Meet Christian in HR Services

Describe your educational background. Where did you study, what degrees did you receive?

I studied engineering at Cornell University, majored in Mechanical Systems, and received a Bachelor of Science degree. In the 1990s, as a student, I was bitten by the "dot-com" bug. I learned web design and programming and took several algorithm courses to prepare me for a career in Information Technology.

Describe your career history. What are your professional experiences prior to your current position?

I’ve had the pleasure of working with the Bertelsmann group for the last five years. Throughout the years, I’ve worked on creating training materials and conducting one-on-one sessions for new users of the recruiting and applicant management system, beCruiter. I’ve moved up to project management and have recently started working strategically on product management.

What are your current roles and responsibilities?

I am currently responsible for analysis and implementation of all technology solutions within the Bertelsmann Recruiting Services department. I also maintain the change management system of the beCruiter and am responsible for communicating all release and update schedules as well as finding new ways to reduce development time while still offering our customers first-class customer support. As our customer list continuously grows, I’ve also had a key role in shaping the system into a product that we can easily package, market, sell, and offer to new customers within various industries outside of media and entertainment.

Describe a typical day at your job.

Mornings, by far, are the busiest, because I work a lot with the programmers and colleagues in Germany. It’s the late afternoon over in Gutersloh when it's morning in New York so I have limited time to make phone calls, respond to e-mails, and test new functions and features. My afternoons are spent either talking to customers on project statuses, training HR managers on new features of the beCruiter system, or working on proposals for new potential customers. When there are empty slots left in the week, I do my best to go on the Internet and read about new technologies that can be adapted to the online recruiting world, such as blogs, RSS, search engines, AJAX, or wikis, or I read about new topics floating around the HR world like new OFCCP guidelines, passive recruiting techniques, and career website design trends.

What attracted you to your company and position? What is your favorite thing about your job?

I enjoy being in a team that adds value to a service that helps a company find top talent and, ultimately, results in a person finding a good job at a good company.

What has been your most memorable moment (so far) in your job?

My most memorable moment was when my colleague and I visited the Bertelsmann corporate center in Germany and toured the campus. 

What qualities do you feel are necessary to be a successful employee at your company?

There is no secret in this company. If you believe in the essentials of citizenship, creativity, entrepreneurship, and partnership, then you’ll be successful.

Have you had the opportunity to travel as part of your job?

Yes. My colleague and I had a chance to visit the Bertelsmann corporate center in Germany and tour the campus.

Do you feel you have a good understanding of Bertelsmann and its corporate culture?

Yes. Because I work with a recruiting team, it is imperative that I understand the corporate culture.

My favorite book, movie, and artist are:

Book is The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, movie is Scarface with Al Pacino, and musical artist is LL Cool J.

If you could meet anyone from history, living or dead, who would it be?

John D. Rockefeller Jr. He was a powerful man with lots of vision. Though he never held a position in public office, he has left a permanent imprint in New York City.

If I were a cartoon character, I would be:

George Jetson. I’d love to use those cool futuristic gadgets.