Unmatched experience
Working on the Citijet project turned out to be an invaluable experience for everyone involved.
“This is not something many 19-year-olds can put on their résumé,” says Novotný, emphasizing that the students had real autonomy: “Our instructor acted more like a liaison officer. If he saw something heading in the wrong direction, he’d step in — otherwise, the teachers let us handle everything ourselves.”
That hands-on independence proved crucial in launching many of their careers. Today, Novotný works in technical support for Škoda Auto’s marketing vehicle presentations. His role keeps him involved with student-built cars as well — recently, for example, he helped set up Škoda vehicles for fan zones at the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. “It’s a fun and dynamic job. We often work with one-off or non-standard vehicles, so we’re in close contact with engineers to figure out unique technical solutions,” he explains.
For Jana Siudová, what once felt like a nightmare — presentations and communication — is now part of her everyday professional life. “We experienced a lot of stressful situations during the project, and that’s what taught me how to communicate — both within the team and externally,” she says, reflecting on the project’s impact. Today, those skills serve her well in the paint shop, where she handles supplier communications among other responsibilities. “Having prior experience definitely helped me during job interviews,” she adds.