The fifth cycle of talks ‘What now?’, organised by Francisco Zunzunegui, director of SITE UNEATLANTICO has brought to the Assembly Hall the conference ‘Would you like to know how leading companies like Volkswagen and Meta work?
The European University of the Atlantic (UNEATLANTICO) organised the debate ‘What now?’, in which Bruno Cendón, Senior Director Architecture at Meta (California) and Ana Lanza Barranquero, Senior Expert Capacity Manager at Volkswagen Group (Germany), shared their professional experience. During their interventions, they offered advice on how to stand out in interviews, make a good impression and make the most of opportunities to develop an international career.
Ana Lanza began her presentation by sharing her career path and her experience in various positions in different areas of the automotive sector. Initially, her plan was to work abroad for three years, but her career took a different direction.
Currently, he plays a key role at Volkswagen in Germany. She stressed the importance of multilingualism and dedication, telling how, when she was transferred, she started to study German to better adapt to her new position.
For his part, Bruno Cendón described his international experience in two fundamental stages. The first began after finishing his career in Spain in 1999, when he moved to France to work for Motorola, where he stayed for about a decade. Subsequently, after the closure of Motorola’s headquarters in France, he returned to Cantabria and, years later, he moved to the United States, where he is currently Senior Director Architecture at Meta.
During his speech, Cendón showed the Ray-Ban Meta glasses, an innovative augmented reality device developed by his company. He explained that these glasses allow you to take photos and videos, listen to music, make calls and even stream live to Facebook and Instagram, all without taking your phone out of your pocket.
The vice-rector, Dr. Silvia Aparicio, showed interest in knowing the environmental impact that a company like Meta has when making use of Artificial Intelligence. On this issue, Bruno Cendón said that this is a pending issue on which there is still work to be done. He acknowledged that it is essential to find a balance between sustainability and technological progress, and that work must be done in both directions at the same time to minimise the environmental impact without slowing down innovation.
During the presentation, both professionals shared their perspective on the key aspects that companies value when hiring talent. They agreed on the importance of skills such as social intelligence, adaptability, teamwork, long-term vision and resilience. Cendón emphasised that when looking at a CV, they look at the skills, potential and learning capacity of the candidates. In addition, he recommended that the CV should be clear and structured, highlighting key achievements and competencies. He also stressed the importance of developing skills such as conflict resolution, creativity and leadership.
Regarding job interviews, both speakers emphasised the need for prior preparation. They advised researching the company and the interviewers, formulating questions in advance and taking care of personal presence, as well as verbal and non-verbal language. They also highlighted the importance of punctuality and the proper management of the professional image in social networks, factors that can make the difference in a selection process.
At the end of the talk, there was a question and answer session in which the students were able to express their doubts and receive direct and enriching answers from the speakers.
UNEATLANTICO’s ‘What now?’ lecture series seeks to connect students with outstanding professionals, providing them with essential resources to strengthen their employability and growth in the world of work.