Navigating the Internship Maze: My German & My Qualifications

Okay, deep breath. Moving to Berlin was the biggest, most exhilarating – and frankly, terrifying – thing I’ve ever done. But let’s be honest, finding a job, any job, has been a serious challenge. And when I started looking into internships, it hit me – I needed to seriously up my German game. It’s not just about ordering coffee; it’s about talking about my skills and what I’m looking for.

The Initial Shock: “Wer sind Sie?” and “Was machen Sie?”

The first few conversations with recruiters were…rough. I’d arrive for an interview feeling relatively confident, and then I’d freeze up, completely blanking on how to respond to “Wer sind Sie?” (“Who are you?”) or “Was machen Sie?” (“What do you do?”). My carefully prepared English phrases completely evaporated. I started defaulting to “Ich…ich…nicht wissen,” which, let’s be real, isn’t exactly a stellar first impression.

I realized I was focusing way too much on translating perfectly. People weren’t expecting polished textbook German. They wanted to understand me.

Talking About My Education – “Ich habe…”

One of the biggest hurdles was explaining my degree. My Masters in Marketing from the UK felt…complicated to translate. I quickly learned that simply saying “Ich habe einen Master in Marketing” is fine, but it’s not enough.

Here’s what I’ve learned to use:

• “Ich habe einen Master in Marketing von der University of [Name].” (I have a Master’s in Marketing from the University of…) – This is a good starting point.
• “Mein Schwerpunkt lag auf [specific area].” (My focus was on [specific area].) – For example: “Mein Schwerpunkt lag auf digitalem Marketing.” (My focus was on digital marketing.) This shows I have some specialized knowledge.
• “Ich habe während meines Studiums [relevant skills/projects] gemacht.” (During my studies, I did [relevant skills/projects].) – “Ich habe während meines Studiums eine Website für ein Start-up entwickelt.” (During my studies, I developed a website for a start-up.) This is crucial. It’s tangible evidence of what I can do.

I made a huge mistake early on by just listing the modules I took. It sounded…abstract. It’s better to connect my studies to the role I’m applying for.

The Internship Conversation: “Ich suche ein Praktikum…”

Asking about internships is different. I’ve found it’s better to be proactive.

Here’s a common conversation I had with a recruiter at a small advertising agency:

• Me: “Entschuldigung, ich suche ein Praktikum im Bereich Social Media Marketing. Haben Sie etwas frei?” (Excuse me, I’m looking for an internship in the area of Social Media Marketing. Do you have anything available?)

• Recruiter (Herr Schmidt): “Ja, wir haben ein Praktikum im Sommer. Was sind Ihre Qualifikationen?” (Yes, we have an internship for the summer. What are your qualifications?)

• Me: “Wie gesagt, ich habe einen Master in Marketing. Ich bin sehr interessiert an Social Media und habe schon ein paar Projekte in dieser Richtung gemacht. Ich kann auch [mention specific skills – z.B. Google Analytics, Photoshop].” (As I said, I have a Master’s in Marketing. I’m very interested in social media and have done a few projects in this direction. I can also [mention specific skills – e.g., Google Analytics, Photoshop].)

• Herr Schmidt: “Gut. Können Sie uns Ihr Lebenslauf schicken?” (Good. Can you send us your CV?)

Notice how I didn’t just say “I’m qualified.” I showed them my interest and highlighted relevant skills.

Common Misunderstandings & How I Fixed Them

There was one particularly frustrating moment where I explained my work experience. I was trying to describe a project I’d worked on in the UK, and I used the phrase “I spearheaded the campaign.”

Herr Müller (another recruiter) looked utterly bewildered. He kept asking, “Was bedeutet ‘spearhead’?” (What does ‘spearhead’ mean?). It turned out that “speerheaden” doesn’t exist in German! I quickly explained I meant “Ich habe die Kampagne geleitet” (I led the campaign).

These little misunderstandings are so common. It’s vital to realize that direct translation isn’t always possible, and to be prepared to explain things in simpler terms.

Key Phrases to Learn Now

• “Ich bin sehr motiviert…” (I am very motivated…) – Use this to show enthusiasm.
• “Ich lerne schnell.” (I learn quickly.) – A classic, but effective!
• “Ich bin teamfähig.” (I am team-oriented.) – Germans value teamwork.
• “Ich bin flexibel.” (I am flexible.) – Demonstrates adaptability.

Final Thoughts (and a bit of anxiety!)

Finding an internship in Germany has been a steep learning curve. My German is definitely improving, but I’m still making mistakes. The key is to keep practicing, don’t be afraid to ask for clarification, and always, always try to connect what you’re saying to what the person is asking. And honestly? It’s exhausting. But seeing progress, even small progress, keeps me going. Ich schaffe das! (I can do this!)

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Do you want me to elaborate on a specific aspect, such as:

• Dealing with German business culture during interviews?
• More complex German phrases related to qualifications?
• A specific scenario (e.g., a phone interview)?