Tim Achter, HR Payroll Specialist, at ELA Container since 2018
Date of interview: 17.11.2023
Tim began his journey as a one-year intern in 2018. Here you can learn about how he discovered his passion for payroll accounting at ELA and developed from an intern to an expert.
Tim, why don't you tell us a little about yourself and how you got started at ELA.
Hello. My name is Tim. I'm 21 years old and currently live just 1.8 kilometers from our head office in the beautiful city of Haren. I spend much of my free time outside, for example riding my motorcycle or camping. I also like to listen to music and play the drums.
My journey at ELA began in 2018. I was 16 years old and looking for a one-year internship. The internship was a requirement for registering at the technical secondary school for economics, and I didn't have much time to find something suitable. When ELA invited me to an interview and immediately accepted me afterwards, I was thrilled to say the least.
„I was thrilled when ELA accepted me.“
What made you decide to apply to ELA Container at that time?
Everyone here in Haren has heard of ELA Container, which is why it was an obvious choice to try my luck there. But what really cemented my decision was ELA's strong presence at many vocational training fairs. I had the opportunity to get to know some of the ELA team.
What were the first few months like at ELA, and what were some of the highlights?
I was amazed at how many people you get to know in such a short period of time. During our two-week onboarding program, we got to meet many different employees from different departments. I'm still good friends with some of them. This personal interaction was a surprise to me and definitely one of the highlights.
After your one-year internship, did you complete a vocational training course with ELA? What made you choose ELA again?
To be honest, I never really even thought about doing my vocational training anywhere else because I was already so happy here. ELA even approached me directly and offered me the training position for office management assistant with a focus on human resources.
Of course, I still had to have an interview with the Managing Director at that time, Tim Albers, which I was pretty nervous about. We ended up having a nice conversation and drinking a cup of coffee together.
„I was able to assume a lot of responsibility very early on and grow.“
What happened next on your journey with ELA?
During my training, I had the opportunity to get well acquainted with all of the different HR departments. What I was most interested in was recruiting, so I was all the happier when I was hired as a recruiter after completing the course. I was able to assume a lot of responsibility very early on and grow. From viewing applications and conducting interviews to hiring commercial employees, I was in the thick of it all.
But as a recruiter I soon came to realize that it's important to be well acquainted with all of the HR departments. So it was all the more fortunate that a position opened up in wage and salary accounting and I was able to fill it. After a year in recruiting, I switched positions within the department.
What exactly are your responsibilities in your new position as payroll specialist?
I'm in charge of everything to do with timekeeping, wage and salary accounting and anything else that entails. I also oversee small projects associated with our new HR systems or with the digitalization of our HR work and, as Inclusion Officer, represent employees with severe disabilities.
„For me, it's the personal interaction with each other that distinguishes ELA.”
Were there any training opportunities that were particularly instrumental in your professional development?
Even during my training course, I knew that I'd want to continue developing professionally, preferably with a degree course. But that didn't mean I was willing to leave ELA. ELA therefore offered me the opportunity to complete further training in the form of an integrated degree course at the university in Lingen, which I was happy to accept, of course.
Those of us in the department also attend regular seminars and lectures on current topics.
If you look back at the past year at ELA, what about your daily work sticks out?
For me, it's the personal interaction with each other that distinguishes ELA. Employees from all the other departments are available to answer any questions you may have, and because of the flat hierarchies, it's no problem to get in touch with the heads of other departments and managers. The work is incredibly varied, both in the HR department and throughout the rest of the company. We never stop moving and always overcome bigger challenges together as a team.
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