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Our goal is to facilitate and promote contact and exchange of experiences between graduates, professors, lecturers and current students at the Cologne Business School. All the more pleased are we that our alumni stay in touch with us after graduating and keep us up to date.
Not only has the latest ranking of the Wirtschaftswoche (Business Weekly magazine) confirmed the high level of satisfaction among HR managers with our students, but also the positions in which our graduates work clearly show that studying at the Cologne Business School provides the optimal preparation for career entry in the future. But don’t take our word for it. Have a look for yourself by reading about a few of our successful alumni and finding out about their fields of activity.
International Business Graduate
EMEA Regional Product Expert
Google Inc.
"What I especially liked, was the very good and close relationship to the faculty, the direct and extensive contact with lecturers all the way to individual support in finding internships abroad."
The positive aspect about my job and company is that there are typical workdays as well as a lot of flexibility. If I want, I can spend weeks at events holding lectures on topics like Digital Measurement/Analysis. At the same time, I can also work very technically and analytically on the implementation of new features.
The focus on internationality and practical skills has had a very positive influence on my development at Google. Particularly the structured and highly versatile project work, which often goes hand-in-hand with the curriculum at a private school, were also extremely helpful. Finally, I was able to really hone my team and leadership skills through extracurricular activities, for example, through my commitment to the Corporate Identity Team.
Studies are short, so you should use the time to let your curiosity run wild. At the same time you need to keep your eyes peeled because your studies alone are rarely a unique selling point. And though it is sometimes difficult to make room for complementary skills and interests in addition to all the time spent in lectures or studying, it is often these which are the decisive factor in the end.
Digital Media Management Graduate
Head of Brand & Communication
DriveNow GmbH & Co. KG
„I liked the small classrooms, having a multitude of practical tasks and making many dear friends there, who continue to enrich my life even today.“
For me there is no typical workday. Sometimes I brief advertising agencies on the upcoming campaign. Sometimes I carry out job interviews for openings in my team, and sometimes I do the budgeting and marketing planning. Every day is different.
The presentation and rhetoric classes facilitated a smooth career entry for me, while also quickly winning me respect in the workplace. I still profit from that today.
Get as much internship experience as you can in order to find out what really floats your boat. Going to work needs to be fun because it takes up such a large part of your life.
International Tourism Management Graduate
Senior Director Customer Experience & Product
Eurowings Aviation GmbH
"Of particular value was the presentation training, which we did regularly."
The practical learning in small classrooms perfectly prepared me for project and team work in my job today.
CBS has taught me the crucial soft skills and latest knowledge through practical experience. This, of course, was based on a theoretical foundation, but constantly looking above and beyond the campus horizon was of much more importance.
International Business Graduate
Programme Director and Senior Consultant
KCIG GmbH
„CBS offers a great academic education.“
As programme director at the KCIG Academy, or rather, as a senior consultant at the KCIG GmbH, I take care of the operational management as well as planning & execution of management seminars. I am also responsible for project and process management consulting.
CBS provides its students with all the necessary skills and opportunities which enable them to assume responsibility for themselves and others alike as they shape their future in an international environment.
General Management Graduate
Manager Strategy & Portfolio Steering
Wintershall Holding GmbH
"Practical training, good lecturers, foreign languages and rhetoric classes."
There is no typical day. The multitude of projects and clients provides a tremendous variety. Basically, what never changes are the meetings, drafting concepts, information processing and presentations.
Knowledge of MS Office, presentation techniques and languages provided me with a very good foundation, on which to build my career. In my current position, I benefit from the generally broad focus of my studies.
I would recommend making as many contacts with companies as possible and right away during your studies. But student life should also not be neglected. At CBS in particular, this flies by very quickly …
International Business Graduate
Manager
KPMG AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft
„I am thankful to the professors at CBS for many reasons. And if I had to do it all over again, CBS would still be my first choice.“
Thanks to CBS I had the opportunity to start building a network at a young age. The curriculum coupled with the extensive knowledge of the professors established a firm foundation for my professional career, as I have also found in my classmates very good friends for life.
In the field of purchasing and supply chain management I work primarily with clients from the manufacturing industry. The focus is on both the analysis and implementation of cost reduction potential in terms of direct and indirect materials as well as defining and optimizing cross-divisional business processes. A typical workday consists of client meetings and workshops, in which ideas are developed, implementation strategies; or rather, the results of optimization are pinpointed and discussed.
