Johannes Jerg, M.Sc.
Current job:
Press spokesman at ZF Friedrichshafen AG
Studies in Mannheim:
Culture and Economy: German Studies
Highest degree:
Master's
Career
After I earned my bachelor’s degree in Culture and Economy (Business Administration as a combination major and German Studies as a major) at the University of Mannheim, I decided to pursue a master’s degree in Management and Economics at Ulm University. It was important to me to move closer to my hometown near Lake Constance again. During my bachelor’s program, I interned at various industrial companies, where I was particularly interested in corporate communications and marketing. I also worked as an intern at BASF SE and Carthago Reisemobilbau GmbH. During my master's program, I spent a semester abroad at the University of Turin in Italy. Back in Germany, I completed an internship in corporate communications at Deutsche Bank AG in Frankfurt am Main and subsequently wrote my master's thesis in the same department at Daimler AG.
Facing the challenging job situation during the coronavirus pandemic, I decided to become self-employed after completing my master’s degree. The services I offered included editing, writing texts for corporate communications, and designing websites. These skills and the way I took advantage of the situation have always proven to be a big plus when applying for a job. Currently, I am occupying the position of press spokesman at ZF Friedrichshafen AG.
Tips for starting your career
I would recommend students to gain plenty of practical experience as well as to use semester breaks to explore the world. Nowadays, it makes sense to start acquiring IT skills early on: programming, database maintenance, HTML, CSS, Java—learn new languages, not just in a linguistic sense.
It can also be useful to raise your profile by doing voluntary work. It is a good way to gain important experience and make contacts, for example as a board member of an organization. I combined my hobby and career interests and since 2016 I have been in charge of communications for the wind orchestra Landesblasorchester Baden-Württemberg, where I am also a percussionist.
Relevance of the studied program
My studies equipped me with a basic understanding of economics and profound language skills. At the University of Mannheim, I particularly value its international approach and outstanding reputation for academic teaching, which always comes up in job interviews and turns out to be beneficial. During my studies, I improved my communication skills and gained valuable experiences.
Last updated: February 2023
Credit: Veronika Herberger