Hi, I am Ibrahim Hodžić fromBosnia and Herzegovina and I had the amazing opportunity to do an internship at the company Everest Systems GmbH in Germany. This amazing opportunity was made possible through the Internship Programme of German Business. Overall, this was my way of putting myself in a new work environment, perfecting my skills, and experiencing a new culture. It was a truly transformative adventure!
My Experience Working in a German Company
During the internship, I was a part of the AI team where I was working on the ERP system. Everest Systems is a start-up company founded in 2020. The focus is on developing business software for small and medium-sized enterprises. The company is based in Palo Alto, USA, and Heidelberg, Germany. Therefore, I improved my technical and collaborative skills during the internship where I also got valuable hands-on experience with enterprise systems.
What was really exciting about this experience was working with a talented team in an innovative space. The challenges were new every day, be it tweaking the AI-powered solutions or building entirely new features in the system. So not only did I improve my technical knowledge, but I also improved my problem-solving and teamwork skills, working with an international team.
Memorable Moments and Discoveries
Aside from the professional part, my stay in Germany was a memorable affair. Traveling and exploring Europe with my new friends was one of my favorite parts of my internship time. I was not very experienced travelling around. So a whole new world was opened to me once I began. I found out I have a huge passion for travelling which is truly life-changing.
And I did traveled a lot during my time in Germany. I visited more than 30 cities in Germany and 6 neighboring countries. All these journeys would honestly feel like just ordinary trips if it weren‘t for the awesome friends I’ve made from the Programme! Their amasing companionship transformed each adventure into an unforgettable experience, making every moment richer and more thrilling! It truly reinforced a heartwarming lesson for me – always embrace the opportunities the world presents to you. Life is too short not to experiment!
There were highs and lows as I explored a new country and culture, but I embraced every challenge I faced as part of the experience. Every aspect of my move came with its own learning curve — be it learning how to use public transportation, adapting to a different work culture, or even making friends from different backgrounds.
Advice for Future Scholarship Holders
I highly recommend you to apply for the Internship Programme of German Business. My best advice is to network with the scholarship holders from your generation and alumni from the Regional Alumni Network of this Programme. Having a gaggle of friends around the globe will enhance your experience and development. If you are shy, this is the perfect chance to be out of your comfort zone even if you’re an introvert.
I want to take a moment to thank the team behind this Programme for giving me such an amazing opportunity. Life in Germany would be quite difficult without their help. They organised workshops that prepared us for life and work there. The project team was very supportive, guiding us through administrative tasks and ensuring we adjusted smoothly. Their support made the entire experience easy and enjoyable.
Ibrahim Hodzic, Generation 2024
