Fastlane participant Simon and his mentor Sabine on mentoring in the programme and how both sides benefit from it.
Simon is studying Mechatronics and Robotics at the Technical University of Munich and is a scholarship holder in our Fastlane Master's programme. His mentor in the programme is Sabine, who heads the 'Sustainability in Production' department. Together, they share insights into the programme and their experiences collaborating as mentor and mentee.
SIMON, HOW DID YOU BECOME AWARE OF THE FASTLANE PROGRAMME?
"In addition to some positive testimonials from friends, the programme was also recommended to me by my then team leader during my internship at BMW. The opportunity to gain many insights, including short placements and the openness of employees in the specialist departments towards programme participants, sounded very interesting. I was also excited about the fantastic network among the Fastlane participants and the resulting joint activities, such as regular meet-ups or summer parties."
SABINE, YOU ARE SIMON'S MENTOR. HOW DID YOU GET INTO MENTORING?
"I started as an intern at the BMW plant in Regensburg, so I have a connection to our young talents. A colleague then made me aware of the selection day for the Fastlane programme. Since I enjoy inspiring young people for BMW, I subsequently applied to be a mentor."
WHAT EXITES YOU ABOUT WORKING WITH YOUNG TALENTS? WHAT TOPICS ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU WHEN MENTORING?
"I have only had positive experiences during my time at BMW, and I would like to give something back. As a mentor, I have the opportunity to accompany the young talents 'growing' and support them – conversely, one learns a lot and broadens one's perspectives through regular exchange. It is particularly important to me to have enough time for the mentee – therefore, I usually only mentor one Fastlane participant."
HOW DOES THE PLANNING OF PROGRAMME CONTENT AND PLACEMENTS WORK?
"The planning of the programme content is very flexible and individual. Mentees and mentors exchange individually, without strict regulations. We always keep an overarching 'red thread' in mind, which is oriented towards the interests of the mentees. And the best part: Mentees can also benefit from the extensive network of their mentors."
SIMON, TO WHAT EXTENT HAVE YOU BENEFITED FROM MENTORING DURING YOUR PLACEMENTS?
"Very much – through Sabine, I learned about areas at BMW that I was previously unaware of, such as Robotics Research. With the support of my mentor, it is also easy for me to reach out to departments and inquire about possible placements. This has always worked out really well so far!"
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHERS INTERESTED IN FASTLANE?
"Consider in advance which areas of the company you want to develop in – ideally in line with your studies and previous professional experiences. And if you also bring social skills, such as openness and sociability, in addition to your technical background, there is nothing standing in the way of your application!"
ABOUT THE FASTLANE PROGRAMME.
The Fastlane scholarship programme for master's students is geared towards skills in the MINT-area. The programme participants are supported in their personal and professional development through various programme components and also have the opportunity to get actively involved. Through practical assignments, they gain insights into different areas of the company, build a network and write their master's thesis with a strong practical relevance. After successfully completing the programme, our scholarship holders receive internal applicant status and thus have excellent chances of being accepted.