From Kleve to the USA

HSRW: Please introduce yourself briefly. 

Sabrina Kloppe: My name is Sabrina Kloppe, I am a seventh-semester student in the "Quality, Environment, Safety and Hygiene" (QUSH) program. Last year, in my sixth semester, I did an internship in the USA. The degree program is very interdisciplinary and offers a mix of different topics such as quality management, environmental protection, safety and hygiene management.

HSRW: What brought you to this degree program? 

Sabrina Kloppe: Towards the end of my training as a medical-technical laboratory assistant, I became aware of this degree program. This training includes working in hospital laboratories, where we carried out clinical chemistry and microbiology. Even during my time in the hospital, I felt the need to further my education and explore new career paths. The "Quality, Environment, Safety and Hygiene" program convinced me in particular because of the broad range of subjects and the opportunity to work in an interdisciplinary manner.

At the beginning, my plan was to concentrate more on the area of hygiene management, because that best suited my previous experience in the hospital. During my studies, however, I quickly realized that I was also interested in other areas such as environmental and occupational safety. Ultimately, my desire to go into industry and work as an EHS (Environment, Health and Safety) manager emerged. The beauty of this degree program is the opportunity to remain a generalist, i.e. not to specialize too much in a single area, but to acquire knowledge in several fields.

HSRW: What motivated you to do an internship abroad? 

Sabrina Kloppe: Even during my school days, I always had the desire to go abroad, not just for a vacation, but to really get to know another culture. An internship offers an ideal opportunity to do this, as you work directly with the locals and can thus also experience the country's work culture. I was open to different countries, and the opportunity arose to choose between Singapore and the USA. In the end, I decided on the USA, also because I was initially concerned that my English would not be sufficient in Singapore - which in retrospect was unfounded, since you can also get by very well with English in Singapore.

HSRW: How did you find the internship? Sabrina Kloppe: Such internships are usually not advertised, so networking is particularly important. In my case, it was relatively easy, as my boyfriend's father works in an international company, and I asked him if they were interested in an intern. That worked out then. In general, I would say that networking events are very helpful, and that many companies are quite interested in taking on students from abroad - they often just don't actively think about advertising such positions. So you shouldn't be afraid to apply on your own initiative.

HSRW: How was the internship in the USA? 

Sabrina Kloppe: I worked in the area of Environment, Health and Safety (EHS), which basically includes occupational safety and environmental protection. My tasks were mainly in the area of occupational safety. It was a chemical company that has its headquarters in Germany, but also operates a location in the USA. This made it easier for me to get started, as the visa process is often easier if you work for a German company that already has experience with such procedures. Many American companies, on the other hand, already have enough applicants on site and often shy away from the additional effort involved in applying for a visa.

I worked in a department that consisted mainly of Americans, and it was interesting to see that the basic principles they work by are very similar to those in Germany. As in Germany, they also work with ISO standards, which are known, among other things, for the certification of environmental and quality management systems. Overall, the work culture was open, even though colleagues tended to withdraw to their offices. But when you approached them, they were very helpful and hospitable.

HSRW: What did you take away from the internship? 

Sabrina Kloppe: Above all, I took away intercultural skills. It was a great experience to get to know the way of working in another country. Americans are often more willing to experiment in their work and like to try out new methods. I learned how important it is to be open to people, to ask questions and not be afraid to accept help when you need it. Especially in the beginning, when you have to get used to a new country and a new environment, it is important to make contacts and get support.

Another valuable aspect was that I traveled through the USA at the end of my internship. Among other places, I was in Boston, New York and Washington D.C., which was a nice opportunity for me to see more of the country and get to know the culture outside of everyday working life.

HSRW: Do you have any advice for students who would also like to do an internship abroad? 

Sabrina Kloppe: It is definitely easier to apply to German companies that have locations abroad - especially when it comes to an internship outside of Europe. These companies often already have experience with the visa processes and can help to deal with the formalities. I would also recommend always taking the initiative, be it with applications or networking. Many internships are not officially advertised, so you should go to networking meetings, approach people and ask directly. You should also not be afraid to apply on your own initiative, even if no positions are explicitly advertised.

HSRW: Finally: What would you advise students who also want to go abroad? 

Sabrina Kloppe: My main tip is: be open and don't be afraid to ask questions. Especially abroad, it is important that you dare to ask for support. People are usually happy to help, be it at work or in everyday life, for example when looking for an apartment or other practical things. You should also take the opportunity to explore the country you are in. The internship experience goes far beyond the purely professional if you also get to know the culture and the people of the country. Traveling at the end of your stay, as I did, is a good way to really make the most of your time.