How passion and encouragement open doors

With “Simmi” and a soldering iron to her dream job as an electronics technician

Sometimes detours lead to your goal, but in Susanne Finger’s case, the path to becoming an electronics technician seems to have been almost predestined – at least when you hear her story. The young woman was made aware of Mercer Stendal, the company where she is now in her first year of training as an electronics technician for industrial engineering, by a friend’s brother. What she heard sounded promising.

From soldering iron to “Simmi”: a passion for technology from an early age

But Susanne’s interest in technology is not a sudden inspiration. She developed an enthusiasm for typical “boys’ hobbies” at an early age, a passion that was strongly encouraged by her father, a master mechanic. He encouraged her to work with tools and inspired her to tinker and solder. So it was hardly surprising that, as is customary in Saxony-Anhalt, she had her moped license in her pocket at the age of 15 and not only rode her beloved “Simmi” (a nickname for the iconic East German Simson moped), but also repaired it herself when necessary. This early experience with technology and practical work laid the foundation for her career aspirations.

A decisive moment came on Girls’ Day 2024. In Germany, Girls’ Day is a nationwide initiative encouraging girls to explore technical careers. Together with two friends, Susanne took the opportunity to get a first-hand impression of Mercer Stendal. The introductory day in the training workshop and the tour of the pulp production facility left a lasting impression. She immediately liked the friendly and respectful atmosphere in the workshop, and soldering during the Girls’ Day project struck a chord with her. “It was exciting and exactly what I always wanted: working with my hands, processing materials, and completing something,” recalls Susanne.

Welcome to the world of pulp: First steps at Mercer Stendal

The first few months of her training have confirmed her positive impression. Susanne appreciates the exciting tasks, which range from working with a wide variety of materials, such as wood, to delicate solder wire. She particularly likes the fact that she is learning the basics of the craft from scratch while at the same time understanding the complex interrelationships involved in pulp production.

Her colleagues and teammates have also given Susanne a warm welcome.

She feels respected and included, even as a young woman entering a traditionally male-dominated field. On the contrary, her colleagues in the specialist departments are happy to share their knowledge and support her as much as they can. There is a strong sense of team spirit among the trainees, and they also enjoy spending time together after work – a group motorcycle ride to the mill is already being planned for the summer.

The biggest challenge at the beginning of her training was finding accommodation in Stendal at short notice and furnishing her own place. At the same time, she was also getting her motorcycle license for a 125cc bike. For a short time, she felt that it was all too much, but her father was there to offer advice and support.

Susanne has some clear advice for other girls interested in technology: “Do what you want to do and don’t let anything or anyone stop you!” She lives by this motto.

Future plans: training, career, and a bigger motorcycle

Her vision for the future is clear: to complete her training and gain valuable experience as an industrial electronics technician. She also has a personal goal: to buy a bigger motorcycle so she can fully indulge her passion for motorcycling, which is a liberating outlet for her.

Susanne’s story shows that passion and early support can pave the way to exciting careers. At Mercer Stendal, it is clear how important it is to support talent, regardless of gender or age, and to promote an open culture of knowledge sharing that benefits everyone.