BSc Management Part 3: First year at KLU a success

It has been six whole months since I last posted a blog entry (excuse me for that) and there have definitely been a lot of things going on – mainly revolving around two major events. First of all, I’ve finished my second semester and with it, my first year at KLU. Second, I had my first-ever experience in the job world – I completed a three-month internship! So now I’ll tell you a bit about those six months.

Second semester

The second semester of the KLU bachelor’s program consisted of 5 courses, just like the first one. But as expected, it was a bit more intense than the first one. The KLU professors and guest lecturers gave us a load of information about marketing, logistics, math statistics, and microeconomics. It was great for me to learn about a wide range of topics – from launching new products and the price bubble to green logistics and solving complex transportation models.

There are a few moments I will definitely remember. Our small adventures in the world of logistics, for example. During the semester, we visited the Tchibo warehouse in Bremen, accompanied by our professor, Alan McKinnon. They showed us the inside of the warehouse and how it works. Another exciting trip was to Luerssen, the company that produces the most popular and expensive luxurious mega yachts. We were really lucky to have the opportunity to actually step onboard one yacht that was being built and sneak a peek inside
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Another exciting trip was to Luerssen

The last highlight of our second semester was definitely the marketing game that we played in professor Jan Becker’s class. He divided us randomly into several groups and we had to compete against each other as actual firms on the market. Although it was fictional, this game taught me a lot about basic principles in marketing and sales, as well as working with people. Teamwork can always be frustrating and finding the balance is a key factor. That’s why I was really lucky with my team – we managed to land prestigious 2nd place!

First internship

The university semester was over in May, so I had to fill the summer with something – either a nice 3-month break, or a 3-month internship. In my case, as a student on the intensive track, the 3-month internship was my only choice. Finding an internship is a frustrating experience. For me, it was important to stay in Hamburg so I started looking in January. My biggest worries were of course the language barrier and the fact that I am a first-year student with no experience whatsoever. Luckily, the career center at KLU is there to help us with everything possible.

The benefits of having this kind of service are not only the regular updates on open positions and the connections with various companies, but also preparation in class and the personal contact. We had training courses on interviewing techniques, networking, and writing CVs and resumes. What helped me improve my personal presentation, however, and what turned out to be very special and important about our university, was the personal contact we have to the staff and faculty. A professor of mine recommended me for an internship position that I eventually managed to land! ?

I did my internship at Yourfone GmbH. This is a Hamburg-based telecommunication provider – a young company where I found my place in the small customer relationship management and customer support team… I loved it! I can hardly imagine a better internship for me. Working in a small team meant having more, varied tasks. I learned so much! They also gave me important projects that challenged both my creativity and my knowledge of math and data analysis. The only downside of this internship is that it was far away from the city. But the nice, warm atmosphere in the office compensated for that! ?

That was my last six months in a nutshell. Hopefully I will gather a lot of exciting impressions in my third semester, so I can tell you all about it soon!

BSc Management Part 2: One Semester Down, Five to Go!

It is unbelievable how time is flying by. I feel like I started this journey just a week ago, but one-sixth of it is already over… Well okay, it doesn’t sound that much when I say it; my point is that semester I is over now and I want tell you all about it!

Lectures, assignments and exams

First, let me tell you about the courses I had in my first semester at KLU:

• Management Fundamentals
• Managerial and Financial Accounting
• Descriptive Statistics & Calculus and Analytical Geometry
• Communication and Academic Fundamentals

The program gave us a solid basis of knowledge for a good start with our studies. In addition to all the reading material, we had research assignments to conduct on our own or in groups. This is a better way to get insight into a subject than just studying a book! We also had our first guest lecturer in Managerial and Financial Accounting – a partner at KPMG, Hamburg. He briefly introduced the company and his job, and then showed us the practical side of what we were learning.

At one point, it was time for exams. As a freshman with no experience in university exams, I was honestly not looking forward to them. I guess nobody really enjoys exams, right? Anyway, they all went even better than expected, at least for me. University was over by December 17, so I was off to a nice Christmas holiday in my country.

Events at KLU

Apart from the monthly lecture series at our university, in which professionals make presentations on various topics, KLU hosted a couple of outstanding events during my first semester.

One of them was the “Night of Science”, or in German  “Nacht des Wissens”. For one evening, the university turned to a venue for workshops, games, and lectures. Since I was volunteering as barista along with other students, I had no opportunity to participate in any of the activities that night.  But I learned from the experience! After that evening, I knew more German names for beverages and I learned that nearly ALL Germans love Apfelschorle (sparkling water mixed with apple juice), since I mixed quite a lot of them. The event turned out to be more successful than anyone had expected. As a brand new venue on the map, KLU was ready to welcome around 200 guests. Actually, over 600 people visited our university. I am sure that the next “Night of Science” will be even more successful.

The other event took place right after exams. I think it was the first party ever to be held in the new KLU building – or at least the first Christmas party! Our cozy student lounge turned into a festively decorated room, full of Christmas spirit, Christmas sweets, and of course… mulled wine (Glühwein). After a speech given by two of our master’s students, we were all invited to a nice dinner, served in the conservatory. And Santa Claus himself was with us! He gave away some presents and took a looooot of photos with everyone. I guess there could have not been a better way to end the first semester.

A Few Words on Semester II

After a relaxing vacation at home, we all returned to KLU. That’s great – the second semester seems even more promising than the first. Interesting courses, lectures and events will be taking place soon and we need to make important decisions regarding our internship and semester abroad. I will definitely have a lot to write about next time