Here are some quotes from our alumni:
“I feel like the German program at IWU gave me a unique skill that has made me stand out in job interviews…. I was given the impression that employers believe that a person who is able to commit to learning a foreign language will not be intimidated by large projects.”
Nicole Schiller ’08, MA Political Science, Illinois Government Intern
“Learning German has helped me to realize that there is so much in life that I have yet to experience, and it has made me more adventurous as a result.”
Jessica Olsen ’08, teacher, German Fulbright grant recipient
“Having German as a foreign language helped me get into and then excel in one of the top library Master’s degree programs in the country.”
Greg Armstrong MacDonald ‘05, librarian
“I learned the value of a foreign language as an American who travels abroad.”
Ashley Keith, ’06, lawyer
“German opened up this huge, diverse world that is now my passion and a defining aspect of my career.”
Ariana Giles ’05 translator
Jobs where a German degree is valued:
- Secondary school and higher education
- Public and research libraries
- International banking
- Business firms that value skills in intercultural communication. Firms with international or German connections (i.e., Siemens, Lufthansa, Volkswagen, Porsche-Audi, T-Online)
- International educational experiences (tours, courses, cruises): coordinate, market
- Facilitator of study abroad at a college.
- U.S. foreign service, U.S. military
- U.S. Park Service (communicating with German-speaking tourists)
- More careers ideas that use foreign languages can be found at the AATG career page.
Examples of graduate work of IWU German majors:
- Law school
- Doctoral programs in Anthropology, English, Psychology, German Language Pedagogy, and Comparative Literature.
- MBA - Masters of Business Administration
- MA in International Relations
- Monterrey Institute for Foreign Study - Simultaneous Translation
- MA degree in German, M.A. degree in Education with teaching certification
- Seminary
- Masters in Library Science
- Masters in Museum Studies
Examples of scholarships/ fellowships/ honors awarded to IWU German majors and minors:
- Congress-Bundestag Award 2003-2004
- "The Graduate School Experience" 2005 - A workshop at the University of Pennsylvania for students interested in pursuing graduate studies in German. It is funded by the Max Kade Foundation. Selection is highly competitive.
- Fulbright Teaching Assistant Scholarship to Germany (2006-2007, former German major)
- Phi Beta Kappa honors 2004 (German minor), 2005 (German major)
Career Services - eRecruiting
- You want to work in an international field? - Contact an alumni mentor in a similar job to help you figure out what, where, who, and how.
- Mentors might be working in the Foreign Service, Banks, Education, Educational Exchange Programs, International Offices of U.S. Businesses, or Foreign Countries.
- Find an internship that uses your language or intercultural communication skills.
Fellowship opportunities:
- CDC Bundestag awards provide for a year’s paid internship in Germany (inquire about at beginning of Senior year)
- Fulbright teaching awards for future teachers (a year paid as a teacher’s aid in Austria - inquire about at end of Junior year)
- Fulbright research awards (inquire about at end of Junior year)
- German Academic Exchange grants for applied studies or internships
- The Émigré Memorial Internship Program with German State Parliaments (internship of 1-3 months) and the German Bundestag
Networking
- If you are in the Chicago area - Meet a variety of people interested in German at the Chicago Stammtisch. Contact: Richard Lange at richardelange@hotmail.com.
- Conduct informational interviews with people in positions similar to those you think you would like to have.
- Find a mentor - see above