Florian Zefferer

Key data

Job description: Internship in Environmental and Compliance Management
Company: Magna Steyr AG & Co KG
Place: Graz, Austria

What I did:

My internship focused on introducing a target process and developing methods of compliance management in the field of facility management. This involved, on the one hand, devising specifications and training documents on newly developed methods and on the other, compiling legal data and delegating any resulting tasks in the legal data management system. Evaluations and reports were also compiled for the compliance management process.

My internship also involved undertaking tasks for the environmental management system and waste management. I inspected waste collection points, documented discrepancies, checked invoices from waste disposal contractors and verified waste reports.

Why I enjoyed my internship:

Being able to independently handle responsible tasks and seeing the progress made in compliance management as a result of my own work was a really motivating force for me. My work in environmental and waste management also brought variety to my daily work. These optimal conditions were enhanced further by working in a friendly, dynamic and ambitious team.

What I learned:

It was very significant for me to be able to apply my theoretical knowledge in waste management, environmental management and environmental chemistry in a practical setting. My meetings and discussions with colleagues taught me efficient preparation and organisation. My workshops with the legal support team provided me with knowledge of industrial facilities law. Implementing the mandatory obligations allowed me to familiarise myself with a wide range of solutions and approaches. I also developed an understanding of process thinking within a company and learned to identify complex corporate structures.

My biggest success / My greatest experience:

My biggest success was my involvement in the systematic development of the compliance management system. I was able to integrate my own ideas into the project, which were then applied with the help of those involved and the legal data management system. These findings were used to further improve the target process. I was also able to carry out tasks independently, which filled me with great enthusiasm.

I also had a tour of the paint shop where various different and complex stages of the process were highlighted. As part of the compilation of an environmental statement, I was able to gain insight into the company's wastewater treatment plant. Close collaboration with the waste disposal contractor enabled me to visit the sorting plant for plastic packaging (‘yellow bag’) in Graz.

How I secured the internship:

The Magna Steyr website was advertising a position for an intern specialising in Energy, Transport and Environmental Management. I submitted a compelling application followed by an interview where I gained initial insight into the work involved in the internship, and started right away.

What I want to do in the future:

The internship in environmental and compliance management was extremely educational in both professional and social terms. I also learned that, for companies of this size, adhering to all of the mandatory obligations of corporate environmental management is only possible with the aid of a systematic structure and the support of everyone involved.

In future, I would like to work for a company in the energy or environmental sector. I see both fields as presenting a challenging and innovative working environment.