Becoming an adessi – a special application process 

Looking for a new, exciting and challenging job is never easy. Yet I was surprised how demanding it was. As I was looking for a job outside the academic field in 2023, the job market appeared as if employers were looking for young talents, who already have many years of experience – which I did not have. Job offers strongly asked for many years of job experience that an applicant shall offer. Oftentimes, it was hardly a matter of what an employer offers an applicant - and, for me, a fresh fruit basket every week is not a serious argument. Identifying employers that fit my character and values was a challenge. Then, in the multitude of job vacancies, adesso caught my attention with the slogan “Business. People. Technology.” 

adesso’s slogan “Business. People. Technology” positively attracted me, as it puts people in the center. The job advertisement was for the role of requirements engineer. Similarly to other job advertisements, it asked for my skills and expertise. Yet a strong focus was on soft skills, my motivation and work ethic and how adesso could fulfil the desire for growth and employee satisfaction. Hopeful of a match, I applied for the position. 

Only one day after submitting my application, I received an e-mail with an invitation for a first telephone interview with the recruiter. The telephone call took place a week later and I learned that two hiring managers from different departments were interested in interviewing me. adesso gave me the choice of which application process I would like to proceed. Furthermore, I was assured that if one of the application procedures ended in a mismatch, I could continue the interview process for the other position. By this proposal, I got the impression that adesso was really interested in bringing the right people together. Questions of the interview were of a fundamental kind, such as my motivation and background and whether I would be open to travelling. I received the invitation to a second interview with the recruiter and the hiring manager one day after the first interview. 

The second interview took place via video call. I prepared myself even more vigorously by refreshing my knowledge about adesso and requirements engineering, creating an appealing video setting with plants in my background, adjusting the camera to eye level, and empowering myself with an appropriate outfit and a good mood. However, what I missed was checking the technical conditions for joining the video interview itself. I arrived several minutes too late after I discovered that my browser did not support the video application. Both the recruiter and the hiring manager were still waiting for me. They assured me that technical issues can happen and started the interview. The questions covered my motivation for the position and my professional knowledge. During the interview, I learned that the hiring manager was looking for a consultant with the qualities of a requirements engineer to lead projects on computerized system validation (CSV) and product development. In the end, we agreed to have another meeting to further elaborate on the additional requirements for the position.  

In the follow-up meeting, the hiring manager and I discussed my CSV skill level. Furthermore, we exchanged each other’s expectations regarding the roles of supervisor and employee, work ethics, and development opportunities at adesso. The extended responsibilities of the job opportunity and the investment offer in me as a professional sparked my interest even more. I assured the hiring manager that I was still interested in the position. 

Two days later, the recruiter invited me to the final application round on-site in Zurich. My task was to prepare a 20-minute presentation on a topic of my choice, which I should hold in front of my future colleagues. Through the presentation and the conversation, the hiring team aims to reflect on my skills and presence as a consultant. 

The presentation took place two weeks later. Beside my rehearsed presentation, I made sure I was dressed appropriately and informed myself about the attending people on LinkedIn. I was introduced to my future team colleagues, who participated in the presentation and interview. In a conference room, four adessi looked at me and my opening slide expectantly. Two further adessi attended my presentation virtually. They were from different experience levels – from the head of the department to team leads and senior consultants. With a confident smile, I introduced myself on my first slides from a professional and private perspective. Afterwards, my presentation invited the attendees to learn more about my PhD research in trust and requirements engineering. As adesso aimed to evaluate whether I could be an excellent consultant, I wanted to consult the consultants on how to show their trustworthiness to their clients. The follow-up questions covered my trust research and aimed at my willingness to work on projects with specific technical backgrounds, my understanding of providing good service, and my aspiration for the future. While I was shown around the office, the adesso team discussed their impression on my interview. After half an hour, I received my feedback. They praised my way of presenting and definitely saw the consultant in me. Yet they wanted to see more of my true colors. 

As the hiring manager invited me to a lunch interview with a team colleague a week later, I learned that in addition to professional skills, adesso is especially interested in the human being coming with the package. It was a more casual get-together. We talked about personal interests, past experiences, and future goals. We discussed my application and the application process in general - what we appreciated and what could be enhanced. Furthermore, we talked about how to overcome potential future challenges in a supportive way. In total, we got to know each other on a more personal level. For me, the lunch appointment showed the caring character of adesso for a mutual match. The interview took away the last bit of concern that had formed during my job search - that I would find an employer who was mainly pursuing their own interests and had little interest in mine. By the end of our lunch, I happily agreed to the offer to come to the Zurich office for contract negotiation the next day. 

Now that I have been working at adesso for a year, I can definitely say that my impression of the recruiting process has confirmed that “people” are a top priority at adesso. adesso supports a working culture of constant and transparent feedback, encourages individuality, and fosters intrinsic creativity. Yes, it is a culture that may cost time and commitment from both the consultant and the supervisor. But time and effort are well invested when they empower people to not just thrive personally, but also to thrive together with businesses and technology.

So let us know if you believe that you and adesso are a good match and if you are ready for a balanced give and take that allows you, us and our clients to grow in the best possible way.