How does one get a job at BMW? - BMW Forum

rborak318iS · 03-27-2006, 01:24 PM

Hey folks. I am a student double majoring in International Business and I haven't decided whether or not I want to get my other major in German, Italian, or Spanish. I would also think that it could be powerful to get some type of certification in law since business and law can be so closely related. Anyhow, I was wondering how an American like myself could get make a career with BMW or some other prestigous German car company. Certainly it would help if I knew german but if anyone can help me with this I'd like to know where to start. My friend who is an engineering student at UCLA got an internship with BMW in Germany but the German economy was so bad he got laid off. He then got an intership with Ford of Germany but again got laid off so he just spent the rest of his summer hangin out in Germany. Anyway I look forward to your replies. Thanks

rborak318iS · 03-27-2006, 06:58 PM

just wanted to see if this pic thing worked

SpeedInfusion · 03-27-2006, 07:02 PM

shahab323is works for bmw

rborak318iS · 03-27-2006, 07:10 PM

well tell him to tell me how he got in

BImmerN2B · 03-27-2006, 08:16 PM

Maybe a technical question, but this should be in talk

rborak318iS · 03-27-2006, 10:05 PM

what do you mean?

drz · 03-28-2006, 01:16 AM

Just make sure to get good grades, and stay involved in your extracurricular activities and anything else that shows leadersip. BMW is known to go after the top students. Visit BMW's corporate website and browse their job and internship oppotunities database. Being fluent in German is a major major plus. A guy with whom I went to school wanted to intern (in the business field) for VW in Mexico City (he is from Mexico), and he was told they look for fluent people. If VW cares so much, I imagine BMW does also.

bimmerboy328i · 03-28-2006, 09:07 AM

I work for BMW. I am training as a tech.

rej487 · 03-28-2006, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpeedInfusion

shahab323is works for bmw

isn't he like a shop-boy? err i mean technician B)

325isBaby · 03-30-2006, 11:50 AM

I work for BMW, if you have any questions, I'd be happy to talk to you on how I got in. I'm currently a Certified Diagnostic Tecnician in 1.5 years I will be able to make Master

rborak318iS · 03-30-2006, 04:23 PM

hey thanks drz and 325. I actually looked at the corporate website and I think the best thing to start out with would be getting an intership. I would most likely try and get one first at the South Carolina plant and then hopefully the next year get one in Germany. So other than the obvious magnetism of working for one of the best auto companies in the world, how would you compare working for BMW to other companies you've worked for? I am like I said a student of international business and I am fully aware that in germany the engineer is more praised than the manager is. But I really am setting my sights on a career with BMW after college because I would really believe in the product,(who wouldn't?) and since I was young BMW has been a household name.I think it would be powerful to double major in IB and German plus get some type of law certification because it's good to know at least a little bit of law if you are doing business. I already speak 3 languages so learning German would be challenging but I can do it. And with globalization on the rise, I think there will be more demand for individuals with international expertise especially in the automobile industry. So 325, the question is how did you you get in to the company? Did you start as a dyno-tech or did you start at a less responsible position? What type of training (if any) got you into BMW? I know in Germany there is lots of technical training and apprenticeships and that is sort of engrained in the culture (hence the Germans being known as the best engineers, and the highest paid in the world also) so perhaps that could be carried over to their operations in the U.S. Well anyway, I really appreciate you being willing to give the input you have and sorry if I wrote alot this is just something that I can get very excited about. Take care, I look forward to hearing from you all.

drz · 03-30-2006, 06:37 PM

I know you already have a lot on your plate, but getting some sort of technical certification down the line cannot hurt. If you are to work for BMW at the management level, how much more wouldn't it help if you not only know business, but also have a general understanding of how the actual products work?

I would like to work with management for a tech-orriented company, whether in automotives, or communications, aviation, etc. In my case, the plan is to study engineering first, then business.

edit: yeah, the internships are important. Companies tend to like people who have been good interns with them. Also, apply for internships with several automotive manufacturers when you apply to BMW. That experience can still look good to them when you try again (in case you aren't able to get the internship with BMW). Also, apply for internships with big corporations. Even if you haven't worked for them, and even if you haven't worked in the automotive industry, some experience with big-money companies still looks better to a big-money company when reading a resume.

325isBaby · 03-30-2006, 07:15 PM

Well to answer your questions rborak, I started in this field (not BMW but the technical field) right out of High school. Growing up in Montana and being a female I ran into quite a few obsticals with not only my co-workers but customers (the whole girls are supposed to make pies and babies not work on cars sort of thing) so I set out to prove everyone wrong. Instead of being told "you cant know anything about cars your a girl" AND taking it I enrolled in Universal Technical Institute with the intention of knowing as much as I possibly could so when some one would tell me I was wrong I could say I DO have a degree...while in UTI I kept my grades and attendance high and interviewed for the BMW STEP (BMW Service Technician Education Program) and actually got accepted! It was a 7 month intense course where you were expected to gain knowledge of EVERY BMW bumper to bumper for the last 10 years but also be able to identify and successfully work on BMW products produced for the last 20 years. It was intense to say the least but upon the completion of this course I had 13 BMW training classes and specializations (which are kind of like ASE certifications that really only BMW recognizes because it is a BMWNA class on BMW's not general automotive stuff) Upon completion of this course all 13 of my classmates (myself included) were employed at various centers and one even for the VDC. I, myself, have since been to trainig twice with my current company and recieved 2 more certifications...as long as I maintain where I am (which is Master level trained) and remain in the field (with this shop or another) I will be elegable for Master Certification in 1.5 years.

Too add just a little more, sorry this is so long, I do agree with DRZ in the sense that I would much prefer working for someone with technical experience themselves...Our Service Manager is just a Manager and doesn't always understand our wants and needs as technicians he's all about the numbers...but our new General Manager started off in the shop and things are really starting to turn around for us in the back....I feel we all respect him a little more because he knows where we are coming from and understands how things REALLY work. I hope you find this information helpful....and do feel free to contact me anytime for any other questions you might have and I will do my best to answer them for you!!