All beginnings are difficult: settling into a new team is always a bit of a challenge. When the work is almost exclusively digital because of the Corona situation, it can also quickly become a big task. So it’s good that Sina could rely on her buddy Christine when she joined the RWE Generation "HR Digital" team on 1 September 2020. In an interview with team:news, the two colleagues tell us what they were able to learn from each other and report on their best "buddy moment".
Christine began her training at RWE in 2008. After three years in various HR departments, she found her place in the "HR Digital Transformation, Demand & Vendor Management" team at RWE Generation, where she has been working since 2014.
Sina joined the same team on 1 September 2020. She previously worked in various HR roles at RWE from 2003 to 2016. Most recently, she headed the "HR Innovation, Strategy & Employer Brand" department at innogy until the end of June 2020.
Sina, you have been with RWE for less than half a year and certainly remember your first steps at the company well. Did your buddy Christine help you to find your way around quickly?
Sina: Absolutely! Right in my first week, Christine established our "Coffee Talk", which is still going strong today. Twice a week we start the day together with a coffee in the morning. From business topics to private conversations, everything is allowed in our 15-minute Skype calls. This helped me a lot, especially in the beginning, as it's not so easy to build up your network because of Corona. Christine gave me helpful insights and valuable tips - for example, which tools are used in the team or who the right contacts are for the different topics.
You seem to be a good buddy, Christine! Does your buddy role also enrich your working life?
Christine: It's always nice to be able to support someone. When I hear that I was able to make Sina's onboarding easier, it's a good feeling. But I was also able to learn a lot from her: Since Sina is a newcomer, she brings fresh and helpful perspectives and experiences to the team. For example, she has a very creative way of designing workshops. I was able to learn a lot from her.
You both work in the "HR Digital" team at RWE Generation. What are your tasks?
Christine: Together with "HR IT", we develop solutions in our area to make HR processes as simple and efficient as possible in everyday work. In this context, we also provide the necessary tools, such as our HR portal or our learning platform.
So you are united by a common preference for digitalisation?
Sina: Yes, you could say that. Digitisation is a broad and very important topic. In HR, we have to make our processes ever more customer-oriented, faster and more efficient, and we have to develop the mindset further in order to also carry RWE powerfully into the future as a cross-sectional function. Being able to play a part in this is an exciting challenge.
Christine: But it's not just our interest in digitalisation and our joint work that makes us buddies. We have become good friends and support each other when we need help or advice.
Then the buddy programme has paid off! What was your best buddy moment?
Sina (laughs): It was definitely the first currywurst we had together on campus! As good as it is to exchange ideas via Skype. It's also nice to meet in person every now and then. I'm hoping that will be possible again soon and I’m really looking forward to it.
We are all looking forward to that. Last but not least, describe your buddy in three words.
Christine: Honest, funny and creative.
Sina: Funny, direct and empathetic.
Thank you very much for the interview!
