Below you will find an interview with the Operations Manager, Mr. Alexander Meneder from the Mazda Lietz branch in Amstetten. The interview was conducted by TravelEdventures’ employee, Ines Affengruber. Mr. Meneder agreed to take three French Erasmus+ trainees for 4 weeks in the field of car repair and tells us about the experience.
Tell us a little about the Lietz company?
The modern family-owned company Lietz has been in operation for more than 70 years with 250 employees. There are10 locations, Lietz has branches in Lower Austria and Upper Austria. Lietz offers everything related to the sale and service of cars, motorcycles and bicycles. It is also a cross-brand specialist for cars (Mazda, Hyundai, Suzuki, Fiat,).
How important is the training of your apprentices to you?
The company attaches very high value to the training of young talent, and we’ve founded the Lietz Angels – dedicated to apprentices. At Lietz you learn technical, commercial or sales-oriented apprenticeships in one of the car, motorcycle or bicycle workshops as well as spending time in the administration offices. As an employer, we encourage promotion and do it in a targeted manner. No matter what awaits you around the corner, we at Lietz support you prepare you for whatever’s next. As a Lietz Angel, you are part of our crazy team!
You added three interns from France to your team for 4 weeks. What type of Erasmus+ accommodation did the French Erasmus + trainees stay in?
The Erasmus+ trainees stayed in an apartment located in Amstetten, very close to Lietz.
What were the technical skills of Erasmus+ trainees like?
They needed training, similar to apprentices in Austria embarking on their first year of training but they were also very motivated and open-minded to learning new things.
What tasks were Erasmus+ trainees allowed to perform in your company?
The French Erasmus+ trainees were allowed to carry out simple service work themselves, in addition to watching the workshop masters. These tasks included reattaching wheels, lubricating doors, etc.
How were the language barriers overcome?
We communicated in English, but from time-to-time Google Translate was used or we used hand signals but whatever method, we managed to communicate really well.
Would you accept Erasmus+ trainees again?
Yes, definitely, because it was a good cultural exchange. For our own employees, it was also a new experience, as they were able to broaden their horizons linguistically and culturally.
What do you think about the Erasmus+ programme?
I think it's great to have experience across countries and gain new cultural and professional insight.
Don't forget to read our upcoming interview with the supervisor of this Erasmus+ group. Also check all information about Erasmus+ mobilities on our website, especially our guide and handbook.
Do you live in England? Would you like to organise an internship for your group in Austria or another country? Then you could benefit from a Turing grant. If you have any questions about Erasmus+ or the Turing Scheme, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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