Tell us a bit about yourself
Hi! My name is Martin. I’m 32 years old and a graduate software engineer. I live in Rotkreuz, Switzerland - not very far from one of the headquarters of the Roche Diagnostics Division - and I’m one of the so-called ‘locals’, having been born and raised in the area of Central Switzerland.
I followed a rather traditional Swiss education path, first completing a professional training in the area of Electronic Engineering before moving on to study Computer Science at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts.
In my spare time, I enjoy playing sports. If I had to choose a favourite, it would definitely be volleyball. I started playing volleyball as a young boy and find that it is still the perfect sport for me – it`s fast, energetic and all about being a part of a team. You may contribute a lot as an individual, but to make a real difference, you need to be able to play as a group to overcome individual shortcomings.
In which Roche location do you currently work and what can you tell us about that location as a work environment?
I currently work at the Roche Diagnostics headquarters in Rotkreuz, Switzerland. For me, this is the perfect place to work - a big campus full of shiny, new, white buildings, good infrastructure and comfortable work spaces. The site has grown rapidly over the last couple of years and we now enjoy a wide variety of benefits, among others a convenient cafeteria and restaurant. The many sports clubs at Roche provide ample opportunities to enjoy the countryside and meet new colleagues after work. Last, but not least, it’s very close to my home and the short commute is a definite advantage.
In general, I would say it’s worth spending at least a part of your life in Central Switzerland - the lovely countryside surrounded by placid lakes and snowy mountains, inviting you to go skiing or hiking depending on the season. When the view out of your office window is comparable to a picturesque postcard, you just know it can’t get any better than that!
Why did you decide to join Roche and why at this location?
I’ve actually joined Roche twice! The first was right out of school, when I was looking for a place to start my apprenticeship. I joined Roche then at quite a young age, mostly impressed by the long-standing solid reputation that the company holds. After earning my professional degree, I proceeded to broaden my horizons at university.
Once I’d graduated as a software engineer, I found myself back at Roche. It wasn’t a hard decision; with all the wonderful learning experiences I’d had in the past at Roche, I grabbed at the rare chance to join a reputable international company as a fresh graduate and I’ve never looked back since.