FORMULA STUDENT WILL BENEFIT YOU MORE THAN ANY TEMPORARY JOB EVER COULD

While scheduling our interview, you have suggested to meet at 7:30. Does your working day always start so early?

Sometimes even earlier than that. I am an early riser and I like to wake up early, that way I can also finish my work early. I don’t like sitting in the office until late in the evening. The time of my arrival at work each day depends on the agenda.

Organisation appears to be your strong suit. On your LinkedIn, you have listed six work experiences already despite the fact that you only graduated from university this spring. Which position has brought you the furthest?

I actually haven’t listed everything on there! I still need to update my profile and add that I have been working full-time at Škoda Auto since September. I always tried not to stop at theory, but rather to start gathering practical knowledge as soon as possible. The Azubi Car project, sponsored by Škoda Auto, was a turning point for me as a secondary vocational school student. When I was 17, I was already taking part in designing and manufacturing a student car and I got to see the car creation process from the first sketch to the final product. We were assisted by Škoda Auto professionals from various departments, ranging from development to marketing and communication. These were often very inspirational people, such as the then chief designer Jozef Kabaň and his team. This project motivated me to the point where I began contemplating university studies. I simply wanted to make it further in life than to the end of our village.

You are a trained car mechanic, you received your high school diploma in Operations Engineering and then you went on to study Road Transportation and City Traffic at the Faculty of Engineering at the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZU). Such a combination is quite unusual.

It is quite unusual indeed. However, each part of my study journey had its purpose. At the vocational school, I wanted to learn the craft first, and then use it in practice. For two consecutive years, I spent my summer working at Škoda Auto’s department responsible for preparing cars for various vehicle safety tests. Later on, when studying for my high school diploma, I had the chance to visit Audi in Ingolstadt while on Erasmus+. There, I realised the importance of knowing foreign languages. Until then, I mostly spoke German, but after this experience, I began learning English, too. The opportunity to be independent and to try working in a foreign environment was priceless. I still have friends at Audi to this day. The Erasmus Programme was also full of great adventures – for example, I didn’t want to spend too much on public transport, so I bought a mountain bike at a second-hand shop, helmet and padlock included. I rode it all around the city and its surroundings and when I was going back home, I sold it to a new owner for the same price.

After obtaining your high school diploma, you left Škoda Auto for a different company…

Yes, I began working as a maintenance technician at Continental in Brandýs nad Labem. This allowed me to gain practical experience right after my studies. It was a very interesting environment and I still benefit from this experience until today, as I can empathise with maintenance workers better. When I worked as a maintenance technician, I never enjoyed doing paperwork and manually copying data from table to table for long hours. That’s why today, in the Central Technical Service Department, we try our best to bring innovative solutions which will make work easier and more efficient for people in Maintenance, increase the technical availability of machines and reduce downtime in Production. In our department, we handle various projects related to predictive maintenance as well as digitalisation – for example, the Fixit project. The range and variety of projects we have here is astounding, which gives me great pleasure.

Throughout your university years, you were part of the Formula Student competition and the CULS Prague Formula Racing team. How did you come across this project?

It was my second week of university and I was just on my way to a lecture when I heard a loud noise of a revving engine. I went to have a look and find out what’s happening, and it turns out that there was a formula racing car driving around right on our – otherwise peaceful – campus. I knew a bit about Formula Student prior to starting university but it was fascinating to see it driving around with my own eyes. And I was not the only one who was drawn in by the dynamic display. Crowds of people from seemingly all the faculties came to watch. I went to check out the booth, where the Formula guys explained everything to me and asked me to join them. I decided to go for it, and I ended up being part of the team for five years. Today, I only attend as an alumnus, and I try my best to pass on knowledge. Next year, the team will be developing a formula car with a hybrid drivetrain, which is quite an ambitious challenge to take on. Maybe one day, I will return to Formula Student as a judge or a tech commissioner.

What were you responsible for on the team?

I started off with simple tasks such as ordering or purchasing something and making simple parts. After some time, I started working on my own technical projects. I designed a new engine cooling system with an electric water pump, an exhaust system, and a braking system including the pedal group as part of my diploma thesis. I also performed tests for deformation elements and so on. Apart from technical challenges, I was also responsible for the management of the team, liaising with key partners and maintaining long term relationships with them, reaching out to potential sponsors and placing orders with external suppliers as we were not able to manufacture all parts in-house. I was often on the phone for long hours, until I got the partner or the technology that we needed at that moment. A project cannot be successfully executed without strong partners. Formula Student has given me experience which only studying couldn’t have. I can’t even think of any job, temporary or full-time, which would have an even remotely comparable scope.

How did you manage everything while studying?

Honestly? I didn’t have much free time and it was extremely demanding at times. After a lecture, I would go straight to our office and assembly shop. We have very good facilities at the Faculty of Engineering at CZU. Especially before the start of a season, we devoted all of our time to working on a new formula car but still had to pass all of our exams just like our classmates. To build a competitive car in less than a year, you need to put in thousands of honest and responsible work. At the same time, Formula Student has always been a hobby to me, too, so I never saw it as a chore. If I didn’t enjoy the project, I would have given up in the first year. I think that the rest of the CULS Prague Formula Racing team feels the same way. They are simply doers. And whenever we wanted to have some fun and catch a break, we would go kart racing or bowling.

It was thanks to the competition that Škoda Auto noticed you again and offered you an internship.

And a really interesting at that! I began working on software tools for maintenance. With time, I realised the complexity of the manufacturing field, and maintenance especially intrigued me. It is incredible how many things must click for a good-quality, well-made car to roll off the assembly line. To achieve such result, you need countless handy and qualified people. Especially in today’s world, where both cars and machines are becoming more and more complicated.

How did an internship turn into a full-time job?

This winter, as my master’s degree graduation date was approaching, Škoda has reached out to me and asked if I would like to try to apply for a position in the Central Technical Service Department.

Did you accept the offer right away?

I hesitated for some time, as I already had around 15 offers from various companies sitting on my desk, some of which were truly intriguing. For example, I could have taken part in the development of engines at a different car manufacturing company or pursue a PhD. It was not an easy decision to make but, in the end, I joined Škoda. I live near Turnov, which is not far from Mladá Boleslav, and I didn’t want to spend hours in traffic commuting from Prague and to Prague. Besides, I was looking for a place where I wouldn’t stagnate after a while. Based on my experience with Škoda, I knew the company could guarantee that. And I am not disappointed – I am learning something new every day.

You don’t study anymore, you are not working on a formula car, and you have adjusted working hours. Isn’t having this much free time strange?

Actually, I am still getting used to it. In summer, I enjoy biking and skiing in winter. When the weather is bad, I like to read something out of my small collection of technical literature. Some of the books I own are 70 years old. It’s interesting to see how some things have changed beyond recognition while others remain the same. I also have a small workshop at home, where I would like to start working on interesting projects soon…