If the corporate invitations you for an interview, then you may have already handed the primary hurdle within the utility course of. How will you put together for an interview? The #AskTheBoss sequence offers insights into numerous departments. This time we spoke with Christian Teichmann, CEO of BurdaPrincipal Investments (BPI), the expansion capital of Hubert Burda Media.
You’ve gotten been with Burda since 2015 – what makes your job so thrilling?
The range of individuals, our various worldwide group and the range of markets and subjects. That's what makes me blissful and drives me on daily basis. We see completely different new enterprise fashions on daily basis and lots of of them are fully forward of their time. And that's what's so thrilling about this job: Now we have the chance to resolve quite a bit for the longer term. One other facet is in fact the truth that we’re energetic internationally, with workplaces in Singapore, London, Berlin and Munich.
How does the worldwide alternate between models work and may staff additionally change their location for some time to realize new data?
We actively assist worldwide alternate on BPI: colleagues from Singapore had been already in Munich, colleagues from London had been in Berlin, colleagues from Munich hung out in London and Singapore. This alternate advantages everybody and offers our junior colleagues a significantly better perception into the completely different markets we function in. Worldwide expertise is just not a recruitment criterion for us, however in case you don't wish to work internationally, however solely in your native market, you're within the flawed place.
What does the appliance course of appear like?
Now we have many interviews, normally six. Firstly, a youthful colleague from the identical peer stage talks to the candidate. The next is a case examine: candidates can select an organization themselves and current why they assume it could be an excellent funding for BPI. That is much less concerning the firm itself and extra concerning the candidate's perspective. We wish to discover out if they’ve a really feel for a well-functioning enterprise mannequin and if they will take into consideration the subject. Within the subsequent step, candidates have to finish a take a look at in Excel, adopted by additional interviews with colleagues from a better stage. And eventually there’s one other assembly with me and perhaps Martin Weiss.
From cowl letter to interview: Are you able to give us some tips about persuade you?
A letter of motivation is moderately much less decisive, interviews should persuade us. We would like candidates to take care of new subjects and be capable to empathize with shoppers from completely different nations and new enterprise fashions. Throughout the interview, in fact, the funding course of can also be a subject, and to some extent we are going to make clear whether or not there’s a feeling for the strategy.
Is there a query you at all times ask your self throughout job interviews?
I at all times ask: what are your plans for the following 5 years and the place do you wish to be in 5 years? It can be crucial that we perceive collectively what we wish to obtain BPI throughout years. Individuals shouldn't simply be part of for one 12 months after which go away for one more alternative. We make investments loads of time of their improvement and coaching. For that reason, it’s essential that we’ve the identical understanding and outline the work as a platform that’s our foundation for cooperation for the following three to 5 years.
What improvement and coaching alternatives do you provide your staff?
On the one hand, colleagues at larger ranges naturally contribute loads of their time to improvement after they work with junior colleagues every day. As well as, we’ve a really systematic manner of improvement primarily based on the function profiles of the person ranges: for every place there’s a exact function description, on the idea of which we resolve on potential alternatives for additional improvement. That is a part of the annual analysis course of. Relying on the subject, we are able to additionally work with a coach. Along with the formal annual opinions, there are additionally extra casual six-month opinions and different casual catch-ups the place we focus on progress. With this strategy, we work to develop everybody to the following stage.
What ought to your best candidates carry to the desk?
When recruiting, we be sure that our youthful colleagues are curious. It's the “curiosity” mindset that counts, not earlier expertise. All of us have very completely different backgrounds on our group, and that's additionally essential for the enterprise capital enterprise. However what is crucial is a sense for numbers and scale. With out it, will probably be troublesome.
What makes BPI a gorgeous employer for candidates? What else does BPI provide that different employers don't?
We provide an thrilling process, very worldwide work in a small group, which is able to aid you study quite a bit and develop additional. I imagine we’re a really permeable platform: Everybody can develop their abilities throughout all hierarchical ranges. That is additionally essential to us as a result of, along with conventional capital, the most important asset for our enterprise is individuals. As stated firstly, the chance to get to know one other nation, one other metropolis and one other workplace can also be a particular benefit BPI. And what additionally units us aside is our group tradition, which is described on our web site: A tradition that mixes loads of IQ with EQ (emotional intelligence). Empathy and emotional intelligence play an essential function, and I feel that's one thing we dwell by maybe greater than others within the trade. That is definitely formed by the company and entrepreneurial tradition in Burda, which we’ve strongly built-in right here BPI.
What suggestions would you give to younger professionals?
Be curious from the beginning. While you're younger, it's straightforward to be tempted to work and transfer from one job to a different since you assume the opposite one is somewhat higher. I feel it's essential to take your time at first and use the platform provided to develop your self. Then you possibly can at all times preserve trying. Younger individuals ought to have a certain quantity of endurance – with themselves, with their employer and with their colleagues.