The studies at CBS prepared me just fine for life after college. Thanks to the extensive and strong network CBS has with companies from various economic sectors, I was able to benefit greatly. So not only did I complete my internship abroad but I my BT in a leading pharmaceutical company as well, which was for me was both a valuable first contact with the industry while also providing me with the opportunity to put my theoretical knowledge directly in practice.
Intercultural Management Graduate
Project Coordinator
REWE Group
“For me, the international aspect and studying in English were of particular importance.”
Planning and conducting leadership seminars and study trips as well as communication with REWE’s independent retailers through various channels.
The practical relevance, which was a part of every course along with the soft skills taught well prepared me for my professional life
On the way to achieving your dream job do not forget to occasionally look left and right. Every step along the way is another experience.
International Business Graduate
Senior Manager
Ernst & Young GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft
„What I particularly liked about my studies at CBS was the mixture of theory and practical application, the internationality, the small classrooms and the myriad of extracurricular activities (i.e. soft skills training, company visits, student consultancy).“
There’s no such thing as a typical workday for me. Not really, anyway, because every day is structured differently. I like that very much because that keeps my job varied and exciting. It is generally a good mix of days in the office (meetings, interviews with applicants, administrative activities), visiting clients (meetings, presentations, on-site auditing in a team), home office days (reviewing activities) and days at events (EY presentation, recruiting events, etc.).
The mixture of theory and practice, including the mandatory internships that go along with these, provides a very good insight into work life. This ultimately helped me to find the job that was right for me. The internationality – particularly language instruction (English and Spanish) – has prepared me very well for my current tasks in an international company. And last but not least, the many rhetoric classes (which at the time were not necessarily among my favorite courses) have been more than helpful for the tasks in my current position
I would first advise prospective students to try out as many different courses as possible during the first years of their studies – this could be various lectures, additional school-related events or internships – before choosing a specialization. This is the best way to find out for yourself what is the most fun for you and in which direction you might want to develop professionally. It is very important to stick to your goals and ideas for the future. Do not be discouraged if things don’t work out the first time around, whether this be applications etc.
Digital Media Management Graduate
Associate Director
Mediacom Worldwide
„My studies at CBS prepared me in many ways for a career at one of the world's leading media agencies."
As part of MediaCom’s Worldwide Team I am currently looking after a leading insurance company’s global media budget as well as advising our clients in the areas of media strategy, communications planning and media investment.
In March 2013 after 2.5 years at MediaCom in Düsseldorf, I moved within the company to MediaCom’s head office in London. In my role within the Worldwide Team I work daily with colleagues and teams from around the globe.
What significantly influenced my career in particular was the high practical relevance, proximity to lecturers, soft skills training and the opportunity to build a professional network early on during my studies.
General Management Graduate
Senior Expert / Senior Manager
Deutsche Post AG
"I particularly liked the combination of theory and practice as well as the wide range of soft skills courses."
The basic principles of economics (even though I probably do not actively apply them anymore) along with the slew of presentations and group projects were without a doubt helpful in preparing me for working life. The fundamentals at CBS and the part-time MBA were important building blocks for my professional development.
Knowledge is one thing, clearly. But it’s the soft skills, foreign languages (in addition to English and Kölsch) and appearance that not only have gained importance but also become decisive factors as to whether you qualify for a job. The job market can be tough, so you need to be prepared. Be open, committed and self-confident while not overestimating yourselves. And even if you don’t know what you want to do in the future, doing internships and taking advantage of the Studium Generale program is a great way to obtain first insights into the business world.
Business Psychology Graduate
Head of Human Resources
Boston Consulting Group
„The degree program with its strong emphasis on practical application provided an absolutely necessary foundation.“
I am responsible for all employee issues relating to contracts, agreements, visas, work permits, residence permits, certifications, payroll, social security, training and career development. In addition, I handle the coaching of managers at BCG, conflict mediation, staff and budget planning for Switzerland while also being the HR business partner for our local partner group and bearing responsibility for the Bonus & Mobility programs.
The program’s strong emphasis on practical orientation and the internationality of CBS along with lectures held in English formed an absolutely necessary foundation for pursuing a career in an internationally renowned company.
Experience abroad is a benefit for any graduate in an internationally growing company, no matter where you are in life.
Digital Media Management Graduate
Senior Brand and Trade Marketing Manager
ültje GmbH
"CBS brings together two special features: It prepares students in the best way possible for the professional world while also providing an amazing family-like atmosphere."
