A winding career path led to the goal – lateral entry possible at ID

It is not always the straight paths that lead to the goal. For ID’s new addition, Christiane Pförtner, it was precisely the winding detours that ultimately brought her to a new career at ID. She is proud of that – and rightly so. We introduce the Technical Product Designer.

At the age of 19, the now 42-year-old moved from Dresden to Düsseldorf. From the far east to the far west – the spatial and cultural distance for an “Ossi” could not have been greater. And then the young woman began her training as a screen printer in a typical male profession. All of this met with skepticism and resistance. But despite all the difficulties that the single mother has to overcome to this day, her motto has always been: straighten your crown and keep going.

When screen printing was replaced by digital printing and the profession was no longer in demand, Pförtner initially switched to retail. During this time, she bought an old 1989 Mercedes 190, which she still maintains and cares for on her own. Through contact with a small Mercedes workshop in Wesseling near Cologne, she received a job offer and subsequently manufactured cable harnesses for engines. However, the one-sided strain caused her to suffer chronic nerve inflammation in her forearm, which forced her to quit. What now? Since the original apprenticeship was no longer in demand on the job market, Chrissy, as she is nicknamed, decided to undergo a two-and-a-half-year retraining program to become a Technical Product Designer.

The associated 10-month internship at ID Engineering brought about a turning point in the truest sense of the word. Trainer René Dederichs quickly recognized the young woman’s skills. In the middle of last year, it was decided to take her on in a permanent position after she successfully completed her training in January 2025. Since February 1, she has been part of the team and, after many detours, finally feels like she has reached her goal with her tasks and at her new workplace.