Disappointing Experience Overall!
Gut am Arbeitgeber finde ich
The additional benefits and the tasks I had to work on.
Schlecht am Arbeitgeber finde ich
I think I stated everything in each comment. There's a lot of room for improvement.
Verbesserungsvorschläge
Check on employees regularly, ask them if they are okay with the environment and treatment. I liked their official trainings; it is very structured. However, as a student we have classes some weeks and exams, keeping fixed 1-4 consecutive days means we have to cancel our classes to attend. I was denied training in the starting and had to wait for 2 months for official training. I unfortunately had exam one day of the training and they denied me to take part in it. It was very frustrating they don't conduct it often.
Arbeitsatmosphäre
The atmosphere was lacking the warmth and character I had hoped for. I have worked in other companies where they were very welcoming and had lots of group activities. When I joined there was lack of structured trainings and no organized system for checking in dates or times. Some team members were extremely rude.
Kommunikation
Constantly had to communicate with my professor to extend deadlines. They never respected one deadline from the university. I mentioned the dates for the presentation and report submission multiple times, they ignored. After everything was over at the university and graded, they gave me a kind offer to listen to my presentation and send an impression regarding report to my professor. I was ghosted by my team afterwards. The best part is after repeatedly reminding (at least 3 weeks) about the certificate of completion, I received a letter instead with only sign of HR not my team also the incorrect month of submission.
Kollegenzusammenhalt
We were instructed to book the instruments on the calendar, which I always did. However, despite following the rules, other members would frequently take over my booked slots with a simple 'sorry' as their only excuse. On two occasions, I was even yelled at by a particularly rude employee who insisted on using the instrument, disregarding my reservation entirely. It was frustrating and disappointing - I only wished they valued my time and effort as much as I respected theirs.
Work-Life-Balance
I was told they have flexible timings and dates. However, on Tuesday blood arrives, therefore you must work on Tuesday and Wednesday. Other days are only flexible. And also, you have to be there at 8 am sharp or you are considered late. It doesn't matter even if you work 20 hours. They do grant sick leaves if you have doctors slip and unpaid 30-day vacation despite saying in the contract it can be paid. No Home office.
Vorgesetztenverhalten
Overall, my boss was a good leader. He set realistic and achievable goals, ensuring that expectations were clear and manageable. He was actively involved in the workflow, regularly arranging and attending meetings to keep everyone aligned. His feedback was constructive and timely, helping to improve both individual and team performance. Whenever challenges arose, he was approachable and open to discussion, addressing issues in a fair and solution-oriented manner. His leadership created a structured and supportive work environment. Only, few other colleagues who are below his position were rude and inconsistent in communication.
Interessante Aufgaben
The work itself was mostly repetitive, with little variation in daily tasks. Training on the instruments lasted between one to four days, after which you were expected to perform tasks independently. However, when I showed interest in joining additional training sessions for personal learning and skill development, I faced resistance from some team members, which was discouraging. Additionally, there was little to no room in choosing task - assignments were always determined and delegated by others, leaving little room for personal initiative or exploration.
Gleichberechtigung
The workplace maintained a strong sense of equality, where everyone was given the same opportunities to contribute and grow. Responsibilities were distributed fairly, and decisions were made based on merit rather than favoritism. There was a culture of mutual respect, where diverse perspectives were valued, and every team member had a voice. Regardless of position or background, everyone was encouraged to participate in discussions, access resources, and pursue professional development. This inclusive environment fostered collaboration and a sense of belonging among colleagues. I put the rating a little because of few members who aren't treating equally.
Umgang mit älteren Kollegen
There were instances where some assumed seniority automatically translated to superiority, leading to condescending attitudes and a lack of mutual respect. Additionally, communication could sometimes feel strained, as they were less receptive to feedback or different working styles. Sometimes there were personal opinions of some superiors on a juniors work, and I was stuck in between trying to adapt to both for my work with them.
Arbeitsbedingungen
The lab itself did not resemble a standard laboratory setup, lacking the typical infrastructure and organization one would expect in a professional research environment. While the space had good ventilation and heating, it was not equipped with the usual features found in a functional lab setting. On the office side, I initially had a designated desk and table, but they were soon taken over by a superior without any discussion. Despite repeatedly requesting a proper workspace from my boss, my concerns were never addressed, and no effort was made to provide me with a dedicated place to work. This lack of consideration made it difficult to stay organized and feel fully integrated into the team.
Umwelt-/Sozialbewusstsein
They have a strong focus on social awareness, regularly hosting seminars and post-event discussions on various important topics. These initiatives provided valuable opportunities for learning and raising awareness among team members. However, there was little follow-through in terms of actively applying it. There is some effort toward environmental sustainability, especially in a time when such practices are becoming increasingly important.
Gehalt/Benefits
They have okay salary of 17 euro per hour but many weeks reduced hours are problem. They have good gym, additional classes and trainings. The Mensa is not great.
Image
I warned by several previous employees, even read reviews about the same, some current employees also complain the same. I was also told that HR always responds to their reviews and tries to change image if you have complaints in this website. My main reason for this review is that other students should know what they are applying for.
Karriere/Weiterbildung
No master thesis (only under working student contract not a proper master thesis contract which pays higher according to website). No conversion to full time for working students due to lack of positions.