Which projects or tasks did you enjoy the most during your internship, and which were the most impactful for you? 

The internship at Kerkhoff gave me the opportunity to gain my first practical experiences in management consulting. After completing the onboarding program, I had the opportunity to participate in an implementation project for a retail company operating in the DACH region. The project’s focus was strategic negotiation with the client's suppliers, as well as developing and implementing an optimized purchasing process. The goal-oriented and data-driven approach to identifying potentials and deriving actions particularly sparked my interest in a long-term career in consulting. 

What skills or insights did you gain during your internship that helped you transition successfully into a full-time position? 

During the internship, I gained comprehensive experience in developing BI solutions, which proved to be extremely valuable for data-driven negotiation and decision-making. Additionally, I had the opportunity to participate in client-supplier negotiations, which gave me deeper insights into the world of business negotiations. These skills were crucial for my successful transition into a full-time position, as they align directly with the requirements of my current role. 

What challenges did you overcome during your internship? 

The internship, particularly the project work, presented me with various challenges that I needed to master. The need to analyse complex data and derive recommendations required corresponding analytical skills. Efficient time management and prioritizing my tasks independently were essential. Adapting to a dynamic environment and developing innovative solutions strengthened my creative problem-solving skills. Overall, these challenges further developed my abilities as an aspiring consultant and deepened my involvement in practical professional situations.

How did our corporate culture and work environment influence your decision to continue working with us after your internship? 

At Kerkhoff, there is a very collegial atmosphere among employees. Everyone supports each other with various tasks and feels free to ask questions on any topic. The flat hierarchies ensure that, as an intern, you are taken seriously. You receive important tasks and have the opportunity to prove yourself by completing them. The trust placed in me strengthened my identification with Kerkhoff and made me feel like part of the team immediately. Kerkhoff also places great emphasis on personal development and skill enhancement. Through training and other educational initiatives, you are best prepared for daily consulting challenges in a targeted manner.

Which projects or tasks did you enjoy the most during your internship, and which were the most impactful for you? 

I enjoyed the projects most where I had the freedom to develop and implement my own ideas, but also where I was continually challenged to get the best out of each project. For example, in strategic topics like developing a LinkedIn strategy or planning a potential redesign of the website. Moreover, it was incredibly enriching to express my creativity, whether it was in designing event invitations or our portfolio booklet. The constant variety of topics was extremely rewarding and definitely contributed to ensuring my internship was always exciting. 

What skills or insights did you gain during your internship that helped you transition successfully into a full-time position? 

Due to the great trust from my team and the demanded self-responsibility, I experienced notable development in my organizational skills and independence. Prior to my internship, these were definitely my weaknesses, but through continuously structuring my tasks and thoughts, I was able to improve significantly in these areas. 

Additionally, critically questioning things allowed me to think outside the box and not take everything at face value.

Especially at Kerkhoff, there is an opportunity to quickly initiate and implement your own ideas. There is great flexibility when it comes to revising and optimizing existing concepts. As an intern, one should especially take advantage of this opportunity.

What challenges did you overcome during your internship? 

Since many of my tasks were in the marketing and business development area, it was crucial to intensively consider what added value the respective task provided for clients, users, or the company. This process often requires a lot of patience and several revisions to ensure the end product meets high standards. Transparent communication was an essential aspect that I particularly came to appreciate, even though it was challenging at first. The open and familial organizational structure at Kerkhoff significantly helped me with this.