During her studies M.Sc. Medien- und Wirtschaftsaftspsychologie (Media and Business Psychology, German only) at the Media University, Leonie Becker was able to deepen her knowledge of HR management, organizational structure and employer branding. She now applies this knowledge in her job and deals with the exciting topics of new work, agile transformations and restructuring. In the alumni interview, she talks about her first practical experiences.
Hello Leonie, what is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Media University?
For me, Media University was like a school, you made contacts quickly and the “class system” gave you a stronger sense of community than is perhaps the case at a large university. I personally liked that.
You studied Media and Business Psychology. What do you do now and where do you work?
I am now joining a management consultancy as an Associate Consultant in the People & Organization department. I was able to get to know the company last year as part of an internship and was recommended for direct entry by my lead at the time, which initiated the recruitment process for my current position.
Have you been able to gain any other professional experience that you would like to tell us about?
Looking back, my first internship at KPMG Luxembourg in marketing probably had a big impact on me in terms of my relationship with the management consultancy sector. Building on this, I also completed my internship semester at KPMG in Cologne – in recruiting at the time – and then worked as a working student in HR management at an absolvent consultancy, OSCAR GmbH. At OSCAR, I then became aware of the work as a consultant and took a liking to strategic HR and organizational topics. I then carried out a 2-month consulting project at OSCAR in the area of employer branding and then joined Capgemini Invent as a student consultant for a 6-month internship.
At what point during your studies did you discover your career aspirations? Did the internship play a role in your career choice?
I realized relatively early on that I was more interested in business psychology than media psychology when it came to my career aspirations. And if you look at the professional fields of business psychology, HR management is not far off. During my internship and my job as a working student, I found a stronger connection to this subject area, but I also realized that HR management is (still) very administrative. However, as I prefer to work conceptually, a job as a consultant was more appealing to me.
Why did you choose the B.A. Media and Business Psychology course back then? And why did you decide to study at the Media University?
At the beginning of my studies, I really wanted to work in marketing, but I also enjoyed psychology and organizational topics. When I was looking for courses, the content of the Media and Business Psychology course at the Media University was a very good fit. As this combination was not available at any other university and the Media University made a very solid and, above all, approachable impression on me, I chose the Media University.
What content from your studies is reflected in your work or helps you in your work?
I think it’s less the theoretical content that helps me in my work than a general understanding of the subject area, methodological skills and the network and contacts that I was able to build up through my membership of the AstA, among other things. In my opinion, my studies laid the foundation for dealing with the topics, broadening my horizons professionally and giving me the necessary tools to continuously acquire knowledge myself and to draw on the right sources.
What do you particularly like about your work and what is challenging?
As a consultant, I love gaining insights into a wide variety of industries and companies. This gives you exciting insights into a wide variety of processes and structures. It’s more of a challenge for yourself: To be adaptable, to educate yourself and to work out
How did the job search and later application phase go?
I found the position as an intern via a classic platform and then applied via the online portal. After a one-hour telephone interview, including an English test and a small case study, I was accepted. The application phase for the permanent entry was, of course, more extensive. I had a total of three interviews with senior consultants and managers, in which different areas of expertise were covered. Two interviews also included case studies that had to be solved. Fortunately, after the third interview, I managed to do it.
What advice would you give to new students?
For me personally, practice was the only way to learn.
So I would definitely recommend that you gain work experience during your studies, for example, as a working student or intern.
Leonie Becker
The good thing about practical experience is that both good and less good experiences help you find your own personal path. Each station has shaped me in some way and helped me to get to the job that I am about to start. Without my practical experience and the insights from each job, I would not be where I am right now.
What characteristics should students from your degree programme have?
Whenever you study psychology, I think it is important to have a sense of interpersonality and a constant curiosity to question and reflect on issues. Of course, you also need to enjoy methodological and scientific work, as it is a central point of exam performance.
What are your plans for the future?
Since I’ve always enjoyed working, my plan now is to gain a few years of professional experience, socialize and build up a network. But a master’s degree is still on the agenda, perhaps as parttime as an MBA or something like that. In general, I’ve learned that every step opens up new doors and opportunities for you, so it’s hard to predict where you’re going in five years. So I don’t rule out options, and I’m just curious about the future.
Thank you for your insights and helpful tips. We wish you all the best for the future.
