My career journey: Maike Lüneburg
Interview with Aarhus BSS graduate Maike Lüneburg.
During her studies, Maike Lüneburg from Germany prepared well for an upcoming career in Denmark, and after graduation she quickly succeeded in landing a job she wanted.
Gaining relevant experience alongside her studies helped Maike land her first job in Denmark - but just as importantly, it also helped her figure out what she wanted to do.
Studies at Aarhus BSS and Denmark
Why did you come to Denmark to study?
In high school, I knew that I wanted to study abroad in the future, so it was a very deliberate choice to look internationally for study programmes.
I chose Aarhus BSS because it offers a very international environment, it has a good reputation, and a high academic level – and of course, because there was a study program that I liked. I really haven't been disappointed with my choice!
How did you experience your time at Aarhus BSS?
The studies were great! What really stood out to me was that there was also a huge emphasis on the social part of studying. We started out with an introduction week, and it was such a great way to start. That way, I had social connections from the beginning and came off to a good start of my studies and life in Denmark.
I found it impressive that there were so many things I could take part in as an international. There were no limitations because I could not speak Danish. I did learn Danish along the way, but I still mostly speak English.
How did you prepare for your career during your studies?
Different things helped me prepare for a career: Student job, volunteering, joining associations, and making use of the Career Centre.
It was important to me to find a student job that was related to my field of study. I had two student jobs: One at Aarhus BSS and one at Arla. That way, I also tried working in both the public and the private sectors. My student jobs were, no doubt, one of the biggest things in terms of building my CV because I was able to show future employers that I had actual professional experience.
It was also important to me to write my Master's thesis for a company. I chose a niche topic, which was useful later on.
I did a lot of volunteering. It helped me build a network, but it also helped me try out my skills. As a volunteer you get to do many things and get a lot of responsibility. It helped me figure out what my strengths and weaknesses were, and what I was most interested in doing.
By joining different organizations, I learned a lot about myself in a professional context. At AISEC I learned about how I work and am as a leader, and at FACCA I learned a lot about the consulting industry.
The Career Centre at Aarhus BSS was also a helpful resource; joining seminars and getting career guidance was great.
Four things were especially useful to me in preparing for a career in Denmark: a relevant student job, volunteer work, writing my thesis with a company, and gaining knowledge about my own skills and preferences.
Career and first job
How did you get your first job after graduating from Aarhus BSS?
Honestly, I was not especially worried about not finding a job, as I quickly found out what kind of job would fit me and what I was qualified for. My first job was at the ROCKWOOL Group, and I landed the job in a very classic way: I applied, went to interviews, and was then offered the job. I knew someone who worked there to ask about the company, but landing the job happened the official way.
What skills from your study programme do you use in your current job?
In my current job, I use a lot of the basic skills from accounting, finance, etc. But I also draw a lot on skills from business communication; being able to communicate complex information effectively.
In a bigger perspective, having studied in an international environment has been a useful experience. When working in international companies it is an advantage to have studied with diverse groups of people and understanding different mindsets.
Being an international in Denmark
What do you hope your future will bring?
I really enjoy living in Denmark, and I can definitely see myself staying here. I continually seek out new challenges so I would also like trying to work abroad for a couple of years.
Tips and advice to international graduates?
You should definitely try to get some sort of work experience. Spend less time aiming for perfect grades but try instead to get hands-on experience. Even writing your thesis or volunteering can be a way to get experience.
Four things were especially useful to me in preparing for a career in Denmark: a relevant student job, volunteer work, writing my thesis with a company, and gaining knowledge about my own skills and preferences.