starting out in their careers and building their resumes can still have a huge impact on a company.

If I had a superpower, it would be . . .

“it would definitely be teleportation. I could see a lot more of the world and it would make it a lot easier to collaborate with various teams.”

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R&S: You're obviously passionate about this work. What do you like best about your current role?

Alyssa Harder: I enjoy the dynamic approach of project-based teams. The GDP for example is project-based. I also think it's fantastic that I have the opportunity to shape the next generation of the R&S North America sales team. This is a very fulfilling task. Our bright future as a company has a lot to do with the talents we have recruited.?

R&S: Thank you for the interview!

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Interested in connecting about our university relations or recruiting?

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