From dry University Life to real life at Optimax!
- lydiamaehnert
- Aug 7
- 6 min read
Welcome to a special glimpse behind the scenes at Optimax Energy!
My name is Tabea and I have been a working student in the People & Culture department for a few months now.
A working student position at Optimax Energy is not a traditional part-time job, but a real entry into the professional world with prospects – to make this more tangible, I spoke with two other working students from Optimax: Tamara, a working student in the Finance department*, and Florian, a working student in IT.
I would like to clarify several questions (click on the question to go directly to the answer):
If you are interested in some of these questions, let's find the answers together :)
How it all began: Our paths to Optimax
Tabea: It was certainly not just the proximity to the university that led you to Optimax Energy. How did you actually come across the company and what made you decide to stay here?
Tamara: For me, it was actually a mandatory internship that led me to Optimax. The job description in the advertisement fully matched my expectations. However, the decisive moment was the trial day. My gut feeling told me, “This is right for me!” – both the atmosphere and the tasks. After the internship, things went so well that we all agreed: I'm staying!
Florian: My path here was a bit more winding. Through a mutual acquaintance, I met Tina, who is Head of People & Culture at Optimax. During the pandemic, I had the time and desire to do a voluntary internship that fit in with my computer science studies – I remembered Optimax – and that's how I ended up here. Similar to Tamara, I was impressed by the atmosphere in the company from the very beginning, which is why I stayed.
What makes working at Optimax special
Tabea: Let's get specific: What really sets the work here apart?
Tamara: For me, flexibility is key. Not only in terms of working hours, but also in terms of tasks, you have a lot of freedom. You are simply trusted to work independently and seek support when you need it. This mutual trust makes working here really enjoyable.
Another big plus is the support you get. Optimax creates a safe environment where you can learn, grow, and—very importantly—make mistakes. There's no pressure when something goes wrong. You know that everyone is working together to find a solution. That takes so much stress off!
Florian: That's right! And what I particularly like is the freedom to get involved in areas that interest you. While I was writing my bachelor's thesis in data science, I continued to work in software development. I noticed that there needs to be a bridge between classic IT and data science. And when my colleagues echoed this, I slipped into this role – now I'm basically the “bridge” as a machine learning engineer. And the best part is:
I have discovered a great passion and can really give it a lot of space. - Florian
From lecture hall to real life: What we learn here
Tabea: Since we're already on the topic of “surpassing oneself,” what new sides of yourselves have you discovered, or what insights have you gained since you started working here?
Florian: At university, especially in computer science, you often only work on small projects that have to work by the deadline – and then what? They no longer play a role. But in the working world, things are different. There, it's all about systems that have to run for years. Suddenly, topics such as testability, maintainability, and practicality become extremely important.
This is something that is usually only mentioned in passing at university. In my first six months here, I learned almost more about software development than I did in my entire degree program – simply because there was so much new information that was never covered at university.
Tamara: What I found particularly exciting here was that I was able to really grow – both professionally and personally. The responsibility I was given helped me gain a lot of self-confidence. Unfortunately, that was sometimes lacking during my studies because you're not challenged in the same way as you are in practice. So it's all the more wonderful that I get to experience that here in such a pleasant environment. You're not just thrown in at the deep end and left to learn to swim somehow. On the contrary: there's always someone there you can ask for advice.
The responsibility I was given helped me gain a lot of self-confidence. - Tamara
Studying and working – a balancing act?
Tabea: Speaking of differences between theory and practice—studying and working at the same time must be quite a lot to handle sometimes, right?
Florian: Juggling my studies, my student job, my social life, and my volunteer work wasn't easy, especially because I enjoy doing all of those things so much. I found the right balance by taking fewer modules per semester. What also helps me is the flexibility at work—I'm lucky enough to be able to organize my time freely and, as a night owl, I don't mind working at night when it suits me best.
Tamara: It was very similar for me. I really liked the mix of theory and practice in everyday life – you gain practical experience early on and also have a little more financial security. In terms of flexibility, it's really worth a lot. When I'm in a stressful exam period, like right now, I can work less and make up for it later, for example during the semester break.
Our personal green flags
Tabea: Besides flexible working hours, are there any other “green flags” in the company that you have noticed as particularly positive?
Florian: What excites me most is that you can contribute your own ideas here. You are strongly encouraged to actively make suggestions and even implement them yourself if you see room for improvement. What's more, there's no “title circus” here. It doesn't matter whether you're an intern or have been with the company for years – everyone is taken seriously and trusted. This openness and dialogue on equal terms are very motivating.
Tamara: And let's not forget the food! A real highlight is the healthy lunch cooked by our in-house chef João. It may sound trivial, but things like this contribute immensely to making you feel comfortable at work.
Florian: Another point that I really appreciate is the high value placed on learning and further training within the company. No matter what resources I need, whether books or courses, I only have to ask once and the book is ordered, the course or ticket for an exciting conference is booked. Privately, this would often be really expensive, but here, continuing education is valued and encouraged. That also motivates you to always keep your eyes open for new things.
A real highlight is the healthy lunch prepared by our in-house chef João. - Tamara
And what could be better?
Tabea: Now, of course, I'm also interested in where you see room for improvement at Optimax?
Florian: One issue that is very close to my heart is gender equality. I see room for improvement, especially in our technical departments such as IT, trading, and analysis. Unfortunately, we currently have very few women in these areas. On the one hand, this is a problem that affects society as a whole, but on the other hand, I believe that the company could take specific steps to promote diversity and create a more balanced team.
Tabea: I agree with you – the ratio is still quite unbalanced at the moment. From my own experience, I can say that when selecting applicants in the People & Culture department, we take great care to ensure that the process is fair and unbiased. We make every effort to recruit diversely, but we would also be delighted to see even more women applying to us!
So here's call to all women who are enthusiastic about technology: apply! We look forward to welcoming you to our team. We greatly value diversity – and new perspectives always bring a breath of fresh air to the departments!
When is Optimax the right employer for me?
Tabea: Speaking of welcoming new people – if you are looking for a challenging, inspiring, and humane working environment, then Optimax could be just the place for you.
You may already find a suitable position in our job listings, or simply submit an unsolicited application.
Give it a try! Because working at Optimax Energy means that a job is not just a means to an end, but an opportunity to develop and achieve great things together. - Tabea
*Note: After three years as a working student at Optimax, Tamara no longer works with us and is pursuing a new and exciting path. She still comes to our game nights regularly and stays in close contact with us, which we are very happy about!
