Masters in Germany: a career trip or a career trap?

It’s been six months that I have been here in Germany now, doing my master's. Once a mere dream, turned into a vibrant reality for me. I started my journey of learning German after completing secondary education. From just learning the language to doing my bachelor's in it, German soon turned out to be the gateway to many career opportunities for me. After deep diving into the language for more than 6 years, not only was I introduced to the culture but also to the many education/career opportunities Germany has to offer.? Come on, we all know the tagline 'Study in Germany: The land of ideas.'

?But all that glitters is not gold and so is the idea of doing the masters abroad! Doing a master's abroad has its pros and cons, and some may say that the pros outweigh the cons, so we end up dreaming about all the amazing things international life has to offer and often ignore the fact that dreams do come with a set of struggles.

?The struggle does not begin when you touch the airport and clear immigration, it starts way back when one day suddenly on a lazy afternoon the thought of doing masters in Germany pops up in your head. Every other student who wants to apply to a German University does lots and lots of research about the courses, the universities, the fee structure, the language requirements etc. but they seldom forget the facts about future career prospects. Especially for those who want to change the whole trajectory of their career, just like me.

?After completing my bachelor's in Germanistik, I wanted to pursue my passion for Media and hence took the decision to do my master’s in media. German Universities had the exact courses that I was looking for. It was perfect for me, a bachelor's in German which showed my expertise in language and a master’s in media which was going to be the line of my profession going ahead. To fill the gap, I worked in an insurance company, thinking that corporate experience would always be beneficial for me to score jobs/internships in Germany. But little did I know…

?Considering today's job market in Germany, scoring a good job/internship in a good firm seems like a far-fetched dream. You apply for a course, and you get into the university. It’s a fresh start for you with new fresh brewed dreams. After landing in Germany, you absorb all the new things like a sponge and take time to settle. Till the time you settle down exam season comes up; with exam stress, you start thinking about your visa renewal which leads you to think about your finances and then the ideas of applying for internships and working students haunt you. You start applying and you face nothing but rejections. Why? Because the experience you gained back in your home country does not simply align with the job description, but it matches with your current master’s course. Wait a second, didn’t you just come here to learn new things and to gain experience in the same sector? Yes!

?After just receiving rejections, you start contemplating your life decisions and doubting your capabilities which leads you into the dark tunnel of negativity, which always ends up with the question;

Did I make the right decision of doing a masters abroad?        

Despite receiving an interview call in an industry, you didn’t consider, you ultimately accept the offer, recognizing that sometimes, having something is better than nothing. So, what was the whole point of doing a masters in a field that you want to pursue when you won’t even have a job in?

?This situation is not the same for everyone. For some it's easy and for the rest, it’s not. Nevertheless, these rejections and struggles shape your personality, and you end up learning many new things. You start doing the job market research and you learn how to pitch yourself and after countless efforts, you land that one internship you always dreamt about. It's never easy in the beginning, but as time passes by you get a fair idea of yourself and you become more and more determined to bag an internship. Master’s abroad is an overwhelming experience but at the same time, it's liberating as well. It prepares you for the toughest times especially when you are far away from home.

?I am still in search of an internship and my determination is getting stronger day by day. For those, who are sailing the same boat just remember the quote;

Miles to go before you sleep.

What do you think, the job/internship situation in India is like? Do let me know! Also, now that you have read till the end, do check out my newsletter here :)

Title Credits: Nimish Mayekar

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