A few months ago, the Central Association of German Handicrafts (ZDH) wrote "the hottest internship in the world": A week in a car workshop in Abu Dhabi - "thunderous engines, cars with up to 1,200 hp between sand and palm trees," lured the PR campaign.
"Although the apprenticeship as a car mechatronics engineer is relatively well-known, it is still strongly affected by the shortage of skilled workers," says Miriam Melanie Köhler from the ZDH. "The internship aims to show young people how modern and international the craft is today." 16-year-old Melih Cömlek applied - and was selected from more than 200 applicants.
SPIEGEL: In your autumn vacation you were in Abu Dhabi where you worked as a trainee in a car repair shop. Why did you apply?
Cömlek: I've been interested in cars and tuning before. The best: I was allowed to do the internship with the well-known car mechanic and tuner Jimmy Pelka. By the way, I wanted to learn how such a car works.
SPIEGEL: Your internship lasted for a week. What did you have to do there?
Cömlek: That was always different: one day I was on the test bench, another in the service area, then the tuning. I learned the most when I had to change brake pads. I really underestimated how difficult that is: After the change you have to re-insert the many screws correctly and test the brake to see if it will continue to work. Or change spark plugs, that was really exciting.
SPIEGEL: In your workshop you were allowed to screw on expensive cars - but they do not drive yet.
Cömlek: With my bosses, however, I was allowed to test two cars, a Mercedes A 45 AMG and a McLaren 720S. They made 260 km / h - that was great fun and was really a cool experience.
SPIEGEL: And after work?
Cömlek: There we were in Abu Dhabi and Dubai and looked at sights: The largest mosque in the world, the tallest building in the world, we went to malls, went jet skiing and go-karting. There was enough time for that: I did not have to go to the workshop until noon, where I spent about four to five hours every day.
SPIEGEL: Back then, you applied for "the hottest internship in the world". Your conclusion?
Cömlek: The hottest internship in the world was definitely. Not only because I learned so much, but also because of everything I was allowed to see and experience after work. I do not think later internships can top that.
SPIEGEL: Will they also have something to do with cars and tuning?
Cömlek: I'm still not sure what I want to do later. However, I have the feeling after the internship: It should be something with cars.
SPIEGEL: How did your classmates actually react to the internship?
Cömlek: Many did not believe that I was really doing this. It was not until they saw my pictures uploaded on the internet during my time in Abu Dhabi that I was able to convince them.
SPIEGEL: You fly to Abu Dhabi for a week and go jet skiing, while for months many young people have been taking to the streets for more climate protection. Did you have a guilty conscience?
Cömlek: No, I think everybody would have done that, and he would have the opportunity. No one spoke to me about climate change. However, I found it exciting to get a glimpse of how Jimmy Pelka uses tuning to reduce car fuel consumption.
