From working student at CMC to proposal manager

My journey at adesso and the ONE adesso spirit

From working student in CMC to trainee and finally Proposal Manager — in this blog post I take you along on my very personal journey at adesso. It shows how flexible career paths can be shaped and how the ONE adesso mindset has accompanied me right from the start.

As a working student in Brand & Marketing Management

A brief look back to 2022: A rather undecided business administration student was looking for a new working student job and had no clear idea yet of where her professional path would lead. Her father gave her a tip: “Why don’t you have a look at adesso? I always see so many young people going in and out of there.”

Said and done — and suddenly the rather undecided student not only had a plan, but had also found a really exciting position on the website: Working Student in Brand & Marketing Management.

Things then moved very quickly: The interview went well, the positive feedback followed promptly and shortly afterwards my Welcome Days began. My first year as a working student flew by, while at the same time my Master’s degree was approaching its end. I had gained my first practical experience, my Master’s thesis was almost finished — and the next question arose: What comes next?

From working student to trainee

The open collaboration, clear communication and tangible team spirit at adesso impressed me from the very beginning. It quickly became clear to me that I wanted to continue my journey here after graduation and remain part of this culture. A direct entry into Brand & Marketing Management did not feel like the right next step for me, so I started looking internally for a trainee programme that would allow a smooth transition.

From the outset, my line manager supported me with honest feedback, open communication and short decision-making paths. This culture was decisive for my move into a permanent position, because for me this is exactly what the ONE adesso spirit means: collaboration across roles and departments, genuine interest in my development and the feeling of being part of a strong network.

What started as a search for my first full-time job after university quickly turned into a clear plan: I discovered the trainee programme in Proposal Management — the perfect opportunity for my entry.

My path to a permanent full-time position in Proposal Management

Getting to know each other and the application process

Once the plan was set, things moved quickly again: My line manager from my time as a working student contacted my current line manager in Proposal Management directly. Shortly afterwards, I was already having a coffee with an adessi who openly shared her own experience of the Proposal Management trainee programme and her work in this area.

My positive impression grew even stronger and I was given the opportunity for a short trial day: I was able to look over the shoulder of an adessi — now my colleague — for a day and accompany him in his work. At the same time, the formal application process continued, and after an entirely positive experience there was nothing standing in the way of my permanent start in my new department.

My conclusion: Without the short communication paths, fast coordination and open communication, this would not have been possible in this way.

The trainee programme in Proposal Management

The trainee programme itself flew by. I was warmly welcomed into the team and learned a great deal both professionally and personally. During the one-year programme, I learned how to manage and coordinate proposal processes for our customers and how to oversee projects across different phases of the bidding process to ensure a smooth flow.

Throughout the year, I received continuous feedback from my line manager and had regular development conversations about my progress and next steps. This gave me constant orientation, allowed me to build on my strengths in a targeted way and to professionalise step by step. Hardly had the year begun when it was almost over — and the question “What’s next?” arose.

The end of the traineeship — what next?

Even during the trainee programme, it became clear to me that I wanted to stay in Proposal Management. Together with my line manager, we looked for the right path and created a seamless transition: I initially started as a Junior Proposal Manager before, following my development and the assumption of additional responsibility, taking the next step to Proposal Manager.

With each stage, both my responsibility and my insight into processes and workflows increased — and above all, my confidence in my role grew.

Conclusion

Without the lived ONE adesso spirit, my path would not have been possible in this way. At adesso, people look left and right together, support each other across team and departmental boundaries and make decisions through short, clear communication channels. Anyone who wants to develop will find people here who think along with you, encourage you and open doors.

Had I read this before joining, I might have thought: “Sounds good — but easy to say.”

Today I know: It is precisely this spirit that made my entry easier, enabled my change and has sustainably shaped my further path.