Micha, could you give us a view into the graduates at Swiss Re programme? I am participating in the graduates@swissre programme, whereas I am assigned to Swiss Re Consultancy. Swiss Re Consultancy is the internal consulting unit specialising in project management, process engineering and change management. As an Associate Project Manager I run specific project management processes along the entire project life cycle, from initiation and planning to execution and benefit realisation.
Swiss Re focuses on personality and general competencies rather than specific and technical skills. If I look at the people around me I can see a broad variety of educational backgrounds, from finance to engineering to biology. Hence, one’s educational background is secondary. A profound interest for the way businesses work in general and a high degree of self-motivation are much more important.
And what about personal attributes? Most important, we at Swiss Re Consultancy have to quickly develop an understanding of the business context and the priorities in the area that we are operating in. Customer focus and result orientation, strong analytical skills and the ability to communicate openly and effectively are crucial as well. Previous experience as member in projects at university or in extracurricular initiatives is considered as an asset.
Could you give an idea about the introduction into the programme? Graduates with a Master or Bachelor degree can join the 18-month graduates@swissre programme where they will work on a specific job. From my experience, the entry at Swiss Re was a quick start with immediate responsibility for specific tasks in one of Swiss Re’s biggest projects. A project buddy introduced and coached me during the first weeks. Additionally, a mentor from the outside of my functional area was appointed to me.
Where is your home base? My daily business is characterized by great independence. I spend most of my time in meetings and workshops with my clients. The location I work at depends on the project: At the moment my engagement is limited to Zurich. Assignments in one of Swiss Re’s hubs in London, Munich or in the United States may follow.
Could you describe your daily business? My day-to-day business is driven by the characteristics of an assigned project. Generally spoken, it consists of two components: in meetings and workshops with customers or external consultants we review present achievements and plan next steps. Back at my desk I analyze planning and reporting data and translate them into presentations and reports.
And your career goals? I chose a unit where I will be assigned to a new project every three to four months. Independently from that, the training and networking opportunities offered in the graduates@swissre will allow me to become more clear about my professional preferences. After the completion of the programme I may either stay in my current job or look for new opportunities inside the Group.
Your reasons to participate in this programme? Having gained some consulting experience during my gap year, I was convinced that I would like to work as a business consultant. Swiss Re Consultancy offers a broad experience in consulting and a in-depth insight into the reinsurance business. Also, this job combines the advantages of a multinational group with the straightforwardness of a smaller organizational setup. Why Swiss Re? Swiss Re’s business, variety and culture convinced me: Swiss Re successfully operates in a business where unpredictable events are common. Swiss Re’s innovative and globally leading position within this sector offers its employees a dynamic working environment with a variety of interesting opportunities. Swiss Re also has an unique corporate culture, balancing between its traditional values and its role as a first mover. Important reasons are directly related to the graduates@swissre programme, too: The mix of technical training, on-the-job assignments and mentoring creates a solid base for my future career. The global scope of the programme allows me to meet colleagues and clients from all over the world, offering new perspectives to my personal horizon.
What do you expect from the programme? I mainly expect a broad learning experience and an intense coaching of my professional and interpersonal skills.
What are your future development expectations? During my assignment at Swiss Re Consultancy I will get to know different functional areas within Swiss Re, from Client Markets to Corporate Functions to Financial Markets. I hope that these insights coupled with a solid training in re-insurance will help me to figure out where my career path is leading to. I assume that I will find myself in Swiss Re’s core business two to three years from now.
