Source: [unternehmen!] issue no. 2_2019 – Geraldine Klan | Photo: Pieron
Companies offered insights into the world of work on Girls’ Day and Boys’ Day /
Two Bocholt companies also opened their doors
“Prejudices about technical careers are unfounded. High tech and a delicate touch have long been their hallmarks, making them more than interesting for girls,” said Wolfgang Schmitz, Chief Executive of the Unternehmerverband (employers’ association), on the occasion of this year’s Girls’ Day. It took place across Germany at the end of March – incidentally at the same time as Boys’ Day, when boys gained insights into careers in care, health or the service sector, for example.
Taking part in the Rhine and Ruhr region was PIERON GmbH in Bocholt, a specialist in technical springs. The girls went through all departments with head of training Jennifer Steffens. The highlight was drawing up a pneumatic circuit diagram together with the company’s apprentices. Among them was Marie Friedrich, who had become aware of the company through Girls’ Day and completed her apprenticeship as a toolmaker there. The second stop in Bocholt was Spaleck Oberflächentechnik GmbH & Co. KG: bending wires according to instructions, marking out and centre-punching metal parts and then working them with hand tools – what might once have been considered typical men’s work, the girls also mastered with flying colours. The girls from years five to eight got to know the apprenticeships of industrial mechanic and technical product designer.
“Despite all the information provided in career guidance, stereotypes and clichés in career choices are still widespread,” regrets Wolfgang Schmitz, which is why such formats are so valuable. The next Girls’ Day and Boys’ Day will take place on 26 March 2020. Further information at www.girls-day.de and www.boys-day.de
Other member companies of the Unternehmerverband that took part in Girls’ Day and Boys’ Day in the Rhine and Ruhr region were WOMA GmbH and Siemens AG in Duisburg, and Siebtechnik GmbH, the Max Planck Institute for Coal Research, Rheinisch-Westfälische Wasserwerksgesellschaft mbH, Menerga GmbH, Fahrzeug-Werke LUEG AG and Siemens AG in Mülheim an der Ruhr. From Oberhausen, thyssenkrupp MillServices & Systems GmbH took part.