From study to work
Elisabeth recently completed her work-study programme and has now started her career as a Supplemental Services Manager. Here she talks about her time at university, the transition to work and her current role.
Elisabeth, you studied Business Administration and Industry at the Berlin School of Economics and Law. Did you always know that you wanted to work in the construction industry?
No, I only knew that I wanted to study business administration, and that I wanted to work and study at the same time. Business studies is so diverse that you can work in many different departments and therefore go in many different directions. Since commercial tasks are similar in every industry, at first, I wasn’t so focussed on my field of specialisation. My former fellow students now work in very different fields of activity, from digitalisation to social media to auditing. I joined the construction industry, because I chose SPITZKE as my practical partner. The application process was the best organised, I liked the company’s image and I felt welcome straight away.
So you applied for the work-study programme via the traditional route?
Yes, I went through the normal application process – meaning that I first submitted my documents with my CV, letter of application, etc. This was followed by two telephone interviews and two face-to-face interviews. The first was more about getting a feel for SPITZKE and finding out if I would be a good fit for the team. For the second one, I had to prepare a small presentation. Then I got the call that SPITZKE would like to offer me a work-study place.
How does a work-study programme function?
A semester of work and study at the Berlin School of Economics and Law consists of three months of theory at the university and three months of practical work. During the theoretical studies, you complete various courses to learn business basics. These include, for example, marketing, finance, production management and supply chain management. In the later semesters, you specialise in the subjects that are of particular interest to you. The semesters are pretty packed, but also very well-structured. Unlike at university, I don’t have to take care of my course and exam registrations myself. During the practical phases at SPITZKE, you work in a set area and write a ‘practical transfer report’. In this report, you describe how you put the theoretical content you have already learned into practice. This is good preparation for the Bachelor’s thesis later on. I was honestly a little nervous beforehand, but since I was already familiar with scientific work and source work, everything worked out well.
Did you complete all the practical side of your studies in the same department?
No, the students and business apprentices take a turn in different departments at SPITZKE. This variety makes it exciting. At the beginning, you work in departments that help you get to know the company better. Later, you can choose the assignments according to your own interests and ideas. For example, I was more interested in working with numbers and technology. In my third practical phase, I was therefore placed in supplemental services management*. Before that, I didn’t know much about this area and what it did. However, I liked it so much that I was assigned there again in the 6th semester and the topic of my Bachelor’s thesis was supplemental services. At that time, I was also offered a job as a Supplemental Services Manager after I graduated.
What was the transition from study to work like for you?
I didn’t start working straight after my studies, but travelled around South America and Asia for six months. SPITZKE gave me the opportunity to postpone my start date. It was easy for me to return to my job, because I was already familiar with the work and the department. Nevertheless, I still have a lot of questions – like everyone when they first start out with their career. However, I also know whom to ask.
And what is it like now?
I’m still in the learning phase. I still have a lot to learn, especially the railway terminology and the technical aspect, but that is normal in such a highly specialised field. Fortunately, I can always ask someone or search for information. That’s the only way to improve continuously. At the moment, I’m working on the major projects ESTW S1 and Dresdner Bahn in Berlin as a Supplemental Services Manager, and I’m already writing some of my own supplemental services contracts.
What do you like about this job?
I like the combination of commercial, technical, legal and costing aspects. In addition, working in the construction offices means that you are close to the construction process and get to see the interconnections at close quarters. Working as a Supplemental Services Manager is a bit like being a detective. You have to reconstruct the background, talk to the right people, develop a good argumentation and finally convince the client in a negotiation. Something new always comes up, which makes it exciting.
What advice would you give to students who are thinking about what they want to do after graduation?
In my opinion, it is an advantage that you don’t have any experience when you finish school. That way, you can make an unbiased decision about whether to study or train. You should just be open and consider everything. Business studies, for example, give you great opportunities because, as I said, it is such a diverse field and is always needed. Your choice of company can also influence the direction in which your career goes. Personally, I like working in the construction industry, even though I had little contact with it before
Elisabeth is 23 years old and moved from her home in Baden-Württemberg to Berlin three and a half years ago to study for a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. She opted to complete a work-study programme at SPITZKE. Today, she works as a Supplemental Services Manager at SPITZKE and, together with her colleagues, manages large projects, such as the extension of the Dresden railway or the Berlin S1 urban railway line in the north of the capital.
*Supplemental services management deals with asserting expenses claims arising from changes in construction contracts. Sometimes these can be external influences, such as materials not being provided on time, or additional services, such as the extension of a platform, which were not included in the original contract. These expenses are ‘reported’ to the client, an additional remuneration claim is determined and then negotiated with the client. In this way, the construction company ensures that the additional services are also remunerated. Supplemental services management is a very important area for enforcing the contractor’s claims against the client.
