Tobias Faller

I moved to Mannheim in 2017 to attend college and studied media and communication sciences at the University of Mannheim. Since I grew up in the Palatinate, the move wasn’t a huge culture shock for me. One moment from my first week, however, has stuck with me. We were told: When you move to Mannheim, you cry twice. Once when you arrive, and once when you leave.” Mannheim may not have the classic beauty of Heidelberg or Amsterdam, where I lived later. But the city quickly becomes home. In Amsterdam, I didn’t cry when I arrived, but I didn’t cry when I left either.

Tobias Faller

Yes, definitely. I think Mannheim is totally underrated as a college town. A lot of student life takes place in a compact area around the squares and the university. Even outside of classes, the university offers plenty of opportunities to network. That’s why I already knew my best friends from college before the first lecture, thanks to freshman orientation events, and some of those friendships from back then still last today.

Tobias Faller

Most of it took place around the university. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t spend a lot of time in the libraries. Of course, I also went to a Schneckenhof party or two. These days, I’m not out and about as much as I was in my early 20s. After work, I like to take a walk along the Rhine, play basketball by the Neckar, meet up with friends, or go out for a nice meal in the city.

Tobias Faller

I did my master’s degree in Amsterdam and lived in the Netherlands for a year. But it became clear to me relatively quickly that I wanted to move back to Mannheim. My family lives nearby, and my friends were still here, too. That’s why it didn’t feel like coming back at all—more like a seamless transition. Mannheim also offered good career opportunities. Here, I had the chance to get started at a great company. I’m glad I chose this path and decided to stay.

Tobias Faller

At its core, Mannheim hasn’t changed all that much. Of course, the cityscape has changed. I’m thinking of the Lindenhof, where I live, and what’s been developed around the train station. As a young professional, I benefit greatly from that.

Tobias Faller

The Lindenhof has a bit of a heart of its own and its own little ecosystem. With the neighborhood’s pedestrian zone, you have everything you need for daily life within just a few meters. Of course, you can get to downtown quickly, but basically, you wouldn’t even have to leave Lindenhof because you really have everything right on your doorstep. At the same time, you’re just a short walk from the Rhine, the waterfront, and green spaces. It’s this mix that makes the neighborhood so pleasant for me.

Tobias Faller

Tobias Faller: On the one hand, it’s about internal communication. We make sure to keep our employees fully informed in a transparent manner. On the other hand, we communicate externally to raise INTER’s profile and bring our company’s issues and perspectives to the public.

Tobias Faller

INTER is a reliable partner in the insurance industry. In 2026, we’ll have been in business for 100 years, and that experience comes with a wealth of expertise. Insurance involves large sums of money and sensitive data. When you’ve been in the market for 100 years, you’ve been through a lot and know how to handle change.

Tobias Faller

The industry is much less conservative than I initially thought. I had the classic image of a sales rep in a suit and tie standing at the door. In reality, it’s much more laid-back, and the interactions are totally down-to-earth. I came here from a different field and hadn’t worked in the insurance industry before. Fortunately, what’s much more important for my job is conveying the right messages and knowing which topics to place in which media, for whom, and how. But I couldn’t sell insurance policies. I don’t think that’s really my style.

Tobias Faller

INTER offers me a great deal of flexibility. I’m able to balance my personal life and my career very well. We’re allowed to work remotely up to four days a week. At the same time, there are plenty of great incentives to come into the office more often—for example, a free gym, modern offices, and a fantastic cafeteria with chefs we train ourselves. We also get together regularly for team days to build our team and find solutions together. INTER places a lot of emphasis on this kind of collaboration company-wide. As a result, working together within our team and with other departments is really harmonious and straightforward.

Tobias Faller

I’ve been playing team sports for as long as I can remember. After handball, I switched to basketball and played for SG Mannheim for a long time. Through sports, I’ve made many friendships that still last today. Basketball still shapes my life. In the summer, I like to go to the basketball court by the Neckar River. To this day, it remains a gathering spot for Mannheim’s basketball scene. On a nice summer evening, lots of people get together there to play, often without having made plans beforehand. You just drop by because you’re in the mood for basketball, and you form spontaneous teams. This has a strong inclusive effect: anyone can join in. That’s how I spend the occasional evening with little thought for everyday life and just the ball in my hands. It’s a ton of fun.

Tobias Faller

I also like to take visitors to the market square to grab a bite to eat—ideally for breakfast. For many people, a Turkish breakfast is something completely new. That’s why I enjoy doing this with them, and so far, it’s always been a big hit. Especially since in Mannheim, you can get not just Turkish cuisine, but pretty much everything.