It certainly reflects well on an employer when staff members return after a period of absence – as in the case of Andreas Steinert. Find out why a visit to a trade fair prompted Nepata to leave, and what Nepata actually bakes, in this interview:
Would you like to introduce yourself? (Name, age if applicable, job, place of residence if applicable, etc.)
Hello, my name is Andreas Steinert. I’m 35 years old and, after a three-year break, I’m now back working at Nepata as a sales assistant – though I’m working from home in Lyon (France).
How long have you been with Nepata?
I started my apprenticeship in September 2015 and was subsequently taken on as a permanent employee. I travelled to Lyon for the Nepata 2017 trade fair. I fell in love with the city whilst I was there and decided to live there. Unfortunately, I had to leave Nepata in 2019 to fulfil a personal ambition. Fortunately, I am now able to work for Nepata again from home – this allows me to combine my personal and professional goals, and I still can’t quite believe that the two can be balanced so well.
What do you get up to when you’re not here at Nepata?
I’m actually always on the go. There’s still so much to discover here, and the city is developing at breakneck speed. For someone from the countryside like me, that’s naturally exciting. As the gastronomic capital, I’m spoilt for choice when it comes to food – and the bars aren’t half bad either. Now that the pandemic is over, the concerts and events are once again a great alternative to Netflix.
What do you particularly value about Nepata as an employer?
It was precisely after my experience with another employer that I realised just how modern this company is. The technical facilities – such as working from home, video presentations, chat, remote maintenance, etc. – are utilised to the full. Whether there’s a pandemic or not, there’s the option to work from home without losing personal contact.
I also really appreciate working with an international team and the fact that everyone can put forward their suggestions, which are then implemented straight away.
How would your perfect working day begin?
I arrive feeling well-rested and start by making myself a nice cappuccino. Then I have a chat with my colleagues. After that, I place countless orders or quickly sort out a problem and receive thanks from a happy customer.
How do you cope with stress at work?
I just take a little break in the fresh air every now and then, walk a few steps and focus on the positive things in life. Talking to others also helps me to regain a normal perspective on the world.
What do you consider important when working with your colleagues?
It’s important to me that, despite the physical distance, we’re all one team and everyone helps one another. And that we can talk openly to one another if something hasn’t gone quite right. Both of these things work quite well and I feel very much at home here.
Do you have any unusual preferences when it comes to documentaries?
There’s a documentary in France that follows customs officers as they go about their work. It’s absolute rubbish, but your brain just switches to relaxation mode when you watch someone trying to smuggle drugs in toothpaste or turtles in their underpants across the border.
Are you a morning person or do you hit the snooze button?
Definitely snooze. I used to allow up to an hour for snoozing, but now I get up ‘as early as’ after the third ring.
Is there a nice anecdote from Nepata’s history or a defining experience that you’d like to tell us about?
There was once a candidate applying for a back-office role. She was generally happy with the company, but then had one more question – what exactly is baked here?
