Off to new horizons – Trainees successfully completed Liebherr’s Global Trainee Program

Liebherr’s Global Trainee Program offers young talents the unique opportunity to get to know the group of companies from different perspectives, take charge of projects with a high level of responsibility and expand their professional network. For 18 months, participants gain valuable practical experience in various departments. Experience that helps them to sharpen their overall view of Liebherr and improve their decision-making and organizational skills as well as their confidence in dealing with people and projects. Valuable qualities that are very important for later career orientation – especially if one aspires to a management position.

Participants also gain international experience during the program. This is combined with a stay in another Liebherr division and allows trainees to dive into international markets and collaborate closely with colleagues across different locations, gaining insights into other product segments and their processes.

This exciting journey came to an end in late March, and the Liebherr Group’s trainees successfully completed the program. Clément Peuriere, one of seven trainees from the product segment aerospace and transportation systems, offers a brief glimpse into the past year and a half.

Clément, what motivated you to join the Global Trainee Program?

Growing up in New Caledonia – an overseas territory of France – I often saw Liebherr machines in the nickel mines, which sparked my interest in this family-owned, technology-focused company. Previous experiences in Bulle (Switzerland) and Colmar (France) further strengthened my desire for a long-term career with Liebherr. The program was a great opportunity to expand my knowledge, explore new cultures and sites, and develop my personal skills, while being trusted to take ownership in different environments. I believe the global connections we built will foster future collaboration, and my ability to work across functions will help me contribute efficiently.

What is the most important thing you learned during this time?

I learned so many things… If I had to pick a single top takeaway, it would be this: I gained deep insights into how the various Liebherr companies operate globally. I’ve worked across different divisions, with diverse company sizes and cultures, and I had the opportunity to explore their processes in depth. This broader understanding of the big picture across different Liebherr companies and cultures, combined with the soft and technical skills I developed, will clearly be an asset for my future contributions at Liebherr. We often tend to focus on our specific tasks, sometimes losing sight of the wider stakes.

Where will your path take you next, or in which department will you continue working?

After the Trainee Program, I will return to my original position for a while to apply the cross-functional skills I gained abroad. I will continue working in the engineering department at Liebherr-Aerospace in Toulouse, focusing on processes and broadening my scope.

I have had the opportunity to speak with colleagues whose careers at Liebherr are truly inspiring. As I am open minded and curious about exploring new fields, I believe that letting opportunities guide my career is more valuable than trying to follow a fixed, predetermined path. Of course, delivering high quality work is essential to make everything else possible, and time will naturally be needed before taking on more responsibility and continuing to grow within the company.

“I really enjoyed switching from topics to topics and discovering new things. At every station, new tasks, new colleagues, a new culture, a new landscape!”

_{Clément Peuriere, engineer at Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse SAS and a former participant in the Liebherr Group’s Trainee Program}