Umut has been with the BMW Group for 21 years and has built an impressive career during this time. Starting with a commercial apprenticeship, he is now a team leader in the department operational vehicle control at the Munich plant. In the interview, he gives us an insight into his daily work routine and reveals why he has been so happy in his work at BMW for so long.
YOU'VE BEEN WITH BMW FOR A LONG TIME, MANY YEARS IN YOUR CURRENT DEPARTMENT. WHAT MAKES YOU SO SATISFIED WITH YOUR JOB?
"On the one hand, it's the hands-on mentality, and on the other hand, it's the exciting work that I’m doing. The fact that people from all over the world work together here at the Munich plant also makes it exciting for me. And BMW of course offers good conditions – from remuneration to a strong work-life balance to many additional benefits. In sum, this creates a work environment in which I simply feel comfortable."
SO YOU CAN IMAGINE CONTINUING IN YOUR JOB IN THE FUTURE?
"Absolutely! Staying in the same job at BMW does not mean doing the same thing for years. Not only is our work changing, but the entire plant is also adapting to the challenges of the future. With the preparation to produce the “Neue Klasse”, one of the biggest transformations ever is currently going on. New technologies, production processes and, of course, new skills are required to bring this new generation of vehicles to market. For us employees, this means that we must constantly educate ourselves and acquire new knowledge. But that's also what makes the work very interesting."
HOW WERE YOU SUPPORTED ON YOUR WAY TO BECOMING A TEAM LEADER?
"After my apprenticeship, I started in the plant as a commercial employee. Over time, I gained more and more trust from my bosses and was able to expand my tasks and, above all, help shape them myself. Especially during the Corona pandemic and the supply bottlenecks for semiconductors, I then took on a major project with a lot of responsibility, which ultimately also led to me gaining a lot of visibility – and thus being able to really prove myself."
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE CULTURE AT THE BMW GROUP?
"I particularly appreciate the honesty, informality, and respectful interaction with each other. Regardless of whether it's an employee or a department head – everyone here addresses each other informally. That alone makes a big difference for me. I really don't like it when it's too stiff and formal – we spend so much time together at work that you should feel comfortable."
WHAT PERSONAL VALUES ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU AT WORK?
"In BMW's corporate culture, 5 specific values are anchored – and in fact, I would particularly highlight three of them for myself: openness, appreciation and trust are super important to me. I not only expect this from my managers, but I also try to convey it to my people."
WHAT MAKES YOUR WORK ENVIRONMENT ATTRACTIVE?
"Our office is located right across from the BMW Welt in the plant, which I really like because we are right in the middle of the production activity. But the work environment for me is not just the location, but above all the people I work with. I enjoy the diversity of cultures and colleagues from all backgrounds. Whether professionally or privately – that really enriches me."
HOW DO YOU MANAGE TO BALANCE WORK AND PRIVATE LIFE?
"Thanks to the flexible working hours and the possibility of working from home, I have a lot of freedom for my private life. This is also important to me, as I really enjoy doing sports and spending time with family, friends and of course my dachshund Stuart Little. I can organise my working hours myself, as long as I coordinate with my boss and my team. This also leaves me enough time for Stuart – he’s of course happy when I can take him out for a quick walk at lunchtime or go on an outing in the afternoon."
YOU WORK IN THE PLANT. WHAT ABOUT SHIFT WORK?
"My employees work in a shift system. Most of them also find this cool because it allows them to organise their lives flexibly. Shift work often has a bad reputation, but it really offers many opportunities that a classic nine-to-five job doesn't. Personally, I am not in shift operations, but I am on call for my team in case something comes up."
FINALLY... DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN WORKING AT THE BMW GROUP?
"At BMW, there are endless possibilities, and you can even find your dream job by taking detours. The main thing is that the job is fun – not everyone has to know exactly what they want from the very beginning. I would never have thought that I would one day take on a leadership role, and I'm now super happy with it."
