Debora has been part of the PHOENIX MEDIA team in Stuttgart since the beginning of the year and is responsible for central HR tasks. In the interview, we got to know her even better and talked to her about why she decided to pursue a career as an HR manager, what the important core competencies in this area of the company are and what she particularly appreciates in her day-to-day work.
Interview with Debora Göhring
Please introduce yourself!
I'm Debora, I'm 26 years old and I live with my boyfriend and my little cat Findus in Filderstadt. After school and a one-year au pair stay in the USA, I first worked at Aldi as a sales representative and then completed my dual bachelor’s degree there. After graduating, I was responsible for five stores as regional sales manager. During my time at Aldi I was able to take a lot with me for my future life including, among other things, a high level of resilience, a broad knowledge of human nature, good organizational and time management skills and last but not least my boyfriend. I met him there :)
What exactly is your position here at PHOENIX MEDIA? Can you tell me something about your daily work? What do you do and to what extent does that help the agency?
I am employed as an HR manager at PHOENIX MEDIA and accordingly take care of all HR related topics that arise in the agency. A focus area of responsibility is recruiting new employees who will further strengthen our team. In addition, I am also responsible for all internal personnel matters, such as conducting regular feedback meetings and developing individual development opportunities for all employees. I am always available to answer any questions from my work colleagues, plan and organize cool events for the entire team together with my colleagues and I am always on the lookout for new tools and innovations for our company.
Why did you decide to become an HR manager?
As an HR manager, you have contact with all colleagues from every area of the company. I like this exchange and the cooperation within the team and I really enjoy it. In addition, in my position I can contribute to the fact that we as a company are constantly growing. That motivates me a lot! I would describe my work as very exciting and varied, as the topics related to personnel matters are very diverse. Employees are the most important asset a company has. Being allowed to take care of them means a lot of responsibility for me.
What qualities do you think you should have as an HR-Manager? What is essential for the job and why?
As an HR manager you have to be very communicative and open-minded. This is extremely important, especially in the recruiting process, but also when it comes to the company's image as an employer. You also have to be very approachable and trustworthy as you will be the first point of contact for colleagues in the company.
Which projects are you currently in charge of?
In addition to day-to-day tasks in the areas of recruiting and employee matters, I am currently working with a colleague on the conception of our new corporate wear and the introduction of a new personnel system. We are also putting together a new goodie bag as a welcome gift for new employees. The planning for the first team events this year have also already started.
How did you find out about PHOENIX MEDIA?
When I was looking for a career change, I came across the job advertisement from PHOENIX MEDIA. The wide range of tasks and the assumption of responsibility for all HR issues that arise appealed to me very much. In the end, PHOENIX MEDIA completely convinced me during the personal interview. The impressive office is of course an eye-catcher, but the real convincing highlight was the team spirit and the working atmosphere. I have never had such an informative, enjoyable and fun interview before.
What do you particularly like about PHOENIX MEDIA?
In any case, the young, dynamic and international team behind PHOENIX MEDIA with its many different characters deserves special mention. This goes hand in hand with the flat hierarchies, which make communication easier and working together much more fun. I also particularly like the employee orientation at PHOENIX MEDIA. The employees are the most important resource in the company and PHOENIX MEDIA has definitely recognized that. That's why we benefit from many benefits here, such as mobile work (even from abroad), discounts through corporate benefits, free drinks of all kinds and much more. As an HR manager, I can't resist pointing out our advertised vacancies again at this point. Feel free to send me your application! :)
What do you love most about your job?
What I enjoy most is interacting with the different teams and colleagues - regardless of the topic. My area of responsibility is a good mix of different activities. That's why I always have the opportunity to familiarize myself with new topics. I particularly enjoy the onboarding of new employees. It is of course always a positive event to welcome a new member to the PHOENIX MEDIA family.
How do you spend your leisure time?
In my free time, I really enjoy spending time with friends and family. I cook and bake a lot and love to be outside. To balance work, I go to the gym or play a game of pool. Otherwise, I love to travel and discover new countries.
Your favorite place in the office?
What I like best is the reception area in our office in Stuttgart. Here you have a wonderful view over Stuttgart as soon as you enter the office. In addition, it is nice and bright and the lounge invites you to linger with your colleagues in the evening.
Your favorite place in Stuttgart and why?
My favorite place in Stuttgart is the airport - even if it's actually not directly located in Stuttgart. There is always such a cool vibe here: on the one hand, the excitement of a nice trip and, on the other hand, the feeling of coming home.
Thank you very much, dear Debora, for the very exciting and interesting interview. We are pleased that you are strengthening our team in Stuttgart and wish you lots of fun and success during your daily work.
Are you also interested in taking over a new challenge within the e-commerce sector? Then just have a look at our career page and discover our interesting job offers.
We look forward to receiving your application by email to jobs@phoenix-media.eu.
