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In the last year of your studies you’ll wonder where your path will lead you after university. This path is your career path, a path that you were able to take with the help of internships or work experience before starting your Master in Management (MiM) programme, a path that you want to travel further on after your studies. During your time at Frankfurt School many career opportunities arise, giving you an insight into the working world. The time and effort put into your Master’s determines the future of your path. To help you with your first steps in career planning, I would recommend the following:
Get an idea of the companies that are available to you in your immediate surroundings (Frankfurt, Rhine-Main or any desired region). To ease your search, have a look at the Career Services (CaS) job board where you’ll find ads from companies that recruit directly at FS, meaning that you as a FS student concretely belong to their target group! From this, you can create a list of companies including the location, branch and department (if known), and then look the different job offers. You’ll not only see which companies are currently offering internships or working student positions but the ads will also indicate which profiles are currently in demand, e.g. what skills are needed for which position and what experiences make you stand out from a pool of applicants.
You will have the opportunity to get to know about different companies and their employees direct from your classroom. Many MiM modules regularly host companies as educational partners that perform “real-life” cases and challenges with you and your fellow students. Not only will you be introduced to working life through training and workshops, but you can also receive technical advice and helpful career planning tips from experts.
Make use of the Career Services by making an appointment and to have your application documents checked and discuss possible career options, e.g. whether to complete a business development internship at a startup, pursue a working student position in the field of international logistics, or get advice on becoming a consultant at a strategy consulting firm. Moreover, CaS offer regular recruiting events and workshops in cooperation with companies that you don’t want to miss. There is one annual event that you should definitely add to your calendar: Our Career Day in October. This campus fair is an absolute must for any student who wants to personally meet representatives of top national and international companies.
The more specific your skills, the higher the chance of attracting employers. You should ask yourself two questions: 1) What am I able to do? 2) What do I want? Choosing the “right” careers path is determined by your professional and personal experiences (both successful and unsuccessful). Specific skills, for example a particular marketing software programme, personal interests such as aircrafts, and not to forget, the promising development of an industry, all predefine the direction you head for.
The choice of your MiM Concentration also falls under this heading. It may sound trite but it is important; your chosen specialisation should be fun for you. If you are not sure and have no idea of the topics that are dealt with in Digital Business, International Business, Manufacturing, Marketing, and Strategy & Organisation, ask students from the older cohort.
Put simply, you should constantly work on your profile and develop it through trainings and or certificates. If you want to remain competitive, this aspect will play an important role during your period of education as well as thereafter.
Talk to parents, friends and neighbors, and make use of the FS community. Exchange views with your Frankfurt School professors and fellow students. They have all been through the same phase as you are now and can give you valuable advice about good or “bad” employers, salaries and career opportunities. Remember that contacts need to be maintained in terms of give and take.
Finally, I want to mention that all these tips are only useful if you are proactive. Initiative is a desired quality; it shows your independence and ability to make decisions and take responsibility. These attributes are expected by employers in particular.
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