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!
