Trainees @ DRÄXLMAIER

"An opportunity to grow on a professional and personal level". Linus Tabellion on his success story from trainee to Senior Manager Digital Innovation and Transformation HR.

How has your career developed since joining HR as a trainee?

As a trainee, I got to know many areas of the HR function in the company, which means I worked in HR development as well as with the HR Business Partners and in recruiting. I also spent some time abroad and got to know our country organizations in Romania and Hungary.

After the trainee program, I took on the role of global process expert in recruiting and was responsible as project manager for the introduction of our new SuccessFactors recruiting system in Germany, USA, Mexico, Nicaragua and China. Subsequently, I took over the program management for the overall implementation of SuccessFactors, which currently includes not only recruiting but also digitization in the areas of Learning, Performance & Goals and Succession & Development. This means that we already cover significant parts of the employee lifecycle via SuccessFactors. I have project-related management responsibility for the global and local project teams.

As Senior Manager for Digital Innovation and Transformation HR, I am also responsible for defining and implementing the global digitization strategy within the HR function. Here, we deal holistically with the digital HR transformation by linking the topics of processes & roles, technologies & HRIT systems, data, organizational structure, and skills & competencies, developing coherent goals, and managing the transition to a digital HR operating model in a coordinated manner. Of course, the topic of people enablement is also of particular importance as a basis for making our employees and managers fit for the digital transformation.

What advantages does the trainee program offer from your perspective?

The trainee program and the focus on the network enable you not only to get to know topics from your own functional area, but you also gain insight into the other functions. This allows you to get to know the company, the products, the processes and the culture faster and more comprehensively and to gain an overview. In addition, by taking on projects as well as providing operational support in various areas of your own functional area, you can build up a very broad and deep expertise. 

The international orientation is also an advantage of the trainee program, as it promotes one's own vision and a global mindset. It allows one to work with interesting people and different characters from different cultures and to get to know the customs. A Christmas party in Mexico, for example, is really an experience.

What advice do you have for future trainees to succeed in the program?

Be and remain curious, eager to learn and reflective. That's how you can grow on a professional and personal level. And: Developing ownership is important; take responsibility for the topics you are working on. In the trainee program you have a good chance to learn a lot and quickly - take the initiative!