Per Knudsen, Dipl.-Kfm.
Current job:
Deputy Director (ret.) of the Mannheim University Library
Studies in Mannheim:
Business Administration
Highest degree:
Diplom
Career
After completing my studies of Business Administration at Mannheim, I completed a training to become an academic librarian in 1972 and the second state examination in Frankfurt in 1975. That is when my career at the Mannheim University Library started. I was an academic librarian for many years and served as deputy director until I retired. I still enjoy looking back to those times.
Tips for starting your career
People interested in working as an academic librarian should be enthusiastic about transferring knowledge. That includes both electronic and face-to-face communication. Personnel management is also an important part of working in this field, which is why you should be open, assertive, and empathetic. I personally really enjoyed my job.
Relevance of the studied program
Even though the start of my career was very unusual, having studied Business Administration was useful. I applied the knowledge and skills I had acquired in my daily work at the University Library. It particularly helped me lead a team of more than 100 staff members.
Last updated: February 2023
Credit: Felix Zeiffer