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‘Don’t let your lack of language skills stop you’

In this week’s My German Career William Medina from America describes how he landed an internship at the German parliament, the Bundestag, despite fearing his level of German was too low.

Published: 23 September 2013 11:49 CEST

'Don't let your lack of language skills stop you'

Photo: DPA

Where are you located and what do you do?

I am located in Berlin. I arrived here in March to participate in the Internationales Parlaments Stipendium (IPS) with the German parliament. The program ended in July and I am now doing my Master’s at the Hertie School of Governance.

What brought you to Germany and how long have you been here?

IPS brought me here and I saw that it was the perfect opportunity for me to pursue a dream of mine – study in Germany once again. I was here in 2010 as part of an exchange program organized by the Verband der Deutsch-Amerikanischen Klubs (VDAC) and I wanted to come back in order to improve my German and learn the European-German aspect of politics. I have been here in Berlin since February 2013.

How did you land your job and do you have tips for anyone seeking similar work?

I highly recommend the IPS program to fellow American students. I applied and I had to go to an interview in Washington D.C. The program is a paid internship and it lasts five months. It places participants at the office of a German representative in order to get a hands-on understanding of German politics.

Is it important for you to be able to speak German in your position?

I was chosen for the IPS program after applying for it back in the United States. Like everything regarding scholarships and such programs, early preparation is key.

Find out the details as soon as possible and do not wait until the last minute to apply. Also, do not think that it is impossible. I was very scared at first due to my level of German, but in the end I was accepted.

A good level of German is necessary to participate, but this should not discourage anyone. My level was very low in comparison to other participants, but I did not let that stop me. Once I got here my German improved due to daily practice.

I recommend to anyone that would like to apply for the program the following – catch up on your knowledge of German politics and current events. I prepared back home by meeting with German friends and a German family that lived in Florida at the moment, but that I met here in Germany. Shows like Tagesschau are also a great way to prepare.

What are the best and worst parts about working in Germany?

I enjoyed working here in Germany because there is a lot of structure and one knows what to expect. I do not have any complaints.

Do you plan on staying?

I will be staying here for at least two years (the duration of my Master’s). If I find a job here in Germany or somewhere in Europe afterwards, I would be more than happy to stay.

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Output is expected to expand 0.3 percent this year, the economy ministry said, up from a prediction of 0.2 percent in February.

The slightly rosier picture comes after improvements in key indicators — from factory output to business activity — boosted hopes a recovery may be getting under way.

The German economy shrank slightly last year, hit by soaring inflation, a manufacturing slowdown and weakness in trading partners, and has acted as a major drag on the 20-nation eurozone.

But releasing its latest projections, the economy ministry said in a statement there were growing indications of a “turning point”.

“Signs of an economic upturn have increased significantly, especially in recent weeks,” Economy Minister Robert Habeck said at a press conference.

The ministry also cut its forecast for inflation this year to 2.4 percent, from a previous prediction of 2.8 percent, and sees the figure falling below two percent next year.

“The fall in inflation will lead to consumer demand — people have more money in their wallets again, and will spend this money,” said Habeck.

“So purchasing power is increasing, real wages are rising and this will contribute to a domestic economic recovery.”

Energy prices — which surged after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine — had also fallen and supply chain woes had eased, he added.

Several months ago there had been expectations of a strong rebound in 2024, with forecasts of growth above one percent, but these were dialled back at the start of the year as the economy continued to languish.

‘Germany has fallen behind’

But improving signs have fuelled hopes the lumbering economy — while not about to break into a sprint — may at least be getting back on its feet.

On Wednesday a closely-watched survey from the Ifo institute showed business sentiment rising for a third consecutive month in April, and more strongly than expected.

A key purchasing managers’ index survey this week showed that business activity in Germany had picked up.

And last week the central bank, the Bundesbank, forecast the economy would expand slightly in the first quarter, dodging a recession, after earlier predicting a contraction.

German Economics Minister Robert Habeck

Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) presents the latest economic forecasts at a press conference in Berlin on Wednesday, April 24th. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Michael Kappeler

Despite the economy’s improving prospects, growth of 0.3 percent is still slower than other developed economies and below past rates, and officials fret it is unlikely to pick up fast in the years ahead.

Habeck has repeatedly stressed solutions are needed for deep-rooted problems facing Germany, from an ageing population to labour shortages and a transition towards greener industries that is moving too slowly.

“Germany has fallen behind other countries in terms of competitiveness,” he said. “We still have a lot to do — we have to roll up our sleeves.”

Already facing turbulence from pandemic-related supply chain woes, the German economy’s problems deepened dramatically when Russia invaded Ukraine and slashed supplies of gas, hitting the country’s crucial manufacturers hard.

While the energy shock has faded, continued weakness in trading partners such as China, widespread strikes in recent months and higher eurozone interest rates have all prolonged the pain.

The European Central Bank has signalled it could start cutting borrowing costs in June, which would boost the eurozone.

But Habeck stressed that care was still needed as, despite the expectations of imminent easing, “tight monetary policy has not yet been lifted.”

In addition, disagreements in Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party ruling coalition are hindering efforts to reignite growth, critics say.

This week the pro-business FDP party, a coalition partner, faced an angry backlash from Scholz’s SPD when it presented a 12-point plan for an “economic turnaround”, including deep cuts to state benefits.

Christian Lindner, the fiscally hawkish FDP finance minister, welcomed signs of “stabilisation” in the economic forecasts but stressed that projected medium-term growth was “too low to sustainably finance our state”.

“There are no arguments for postponing the economic turnaround,” he added.