Christina

University attended: Georg-Simon-Ohm Fachhochschule Nürnberg
Course attended: International Business
Graduated: 2006
Date Joined: 2006

What motivated you to take an internship at Shell in the first place?

I wanted to do an internship at an international company in a challenging environment and, since Shell has operations in more than 100 different countries, employing over 102,000 people, it was just what I was looking for.

What also appealed to me was the chance to work on real projects that were specifically matched to my interests and abilities.

What role did you play during your internship - did you feel you were doing a 'real job'?

I completed a five-month internship at Shell Switzerland in the marketing department for commercial fuels and I was involved in various projects based on real business requirements at that time.

I set up a competitors' analysis referring to the Swiss Market for commercial fuels and conducted studies on the customer and employee satisfaction at the Swiss subsidiaries. In addition to applying commercial knowledge to challenges I haven't faced before, my aim was to add value by bringing a new perspective to each project that I was involved in.

My internship was very flexible, I planned my own work and I learned a lot. Furthermore, I really liked the level of autonomy and responsibility entrusted upon me.

What did you learn about Shell - and about yourself - in the process?

Shell is a truly global organisation.

Whilst best known for service stations and exploration and production activities, Shell has an exceptionally diverse portfolio of interests in 100 different countries. Which is why they can offer a huge range of commercial and technical career opportunities.

Shell has a very professional approach to employees' development, so you'll be expected to bring drive, ambition and talent - and you'll take on a high level of responsibility right from the beginning.

What helped you to decide to accept the Shell job offer after the internship was over?

The people I've met during my time at Shell were extremely open, motivated and enthusiastic, which made for a very pleasant work environment. After getting to know the company culture a little better, I knew I wanted to work for this company.

Another important point for me was that Shell could offer me a range of diverse career opportunities in a multicultural environment, including different countries.

Also the fact that Shell offers the chance to incorporate learning into both professional and personal development was crucial. Furthermore, working for Shell enables to address the key economic, social and environmental development issues of a high profile organisation having to make corporate decisions to the benefit of all stakeholders.

Would you recommend an internship to other high-achieving students and why?

During your internship you have to be prepared for challenging tasks and real responsibility from day one. Additionally, a lot of emphasis is placed on the value of the individual and the contribution you can make to the team.

I've been impressed how fair, open and objective the assessment process was and the value proposition of Shell's Graduate Program sounded very appealing to me.

Since I finished my internship in Switzerland, I have been working as a Sales Advisor in the German gas business. A very challenging and diverse job that I enjoy very much.