I joined APOprojekt as a project manager two years ago and I thoroughly enjoy my work. I have always been passionate about project development in interior design. After my apprenticeship as a bricklayer, I completed my technical diploma and studied civil engineering. Now I am a certified construction manager. At APOprojekt, I appreciate that I can work independently and also as part of a pleasant team and supervisors.

The special thing about my work is that I get to accompany and coordinate construction projects until the tenant moves in. This has always been an attractive concept to me. My work starts with gutting an object down to the static load-bearing walls. Lots of surprises can be lurking there: from inadequate safety technology to building materials that were simply forgotten. My work is not completed until the tenant's specific wishes have been realized in detail. You never stop learning and can constantly improve yourself. Since I do not have to work within narrow constraints, I have the opportunity to work on my own independence and flexibility. Our supervisors recognize what we do in difficult projects and reward our work accordingly. It was this feeling of security that enabled me to acquire entrepreneurial knowledge. In the rare case that we get stuck as a team, I can always rely on the support and backing of APOprojekt.

During my years of self-employment as an architect I was able to get to know many companies. Since April 2015 I have been working for APOprojekt as a project manager. Today I know one thing: I would always choose a permanent position at APOprojekt, because I have full creative freedom and the support of my bosses. There are no constraints that require processes to be executed exactly according to a cookie-cutter scheme. As long as the result works, the steps can be customized. I very much appreciate this potential for development.

I was looking for continuity after my self-employment and I found it at APOprojekt. Here, I can fully focus on structuring and coordinating projects. The open, collegial work environment is a unique selling point of APOprojekt. No one is made a scapegoat for problems and even the managers will support you and say,"We did it." It is exactly this kind of team spirit, ranging from the employees to the management level, that is lacking in many companies.

As a graduate civil engineer, I have been working at APOprojekt for eight years now and I have 26 years of professional experience in the fields of calculation and construction management. Calculation means constructing in your head - I develop a complete range of services at a marketable price on the basis of planning documents such as functional building descriptions or bills of quantities. Of course, market knowledge is very important. I have to know which subcontractors exist on the market and which ones are responsible for the respective construction task. They have to be involved in the task during the price calculation phase.

APOprojekt's communication structure is characterized by flat hierarchies and openness towards employees. There are no inhibitions about asking someone for help. APOprojekt stands out because the paths to decision-making are quick, while the decisions are well thought-out. We have to be absolutely prepared in terms of programming. After all, we promise our customers to calculate projects within a short period of time - this is a great challenge and demands a high level of commitment on our part. However, the extremely fast calculations for comprehensible quotations are not only a challenge we set for ourselves, but are also our obvious competitive edge.

Originally I enrolled at the Technical University of Harburg. However, I found the program there to be very theoretical and therefore enquired about the possibility of a dual study program in the field of civil engineering. I found what I was looking for at Hochschule 21 and quickly looked for a suitable company. I immediately decided on APOprojekt, because I wanted to work organizationally and because a harmonious working environment is a priority for the company. APOprojekt carefully selects its employees and pays attention to who fits well into the team. I like the personal atmosphere and the free employee interaction.

Since June 20th, 2016, I have been working in construction management. As early on as my second day at work, I was given responsibility for the construction site by having to hand over a key. This not only familiarized me quickly with the tasks of a site manager, but also taught me how to deal with the challenges on site. These included, for example, how best to deal with clients and craftsmen and how to assert myself on the construction site in order to be taken seriously as a woman. In addition, I have to make fast decisions and find short-term solutions in the event of a delay. Construction management covers a wide range of areas. In addition to pricing and scheduling, I take care of organization. Conscientious working, excellent time management and discipline are important to perform well for the client. These are valuable experiences that I can fall back on after graduating as a civil engineer with a seamless transition into permanent employment at APOprojekt.