Maksim’s Experience in the Evonik Team

Hello, my name is Maksim. I'm originally from Sri Lanka and currently pursuing my Master's in Chemical and Bioengineering at FAU Erlangen, Germany.

At Evonik, I completed an internship in Process Technology within the Particle Processing department. I had the chance to work with pilot plants, mainly for Direct Air Capture (DAC), and with a thin film dryer (ATFD). My main tasks included operating the pilot plants and figuring out the best operating parameters. And honestly, I loved every single day of it.

From my experience, whether work feels enjoyable or not mostly depends on your colleagues. And during my time at Evonik, I had one of the best working experiences I could have asked for. I always felt supported, and there was always someone willing to help. Everyone was kind, open, and genuinely helpful.

We started as coworkers, but over time, it really felt like we became friends. It wasn't just about saying “have a nice weekend” out of habit, it was real. People actually cared. You could feel it in the conversations, the laughs during breaks, and the time spent together outside of work. It didn't even feel like work anymore, it felt like just hanging out with friends.

I still remember my first day, feeling nervous and completely overwhelmed. With the right support, everything quickly became easier.

Another highlight was meeting other interns working on different projects. You get insights into other areas of the company and learn from each other. And of course, the activities outside of work: playing badminton, going bouldering, visiting Christmas markets, or even paintball and relaxed evenings together.

When I started, I had little industrial experience and didn't know anyone. Now, I have friends from universities across Germany and Europe. I built strong relationships, enjoyed plenty of cake and coffee, and learned a lot about my future profession. I gained an understanding of how a company like this works, the different departments, and even some HR terminology.

These are things you can't learn from a book or at university and they're tied to many meaningful memories.