Why we hire & develop the best.

A contribution by Tina Steinbiß – Head of People & Culture at Optimax

We want to play Champions League.

Not because we’re chasing trophies – but because we believe that excellence only emerges with the right team. That’s why our Core Value “We hire and develop the best” is deeply rooted in our DNA. Here’s what that actually means.

“The Best” is not about being perfect

To us, hiring “the best” doesn’t mean finding flawless CVs or polished interview answers. We’re looking for people who are passionate about what they do. People who want to grow, take responsibility, and keep learning. Especially when hiring young talent, we pay close attention to their willingness and ability to learn.

Beyond skills and knowledge, cultural fit plays a key role. If someone shares our values, feels at home in our culture, and is ready to help shape it – they’ll thrive with us. Our company culture is formed through the everyday actions of our team. Our Core Values are the common ground that guides how we think, work, and grow together.

Still, we’re mindful not to recruit too uniformly. We value diversity – in backgrounds, experiences, and thinking – precisely because it brings new perspectives and drives development. What unites us isn’t identical resumes, but shared attitudes. It’s not about adapting – it’s about contributing and evolving together.

Recruitment with structure – and without bias

Optimax's hiring process is structured, multi-stage, and data-informed. During interviews, we take detailed notes – not to judge based on gut feeling, but to make informed comparisons later on. Every observation feeds into a collaborative decision-making process involving multiple stakeholders. This helps us minimize unconscious bias and maintain objectivity.

Teams are closely involved from the very beginning – especially when it comes to assessing technical skills. At the end of each process, candidates also meet our CEO Albert, who values the opportunity to personally get to know every new team member.

We care deeply about candidate experience. While our process is structured and fair, we’re equally focused on creating a relaxed, respectful environment where people can be themselves.

Responsibility from day one

At Optimax, no one is left sitting on the sidelines. After a comprehensive onboarding, new team members are trusted with real responsibility right away. Our experience shows: when you give people trust, they grow faster than you’d think.

We also expect everyone to take an active role in their personal development. Whether through external trainings, internal projects, or sharing knowledge with others – learning is part of our culture, not a box to tick. We call it We evolve by learning and sharing. Every colleague has 10% of their working time to use for personal development.

A look behind the scenes

Here’s something not everyone knows: our recruiting philosophy didn’t happen by chance. It’s the result of years of consistent work. From the beginning, we knew we didn’t just want to “fill roles.” We’ve always set a high bar – guided by research, science, and best practices from companies like Google.

That includes our university outreach, which goes far beyond goodie bags and career fairs. We visit lectures, share knowledge, get inspired – and scout for promising talent like pro teams do before a big match.

What about you?

If you’re ready to take ownership, grow, share, and help shape the future of energy: we’d love to meet you. Learn more about our Core Values and company culture here.

Core Values