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Living abroad for a while, getting to know a new culture and gaining some valuable international work experience? You can do it all at NORMA Group during a Bubble Assignment (BA). The goal of these assignments is to strengthen cooperation among the sites and to learn from each other. Overcoming national and cultural boundaries is a natural side-effect.
This was an experience that way also shared by Nikolina Radlovic, BI Analyst, Miloš Saravolac, HR Business Partner EMEA, and Nemanja Pilipovic, HR Specialist EMEA, at our site in Subotica, Serbia, along with Tarik Adsiz, Product Engineer in Hustopeče, Czech Republic. In this interview, they talk about their experiences and how they benefited from their stay abroad.
How did you get to do a Bubble Assignment?
Tarik: One of my colleagues is going to retire soon and I will be taking over his job. So, with that in mind, I wanted to acquire as much expertise as possible and coordinate projects with him. The best way to do that was to move to Germany for three months. The move also gave me the opportunity to finally meet in person the colleagues I have been working with for four years.
Miloš: I also did my Bubble Assignment at NORMA Group’s headquarters in Maintal – I was there for a year to support the HR department because a colleague went on maternity leave.
Miloš Saravolac
Nemanja: I spent three months in Germany as well, working in the same department that I work in Serbia. So, I already knew some of the colleagues.
Nikolina: My supervisor asked me if I was interested in a BA. I certainly was and shortly after that I received the offer to support the Croissy Beaubourg site with their implementation of NEMO D365. I gladly accepted and subsequently spent three months in France.
How did the activities during the Bubble Assignment differ from your usual routine?
Miloš: There are generally a lot of operational tasks with many personal contacts at plant level, as is the case in Serbia. As a Group HR Manager, you are also responsible for supporting the company with HR processes. But beyond that, you also take on a strategic role, for example by introducing processes and standards, supporting global projects and communicating worldwide about various HR topics. This was out of my comfort zone, but also a big part of my professional development.
Nikolina: In Serbia, I am part of the EMEA finance team. Our job is to collect and analyze the financial figures of legal entities in our region in order to prepare the financial reporting. In France, on the other hand, I worked for the local finance team and supported them in the preparation of all financial reports, which are later audited by the regional team.
That was a big difference. Communication within the team was also quite different. At the EMEA level, most of the communication takes place online because colleagues are located in different countries. In France, on the other hand, communication was mainly face-to-face, because the focus was on the plant.
Nikolina Radlovic
Nemanja: My tasks in the team were also very different from the ones I do in Serbia. My focus in Germany was on our internal HR information system. But the experience from home was definitely helpful.
Tarik: I work in product development in both the Czech Republic and Germany, but during the Bubble Assignment I was also able to take on activities from the IME, LAB and Prototype Production areas.
How were you welcomed by your colleagues?
Tarik: I had a huge amount of support from the very start.
Nemanja: So did I! I was warmly welcomed by my colleagues – they made me feel like I was part of the team right away. I couldn’t be more grateful for the way they treated me. It not only made my life in Germany easier, but also helped me with my daily tasks.
Nemanja Pilipovic
Nikolina: Everyone involved always had an open ear and was very nice to me – I also felt really welcome. Besides work, they also took care of my personal life and made an effort to find me a nice place to stay, gave me tips on how to get to know Paris better and showed me some beautiful places.
Miloš: That was my experience as well! Hospitality is often not portrayed as the Germans’ greatest strength, but my team showed me otherwise: I felt very welcome! My favorite memory is how my German colleagues explained to me the bottle deposit system and how waste is recycled – the Germans really are pros at that.
And when you weren’t working? What did you do in your free time?
Nikolina: Because it was my first time in Paris, I took the opportunity to explore the city – I wanted to experience life in Paris like a local, not like a tourist.
I enjoyed having a coffee on the patio of a café and watching the city go by or reading a book on the lawn in one of the many beautiful gardens. And most of all, I was glad that I could also share this experience with my family and friends from Serbia who came to visit.
Tarik: I went on a lot of excursions, visited other cities and explored the outdoors. I tried to participate in cultural exchange as much as possible and also met with my colleagues in my free time.
Miloš: Since I like to exercise, I joined a CrossFit club. I also took advantage of how centrally Frankfurt is located to travel and get to know the Balkan community around the city. I also went shopping from time to time.
Nemanja: I also enjoyed exploring Frankfurt and the surrounding area. And of course, I also took the opportunity to sample the different kinds of food that are available throughout the city.
What are some of the most interesting experiences you had during your Bubble Assignment?
Miloš: I definitely learned a lot! On the professional side, I gained knowledge about some processes that I wasn’t previously familiar with, and I developed my communication skills and strategic thinking. On the private side, I learned a lot about myself. I was constantly pushing myself to the limit and discovered how adaptable I am – or how adaptable I’m not.
I also learned a lot about Germany, the Germans and some cultural differences. On top of that, I tried to spread some Balkan spirit among my German colleagues!
Nikolina: I also had to leave my comfort zone in order to adapt to an unfamiliar work environment, but by taking this approach, I increased my confidence and gained more motivation to take on new challenges.
The Bubble Assignment gave me the opportunity to experience a completely different perspective, which was beneficial for my understanding of financial figures and improving my analytical skills, but also for my personal development.
Tarik: I learned about the differences in work culture between Germany and the Czech Republic, strengthened my network within the company and now have a better understanding of the tasks that I generally face. I was also able to brush up on my German.
Tarik Adsiz
Nemanja: I also gained a lot from the assignment – both professionally and personally. Most importantly, I was also able to improve my German. The knowledge I gained during this stay not only enriched my life, but also provided me with valuable skills and perspectives that will be useful to me in the future.
What advice would you give to someone starting a Bubble Assignment in the near future?
Miloš: That’s an easy question to answer: prepare, research, be open and just go for it!
Tarik: Meet as many colleagues as possible and take the time to get to know them outside of work. Make sure that you experience as much as possible, try to learn the local language and learn a lot about the culture of your destination country. A Bubble Assignment is a great way to experience a different lifestyle. I would like to thank everyone involved for their support and I am very happy that I was able to have this experience!
Nemanja: Exactly! Take advantage of the opportunity, be open-minded and immerse yourself in the local culture.
Nikolina: I couldn’t agree more! Get out of your comfort zone and keep an open mind. Every new person you meet and every new place you go is a new experience and lesson for life.
