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In August 2023, my journey in the Master in Management Class of 2025 began at Frankfurt School with a well-organised and diverse Opening Week. It was a week filled with exciting opportunities, getting to know a lot of fellow students, including experiencing the FS spirit through the Community Fair. Now, as lectures are in full swing and the first course assignments are underway, my organisational skills and structured daily routine are put to the test. Why, you ask? Well, because alongside this academic experience, I am also a working student at a management consulting firm.
Having spent the last six months as an intern and now a working student at this firm, I have already become confident and proficient in the essential tools and processes. This familiarity has proven to be a significant benefit when it comes to balancing work and study. I am assigned to a project manager and primarily focus on creating acquisition materials for clients in the insurance industry. Currently, we are preparing for a multi-day workshop with one of our insurance clients.
The significant advantage I have is that I have a well-defined set of responsibilities that I tackle during my two workdays each week. This structure means I do not constantly stress out about missing important updates during my academic commitments. Instead, I can easily pick up where I left off last time on my first workday of the week. Regular status calls with my project manager keep me informed about the project’s progress. This not only ensures I stay updated but also provides me with some flexibility, which proves invaluable when initiative meetings or group work sessions are on the agenda. This also allows me to finalise my tasks even late in the evening.
Moreover, I enjoy the flexibility to decide whether I want to work from home or come to our Frankfurt office. This becomes particularly insightful when we have meetings in Frankfurt with the CEO or use agile project management methods, making face-to-face collaboration essential. This freedom of choice allows me to adapt my work environment to suit the demands of each project meeting.
In the Master in Management degree, we are offered to choose the three-day study model. This model is a true game-changer when it comes to balancing work and study. With the block-like lecture sessions currently scheduled on Mondays, Tuesdays and Saturdays, I can schedule my two workdays for Wednesdays and Thursdays, allowing me to fully concentrate on my work tasks. Instead of having random hours for work, I have dedicated time on these days to tackle high-priority, research-intensive tasks. With this option, I can really make the most of my time for both academics and my career.
At first, it might seem like a heavy workload, but this detailed planning of my academic and professional life allows me to easily integrate free time and extracurricular activities. When exam periods become closer, I can even take a two-week break from work to prepare adequately. With efficient time management and study sessions before and after the lecture blocks, this can be handled quite well.
Balancing a job as a working student alongside a master’s programme offers a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between theory and practice. For me, it provides a valuable balance of academic growth and professional experience.
I highly recommend considering a working student position before starting your master’s programme or having previously completed an internship with the company. This can be very important in industries like consulting, where efficiency, creative thinking and maintaining high-quality standards play an essential role. An already established working routine in the professional environment makes it easier to work and study, especially when you are just finding your way around a new university at the start of your programme. It is a journey that not only enriches your academic path but also sets an ideal foundation for working in consulting after your master’s degree.
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