What comes to mind when you think about your studies at HMKW?
The beautiful old brick building and the bright rooms with the big windows where we spent some hours together.
You acquired a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Corporate Communications at HMKW Berlin. What is your current job position?
I am currently working as a PR trainee with a focus on Corporate Social Responsibility in Wiesbaden for an owner-operated agency.
Did you get any further work experiences prior to your current position that you would like to share with us?
Sure! I was in Shanghai almost straight after graduation. There I worked for a young American start-up for e-bikes. Actually, I had come for the marketing department, but I helped out where people were needed. That's why I went to the factory to check the production. Or I helped out in the customer service department when we were flooded with inquiries. The six months there were not only an exciting time for me, but also gave me so much for my future jobs: being flexible, for example! You can achieve so much in a small team when everyone is motivated and committed to the company.
Afterwards I moved to Frankfurt, to a rather large media agency as a TV planner. There the work was completely different. Although there were more agile work structures, the employees had less of a sense of we-ness. The elbow mentality there frustrated me. Unfortunately, the size of the agency did not offer me the flexibility in work that I knew.
When did you figure out your preferred career path? How much was your choice influenced by the compulsory internship?
To be honest, I was unsure until my bachelor's degree what I really wanted to do. I was okay with that, too. I wanted to be free to find my own way.
Why did you decide to study “Journalism and Corporate Communications”? And what made you choose HMKW Berlin?
You know, classic case of "I want to do something with media." I am quite curious and always need answers to all my questions. I always want to share my knowledge with others. But I didn't just want to write, I wanted to be able to understand and use media. Through a lot of research, the still young university HMKW attracted my attention. There wasn't much on the Internet about the university yet, but the Bachelor offered me exactly what I was looking for. Despite the still young age of the university, I applied because the focus on practice was strongly emphasized.
Which contents of your studies are part of your current job? How do your studies help you in your work routine?
Many, in fact! This is because HMKW teaches in a very practice-oriented way. To give an example, the project week has given me a lot. To work through a task in such a short period of time in such a way that in the end the result convinces the customer has been a good exercise for pitches, for example.
