Vienna's best young mechanic

Vienna's best young mechanic

Workshop master Stephan Selucky can be seen being happy about his protégé's victory: “I was there at the competition and I could already see from the score that Christoph was at the top,” he says. Both of them were surprised by the first place because you don't want to be happy too early or even shout something out. In any case, Christoph Berger's point difference to the second-placed person was quite clear, as he was able to solve the tasks properly at all nine exam stations. This was not a given for the young Porsche mechanic, who also had to demonstrate his skills and know-how when changing the rear wheel on a motorcycle or testing a truck's air brake. “A prospective automotive technician must basically be familiar with all vehicles; the specialization comes with the job anyway,” says Markus Fuchs, director of automotive technology at the Siegfried Marcus vocational school in Vienna. He also attests that his favorite student, Christoph Berger, has great talent: "The boy always gets straight A's and would actually be ready for the journeyman's examination, even though he is only in his third year of training."

Strict entrance exam

Back to Porsche Vienna-Liesing to the Porsche workshop, where Christoph Berger and two other apprentices are currently completing their training. True gems from the Zuffenhausen sports car manufacturer float on the lifting platforms, such as a bright green GT3 or a chocolate brown 928. The dream workshop of every automotive technology apprentice, but where young Christoph only ended up by chance. Because you can't choose the brand when you apply for an apprenticeship at Porsche Vienna Liesing. “The admission process is more complex than I thought,” says Berger and reports on a computer test that first asks about your level of knowledge about automotive technology. If this is passed, there is a three-day trial apprenticeship in which you have to demonstrate your skills in using tools. Afterwards there is a detailed interview on the program and then a practical test with changing tires and determining components. If all hurdles have been successfully overcome, you will be accepted as an apprentice and assigned to a brand. In Liesing you can choose from Volkswagen, Audi, Seat, Skoda or Porsche, and Christoph was deemed worthy of working on the premium sports cars.  

Motivation is required

“In the first year, our apprentices are assigned to a journeyman, in the second year they work largely independently, and in the third year they are ultimately productive,” explains Stephan Selucky, who has been employed as a foreman at Porsche Wien-Liesing since 2006.  Working productively means that a time stamp is set at the start of every work and the clock runs along with the repair or service job. Christoph Berger doesn't let this bother him at all and sticks to the specified times without any problems. “So far I have been very satisfied with all of my apprentices,” says Stephan Selucky. “Unfortunately, there are more and more applicants who lack the right motivation for the job,” says the workshop foreman from experience. He is grateful for the strict admission process at Porsche Wien-Liesing. “Only those who really want to become an automotive technician can do this.”  

"Entering professional life is a great challenge and this is where competition among the best begins. Only those who can withstand the pressure to perform and the ever-increasing demands on knowledge and skills can survive. Good and well-founded apprenticeship and specialist training guarantees the best qualifications and is an important step towards your own successful future." Michaela Rockenbauer, Marketing Manager Castrol