Hilti’s Workplace Culture: What Makes It Truly Special

Before I joined Hilti in 2017, I was working a job where I was neither engaged nor challenged, for a company with limited growth opportunities. In other words, I felt stuck. I knew that I needed to make a drastic change – I needed to move, I needed to change jobs and I needed to do it soon.

During my job search, I stumbled across Hilti and was intrigued by the company. Privately-owned, global presence, market leader – it checked all the boxes I was looking for. Thankfully, I found an opportunity that matched my skillset and was asked to join the company as an Account Manager in Seattle, Washington.

From Fear of Heights to High-Rise Confidence: My Unexpected Start in Construction

When I started with Hilti, I was completely new to the world of construction. I couldn’t tell you how a building was built or how to use a power tool. A fun fact about me is that I’m terrified of heights – and let me tell you, walking high-rise jobsites, climbing ladders and using buck hoists were almost enough to send me running. But amazing teammates, patient customers and thorough training equipped me to face my fears (with wobbly knees and a tear in my eye).

Almost eight years later, I’m surprised and grateful to still be working here. I had assumed that I would work for the company for a few years before it would be time to find my next opportunity. And while that was true, it just so happened that my next opportunity (and the ones after that) was right here with Hilti.

I am often asked to pick a favorite thing about working at Hilti. Every time, my response is the same – the people. The people at this company are inspiring, caring, supportive, brilliant – the list goes on and on. I have been lucky enough to find friends, mentors and sponsors throughout my career here. From offering a safe space for me to fact-check career advice or opening (metaphorical) doors for me that I didn’t even know existed, to helping put the spare tire on my Hilti van anytime I got a flat, I would not be where I am today if it weren’t for the Hilti colleagues who have supported me along the way.

At Hilti, we define our culture as performance-oriented and caring. We like to win, and we like to win together. And on that journey to success, we care for our people. That can look like a coffee chat to check in on a colleague, an intentional development plan to support your career goals or offering a variety of leaves, paid time off and benefits to meet our team members wherever they are on their life journey.

On a job site in Seattle, Washington.

From MBA to Global Leadership: My Journey Through Hilti’s Development Programs

Beyond the people and culture, Hilti has been a great match for me because of the development opportunities available and the support I have received throughout my career here. We have an award-winning Learning and Development team that supports in-person and virtual classes on topics ranging from leadership, Lean project management, public speaking and beyond. The company also offers education assistance and reimbursement for degrees or professional certificates. As someone who loves to learn new things, I have leveraged these benefits to obtain my MBA, HR certification (SHRM-CP) and my Lean Yellow Belt. These development opportunities have brought additional enrichment and engagement to my career at Hilti.

The company also has structured development programs available to team members. I had the opportunity to participate in an Emerging Leaders Program in 2019 where I had to propose a solution to a real business challenge the company was facing under the mentorship of a senior leader, which was an amazing opportunity to learn and grow. In 2022, I was invited to take part in a global development program called Impact. This was a nine-month program where I got to partner with 12 other leaders across 10 countries to work on a business proposal that concluded with a presentation to the Executive Board in Hilti’s global headquarters located in Schaan, Lichtenstein. The experience was challenging, rewarding and an incredible reminder of all the reasons why I choose to work at Hilti.

Finding Purpose Through Hilti’s Mission and Values

When I was considering which criteria I would use in my job search back in 2017, I knew that I was looking for more than just a paycheck. I was looking for a company that I could be proud to work for, whose mission and values aligned with my own. Hilti’s core values of courage, commitment, teamwork and integrity are evident in the company’s business practices, leadership and in the actions of its team members around the world. With a mission of making construction better, Hilti’s commitment to sustainability has three pillars – people, society and the environment.

The company reached CO2 neutrality in 2023, with commitment to the Science Based Target initiative and the goals of the Paris Agreement. In short – Hilti is taking action to manage the environmental impact of the company in clear and transparent ways. As someone who studied environmental science in college, this type of environmental responsibility is extremely important to me. Hilti North America has a tool refurbishment program that refurbishes thousands of tools a year that are then redirected to nonprofits and schools across North America, extending their life rather than being routed to a landfill. Additionally, the company has a reusage program that uses refurbished spare parts in tool repairs, supporting waste reduction.

Beyond the environmental areas, Hilti is committed to giving back to people and society. The Hilti Foundation is a nonprofit that aims to foster sustainable development and community empowerment globally. The foundation supports initiatives around the world including affordable housing and technology, economic empowerment and emergency relief.

Giving back is engrained in the company culture, with each team member receiving 16 hours of community service paid time off annually. These community service hours can be used to support a variety of causes including nonprofits, educational institutions, community support organizations and nonpartisan civic organizations. Over the years, some of my favorite Hilti memories have been made during team volunteering events – refurbishing tools for donation, building fences with Habitat for Humanity and hosting learning workshops for children. I appreciate working for a company that actively supports me giving back to the causes that I care about and working with others who value giving back in their own way.

Claire with the rest of the Impact cohort of 2022 celebrating the successful completion of the group's final presentation to the Executive Board in Schaan, Lichtenstein.

The Perfect Fit: Where Purpose, People and Possibility Come Together

Hilti offers the unique opportunity to do worthwhile work making construction better, while also working with amazing people and growing along the way. Personally, I’ve found it to be the perfect combination of people, culture and opportunities.

Explore Opportunities at Hilti

At Hilti, we are committed to creating opportunities for our team members to connect with one another and develop meaningful and long-lasting careers with impact. Learn more and explore our opportunities in North America and worldwide here: Jobs | Hilti Careers