• 15 YEARS AT ARTHREX

    Toni's Journey From Intern to IT Supervisor

    In October 2024, Toni Hoffmann celebrated his 15th anniversary at Arthrex. He started out as an intern and trainee in the IT department. Since then, he has continuously developed his skills and today heads the 10-strong "App Development" team within IT as a supervisor. Now in his early 30s, he’s already almost part of the furniture and remembers Arthrex back when it was a small business in Karlsfeld, where everyone knew everyone else.


    Get to know Toni and find out more about his journey in this interview.

     

 

 

How did your journey at Arthrex begin and what motivated you to start your career here?

I applied to Arthrex back then because I was impressed by the company's image and  training opportunities. I started out as an intern and was able to convert my internship into an apprenticeship. That was the start of my career with Arthrex.
 
What were your biggest challenges as an apprentice?
I had (and was allowed) to take on a lot of responsibility very quickly and  work autonomously. That meant working directly with the relevant departments developing software that was later even used by customers. These challenges have had a very positive impact on me.

 
What motivates you to come to work every day, and what excites you about your role?

I’m equally excited about managing people and engaging with digital products and technology.
 As a supervisor, I combine the best of both worlds. The professional development of my team and the innovative projects motivate me afresh every day.
 
Which projects or achievements are you particularly proud of and why?
I am particularly proud of developing the Inventory App, which enables products to be scanned at customers' premises. I oversaw and was responsible for this project from initial concept through the design phase to MEA-wide rollout.

The development process was very exciting: starting with the fact that I was able to accompany the sales force to customer appointments at hospitals and interview colleagues in order to define the requirements precisely. Together with the innovation team in IT, we developed the idea into a mock-up design and finally a prototype.

The international rollout of that app was a great success, which makes me very proud and shows how innovative and future-oriented we are in our work at Arthrex. Soon, it will also be used in Australia.


What are the distinguishing features of the corporate culture and people at Arthrex?

The corporate culture at Arthrex is characterized by a high level of appreciation and the opportunity to truly make a difference. Even as an apprentice, you are given a great deal of trust and responsibility. Despite the rapid expansion, the friendly and approachable environment has been preserved.

Our colleagues are motivated, innovative, flexible and willing to take on responsibility, which creates numerous opportunities for international cooperation and continuous career development.


 
What is your favorite benefit at Arthrex and why?
The free and very tasty lunch in our canteen! Since I joined Arthrex, we go out to eat as a team every day in the office, and I really value that because it's a great opportunity to talk about personal things and shared hobbies and interests.

 
Is there anything in particular at Arthrex that is especially close to your heart?

Yes, it was the first time I was allowed to give a presentation about my own projects in front of Arthrex President and Founder Reinhold Schmieding and get positive feedback and appreciation from him. That was an amazing moment for me.

 
How has your work at Arthrex impacted your personal life and career development?

My work at Arthrex has had a huge impact on my life. I was able to travel to the USA and made new friends there, which would not have happened without Arthrex. Thanks to my years of experience here, I’ve grown significantly both professionally and personally, gaining a great deal of autonomy and professionalism along the way.
 
What values are particularly important to you in your team and at work?
Passion, ownership, and personal responsibility. When recruiting new employees, passion and personal responsibility are more important to me than decades of experience.


 
If you could do someone else's job at Arthrex for a day, whose would it be and why?

I would like to step into the shoes of Reinhold (Arthrex President and Founder) or Daniel Schmieding–Reinhold's son and part of the EMEA Leadership Team–to see what issues they deal with on a daily basis and how they manage to set their priorities.


 
What message would you like to pass on to potential applicants and new employees?

In your application, make it clear that the position at Arthrex is more than just a job to you and how your personality can make a difference. Once you've joined the team, take advantage of the open culture here, network, and embrace new challenges.
 
 

How did your journey at Arthrex begin and what motivated you to start your career here?
I applied to Arthrex back then because I was impressed by the company's image and  training opportunities. I started out as an intern and was able to convert my internship into an apprenticeship. That was the start of my career with Arthrex.
 
What were your biggest challenges as an apprentice?
I had (and was allowed) to take on a lot of responsibility very quickly and work autonomously. That meant working directly with the relevant departments developing software that was later even used in production. These challenges have had a very positive impact on me.
 
What motivates you to come to work every day, and what excites you about your role?
I’m equally excited about managing people and engaging with digital products and technology. As a supervisor, I combine the best of both worlds. The professional development of my team and the innovative projects motivate me afresh every day.
 
Which projects or achievements are you particularly proud of and why?
I am particularly proud of developing the Inventory App, which enables products to be scanned at customers' premises. I oversaw and was responsible for this project from initial concept through the design phase to MEA-wide rollout.

The development process was very exciting: starting with the fact that I was able to accompany the sales force to see customers at hospitals and interview colleagues in order to define the requirements precisely. Together with my colleagues in IT, we developed the idea into a mock-up design and finally a prototype.

The international rollout of that app was a great success, which makes me very proud and shows how innovative and future-oriented we are in our work at Arthrex. Soon, it will also be used in Australia.
 
What are the distinguishing features of the corporate culture and people at Arthrex?
The corporate culture at Arthrex is characterized by a high level of appreciation and the opportunity to truly make a difference. Even as an apprentice, you are given a great deal of trust and responsibility. Despite the rapid expansion, the friendly and approachable environment has been preserved. Our colleagues are motivated, innovative, flexible and willing to take on responsibility, which creates numerous opportunities for international cooperation and continuous career development.
 
What is your favorite benefit at Arthrex and why?
The free and very tasty lunch in our canteen! Since I joined Arthrex, we go out to eat as a team every day in the office, and I really value that because it's a great opportunity to talk about personal things and shared hobbies and interests.
 
Is there anything in particular at Arthrex that is especially close to your heart?
Yes, it was the first time I was allowed to give a presentation about my own projects in front of Arthrex President and Founder Reinhold Schmieding and get positive feedback and appreciation from him. That was an amazing moment for me.
 
How has your work at Arthrex impacted your personal life and career development?
My work at Arthrex has had a huge impact on my life. I was able to travel to the USA and made new friends there, which would not have happened without Arthrex. Thanks to my years of experience here, I’ve grown significantly both professionally and personally, gaining a great deal of autonomy and professionalism along the way.
 
What values are particularly important to you in your team and at work?
Passion, ownership, and personal responsibility. When recruiting new employees, passion and personal responsibility are more important to me than decades of experience.
 
If you could do someone else's job at Arthrex for a day, whose would it be and why?
I would like to step into the shoes of Reinhold (Arthrex President and Founder) or Daniel Schmieding–Reinhold's son and part of the EMEA Leadership Team–to see what issues they deal with on a daily basis and how they manage to set their priorities.
 
What message would you like to pass on to potential applicants and new employees?
In your application, make it clear that the position at Arthrex is more than just a job to you and how your personality can make a difference. Once you've joined the team, take advantage of the open culture here, network, and embrace new challenges.
 

  • IN SUMMARY

    Toni's Career at Arthrex

    2009
    Started at Arthrex as an intern in the IT department in Karlsfeld and subsequently converted the internship into an apprenticeship as an IT specialist for developing apps

    2012
    Training completed successfully followed by permanent employment

    2017 to 2020
    Part-time course in Business Informatics (BA) and promotion to senior grade

    2022
    Took on a technical lead role in partnering with a colleague, as well as taking on a training role for the first time.

    2023
    Promotion to supervisor for the 10-strong "App Development" team

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