Primarily, I handle media campaigns for “traditional advertising and PR”. My job also includes “below the line” activities, which focus on the representation of the products at the POS. Furthermore, I effect theme-based promotions and brand collaborations and am responsible for the entire online presence of the company, ültje. Here, I try and cleverly exploit trends in social media and e-commerce for our marketing messages.
CBS particularly laid the foundations for my career today in the following areas:
– working structurally
– giving presentations
– conveying marketing-relevant content in campaigns
I would recommend every student to get international experience and to enjoy the time at CBS.
Intercultural Management Graduate
Supplier Development Officer
ZF Friedrichshafen AG
„Studying at CBS has greatly contributed to my own personal development.“
There is no “typical” workday in my job. As a project manager I am responsible for a sustainable improvement of our suppliers’ performance. In so doing I have to particularly take on the role as a communicator between departments within my company and representatives from our suppliers. Each project is different, which makes the job very exciting.
At CBS I learned volumes about the making the right appearance and the importance of a network. In my current job I am the link between many parties. A confident demeanor along with a good network within the company are crucial in my line of work.
Get out of your “comfort zone”. Take advantage of the elective courses, in particular, to try yourself out at something new. Over time this will help make it clearer to you just what your goals are as well as your effect on others
International Tourism Management Graduate
Senior Consultant
Compass GmbH
„The fact that CBS is located right in the heart of Cologne is just another cherry on top."
My work at COMPASS is quite varied. The nature of my work is project based and covers the fields of tourism, regional development, marketing, research and staff training.
It is the work-based learning and soft skills courses that particularly facilitated my successful career entry as a professional. And I am still benefitting from these today.
Internationality, the small classrooms and soft skills courses were and would still be my main reasons for choosing CBS.
General Management Graduate
Head of Serial Purchasing
AUDI AG
„What I really liked about my studies was the almost family-like atmosphere.“
As a serial buyer, I am responsible for the component sourcing of new vehicle projects and for cost optimization of the current series components. This typically involves calls for bids, negotiations and presentations of work results to executive committees for decision.
CBS taught me how to quickly familiarize myself with all sorts of subjects and to act, never losing sight of the goal. The importance placed on rhetoric and presentation techniques has helped me in daily presentations to numerous committees as well as in front of the executive board.
What I really liked about my studies was the almost family-like atmosphere.
Enjoy your time as a student to the fullest because it’s going to fly by. And take advantage of the opportunity for continued educational development and courses. See that you put in a semester abroad. I regretfully passed up this opportunity.
Digital Media Management Graduate
Channel Partner Excellence Manager
GE Healthcare Europe
„My studies at CBS have supplied me with all the necessary requirements to operate successfully in the global workplace.”
Between my second and third year of studies I took a gap year to do an internship in London at General Electric (GE). After graduating from CBS, I started as a trainee at GE, where I worked for eight months in London and 16 months in Paris.
Experienced professionals appreciate the ability to manage multi-national teams and the talent to handle projects, as this is more important than one’s nationality and place of residence.
Intercultural Management Graduate
Strategic Analysis Manager
Oman Oil Company S.A.O.C
„The linguistic skills acquired at CBS were the first to really put me in a position to lead international projects.”
OOC is a commercial company fully owned by the Government of the Sultanate of Oman. The company was founded in 1996 in order to provide investment opportunities in the energy sector both inside and outside Oman.
My job is to develop strategies for different petrochemical investments, to provide support for international project planning and to make recommendations for the most appropriate deployment of Oman resources.
The realistic, up-to-date lectures at CBS gave me the essential technical foundation for this kind of work. Particularly the “Personal Skills” subjects, such as Rhetoric with its sometimes very unexpected tasks, put me in the position to react flexibly to unknown challenges.
Business Psychology Graduate
Senior Consultant
Kerkhoff Consulting GmbH
„What I particularly liked about my studies was learning in small classrooms, the direct access to faculty and the personal atmosphere.“
There is no “typical” workday when it comes to consulting – from one project to another content changes, contacts and locations. The only thing that is the same every day is that I develop and implement concepts together with my clients in order to streamline their expenditure, realize potential savings and constantly master the hurdles that go along with every project.
Along with good time management and many “soft skills” (from computer science to presentation skills to teamwork and negotiations), CBS has especially taught me logical reasoning. I know where I can look up theories and have certainly memorized these as well. But when it comes to client meetings, theory does not count as much as practical experience (i.e. through the mandatory internships) and common sense.
1. Use your time as a student – learn from the lecturers and your fellow students!
2. Hardly anyone starts off as a manager right after their studies. Work hard and build your network!
3. Enjoy the time, and have fun
