Throughout the internship in Berlin, I was responsible for a myriad of duties related to human resources. Human resources don’t just limit to recruitment and administration. Since my host company was a new start-up, they had yet grasped their own essence. As such, I was assigned to conduct research on company culture. I provided insight into how culture functions within an office and enables employees to have greater satisfaction and autonomy.

Since our office consisted of employees from all over the world, it was interesting to know each of their unique cultures and lives. At the very beginning, I realised that it was important to adjust myself, so I didn’t do anything out of the ordinary and offend anyone. This caution distanced me from my colleagues, but as I talked more and became much more proactive in sharing ideas with others, I started to feel closer.

My host company, as a start-up, preferred an open office rather than working in cubicles. Teams were spread out amongst the office, and employees weren’t limited to sit with their own team. This allowed me to interact with different colleagues and learn various skills from them.

We didn’t usually have a lot of things happening in the office. Yet, the company had a lot of activities outside of work. It organised a big gathering in a rooftop bar as one of the interns was leaving. It was an enjoyable and memorable experience - we tried a variety of beer. We got a chance to talk more deeply with the managers. All of us felt like a part of a big family.

After spending 3 months in Berlin, I feel like I have become more open-minded and have brought back the passionate way of communicating with everyone else. I find myself much more active in starting conversations rather than passively answering questions. Working in Berlin has prepared me with a flexible, adaptable, and open-minded work style while opening my eyes to Europe for a future career path. Europe has always been a destination for leisure travel but not practical work.