Jasmin in an interview

Hello Jasmin, tell us something about yourself!

I'm originally from the south of Germany (Stuttgart) - but over the years I've moved further and further north. I did my Bachelor's degree in Media Communication at the University of Würzburg and finally studied "Organizational Innovation and Entrepreneurship" at the Copenhagen Business School. Through various internships, especially in the field of marketing and communication, I was able to gain valuable insights into various companies and then discovered consulting as a possible field of activity for me. An internship at Otto Group Consulting (OC) finally convinced me completely - and through my support in a project related to finance, I also received an entry-level offer directly. All I had to do was finish my master's degree, and I've now joined the company on a permanent basis.

Even though the weather is warmer in the south, I really like it in Hamburg. In my free time, I like to be out and about, exploring foreign cities (mostly in search of delicious specialties) or nature. I quite enjoy running or swimming - and have also taken winter sports with me as a "classic" hobby from southern Germany.

How did you become aware of Otto Group Consulting during your studies?

During my Master's degree, I had the desire to enter consulting, or to find out during an internship whether this would be the right step for me. A former fellow student from the Bachelor's program was working in OTTO personnel marketing at the time and made me aware of Otto Group Consulting.

Since Hamburg was one of my favorites among German cities anyway and I could identify well with OTTO's values, I was very interested. For me, it was also positive that I was working in a group with varied corporate companies and could combine this directly with the consulting work. One day later, my application was already sent out!

Why did you decide on Inhouse Consulting?

In principle, the projects in Inhouse Consulting are similar to those in external consulting - requirements, processes, activities, etc. are very similar. However, in Inhouse Consulting this takes place under a certain "corporate umbrella" - this means that instead of external companies, colleagues are consulted whose needs and requirements you can understand quite well. As a result, there are also interfaces with other teams, and you work together on an interdisciplinary basis instead of, for example, carrying out isolated Excel analyses without direct contact with colleagues. It is also clear to everyone that a common goal is being pursued, so there is not the typical "defensive attitude" towards consultants.

What I also find particularly exciting about in-house consulting is that the projects often have a very high priority within the Group and, because of the proximity to the clients, you actually get to see the "fruits" of your labor.

What did you particularly like about your internship?

What I got to know and appreciate at OC is the team spirit and the appreciative interaction. As an intern, you are immediately integrated as an equal team member and given responsible tasks. In concrete terms, this means that not only are you tinkering all day with PowerPoint documents that don't make much sense, but you are even assigned sub-projects. Apart from that, I found the various topics and the project work in the Otto Group really exciting and varied.

Of course, it should not be neglected that OTTO generally has a great corporate culture. This is also noticeable at OC, because there is a good working atmosphere in contrast to many prejudices that you usually hear from the everyday life of a consultant. In any case, I saw the opportunity to develop as a consultant in interesting projects and still not have to do without a certain work-life balance.

Has anything changed since you became a permanent employee?

I have now moved to a new project and work in a different team accordingly - but my re-entry was made very easy thanks to really good onboarding and a warm welcome.

Apart from that, I hardly notice any difference since the permanent position, because even during my internship I was allowed to manage topics and projects independently and was always perceived as a full-fledged team member. And the expectations for both interns and consultants are basically very similar: show commitment, give your best (and in some situations maybe 150%) and always develop yourself further.

Unfortunately, that hasn't changed either: My email address, which is rather bulky due to my middle name ☹.

What tips do you have for getting the most out of an internship at Otto Group Consulting?

Use the internship as a chance to try out working in consulting, gain hands-on experience in project work, and network both in and beyond the field. If you think you lack the necessary qualifications because you may not have studied business directly, I can tell you this much: it doesn't matter what you studied, because you can make a big difference and a diverse background is very much in demand at OC. Of course, it is important that you are open-minded and willing to learn new topics and areas of expertise, and that you are prepared to implement new ideas.

And of course, going full throttle during your internship pays off on several levels: You contribute to the success of the project, you can develop yourself personally and possibly some doors will open for you in the Otto Group. In many cases, excellent performance also leads to a direct job offer.

What do you need to be successful in Otto Group Consulting?

Your grades, what you studied or where you come from are not important to us: It is much more important to have an alert mind, analytical skills, a high level of motivation and willingness to learn - and also emotional competence. It is important to us that people in the department support each other constructively so that everyone can continue to develop. That's why you should be a team player - doggedness and elbows out don't belong here. It is also important to have a healthy degree of independence and natural ambition.