Ms Schütz, can you give me an idea of what your day-to-day work involves?
Put simply, I design fans and draw up the relevant parts lists.

But surely it’s not as straightforward as you make it sound?
No, quite the opposite. My work is demanding and also very varied.

Could you explain that in more detail?
Well, when it comes to design, I constantly have to adapt to new requirements and come up with suitable solutions. Every industry has its own specific characteristics and every customer has their own individual requirements. No two fans are the same. On top of that, there’s the communication with our customers when it comes to the technical details. And last but not least, although I work independently, I’m part of a team. There’s a lot of interaction here too. It’s exciting work that challenges me, but gives me a great deal of pleasure.

Saying you enjoy your job is a rare thing. And I can tell you mean it.
Of course I mean it. But it’s certainly not just the job itself, but also the environment. I feel at home at work. The job, my colleagues, the working atmosphere – it all fits.
 

Isn’t the mechanical engineering sector usually dominated by men?
Is that still the case? Well, we have other women here with the same training and qualifications. I’m not alone in this. And of course I spent time in the training workshops, where I learnt how to file, grind and weld. So I’m familiar not only with the design side, but also with the manufacturing side. I think it’s important to know how everything ultimately fits together.

What made you choose this career? 
I’ve always been good at maths and drawing. So I initially did an apprenticeship as a technical draughtswoman at Venti, because that combines both skills. It all worked out well. But somehow it didn’t quite fulfil me. About a year after my apprenticeship, I therefore decided to undertake further training to become a mechanical engineering technician. The management encouraged me in my decision and promised their support. So I started the four-year further training course – and, of course, completed it.

Four years of further training. Does that sound exhausting?
It was. But I knew it would be all the more difficult later on with children. For me, it was exactly the right moment.
 

Thank you for the introduction. Are you a working mum these days?
Yes, I have a daughter and a son.

How do you manage to balance work and family life?
On the one hand, through family support. My husband and our parents give me practical help with day-to-day life. On the other hand, I naturally rely on flexible working hours. Venti makes this possible for me and has also adapted the working conditions accordingly. That’s incredibly valuable to me.

What does that look like exactly?
I’m currently working part-time and can manage these hours relatively flexibly by arrangement. My aim, of course, is to bring reliable continuity to my working day. But in some situations, I’m grateful to have this flexibility. I’m also currently overseeing smaller projects, which are easier to combine with my current working hours. This allows me to manage projects on my own and see them through to completion.

How do your colleagues deal with this flexibility?
Very well. Everyone is aware of my situation. Many are parents themselves and can empathise. I have the full support of the team and have had nothing but positive experiences so far. I really enjoy working in a team. Especially with tricky tasks that you’d struggle with on your own, we always find a convincing solution as a team. I’d say we’re all good team players.