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In our NORMAPeople series, employees around the world talk about their day-to-day work, how they came to the company and what they appreciate most about their jobs.
Philipp Stiller started as a working student in the Human Resources department at the NORMA Group site in Maintal, Germany, this year. His grandfather began his career at the company 56 years ago and was with NORMA Group for 38 years. In the interview, Philipp reflects on his family ties to NORMA Group, the changes the company has undergone over the years and his job as a working student.
What are you studying, Philipp?
I have been studying Human Resources Management since 2020 and will be graduating soon. At the same time, I have a job as a working student in the HR department at NORMA Group. My degree program covers business management topics as well as aspects of corporate governance and business psychology.
“For me, my studies are the perfect compromise between social and economic perspectives, which has made it much easier for me to enter the business world.”
I enjoy working with people and have an opportunity to put a lot of the things I have learned to use in my work at NORMA Group.
What does your job involve?
I support my colleagues in all HR-related issues. I also benefit from the insight into different areas and the opportunity to be involved in job interviews.
I really enjoy being a helping hand and my colleagues have shown me that they are happy to have me on the team.
What do you like most about working at NORMA Group?
What I most appreciate is the amazing team around me. We support each other and always have time to listen to whatever issues we might be facing. We also get along well when we’re not working – during our lunch breaks, for example. I also enjoy the opportunity to continuously learn and develop my skills.
What challenges do you face studying and being a working student at the same time?
I really enjoy my work, but sometimes I get exhausted after a long day. I sometimes find it difficult to stay motivated and to study for an exam or work on the other university assignments that I have. That’s a minor obstacle that I have to deal with.
Your grandfather also started working for NORMA Group in 1968, when it was still called Rasmussen GmbH. He worked for the company for a total of 38 years. Was that a factor in your decision to work for NORMA Group?
It definitely was. My family lives in Maintal, where most people know the company. I live with my grandparents in a house that he bought when he worked for Rasmussen GmbH. He often talks about his time at the company and has many wonderful memories. My grandparents were thrilled when I told them that I would be working at NORMA Group.
What did your grandfather do at the company?
My grandfather was a department head in plastics production, but he started his career as a lathe operator. He worked on the machines himself and was responsible for writing and coordinating the shift schedules, among other things. Although he hasn’t actually worked there for several years, he still remembers the work processes and how to operate the machines.
You stood in the production area for the first time during the factory tour. What did that feel like?
That was incredibly exciting. I had only heard about this place from stories. Seeing it for the first time and knowing that my grandfather worked there was very special.
“It was a remarkable feeling to experience my grandfather’s workplace up close and to see the stories he told with my own eyes.”
What memories does your grandfather have of his time at the company?
He has particularly fond memories of the close bonds that existed among the people he worked with. He also remembers how exciting it was to be part of the early days of plastics processing. At that time, plastic was still a relatively new material. He always says that it was fascinating to be part of this revolution in the industry.
How do you think NORMA Group has changed based on his stories and your experiences?
The most significant changes that I see, based on his stories and my own experiences, are mainly related to the size of the company and the fact that it is now a global player. Back when NORMA Group was still Rasmussen GmbH, the company was already supplying customers around the world, but not to the same extent as today.
My grandfather also worked with a lot of international colleagues in Maintal, but back then the company did not have as many locations and subsidiaries around the world as it does today. To me, this global expansion and international presence very impressive and it shows how far the company has come since my grandfather’s time.
