By Sira Cordes
This summer, I was able to intern here in Washington, D.C. and got the opportunity to explore more of DC. I decided to intern with the German American Business Council, an independent, non-profit organization, working to foster transatlantic dialogue in both the private and the public realm.
Why did you choose this particular internship? Please be specific.
As a German citizen, living here in the United States the transatlantic relationship is one that has long fascinated me. I was first introduced to the issue as a High School exchange student living in Leavenworth, Kansas. This is of course, where I first learned about the American military and what inspired me to study Security Studies here at Georgetown. During my International Studies undergraduate degree at Leiden University, I chose the regional focus of North America, with a linguistic focus on Spanish and an exchange semester in Mexico. After graduation I realized that studying the transatlantic relationship from one side would not be enough, and so here at Georgetown I am focusing on international security. The German American Business Council provides a forum to encourage transatlantic conversations, so it felt like a natural fit. While I had previously studied the transatlantic relationship, I never looked at it from a private enterprise point of view. This seemed like a great opportunity to get to know another point of view.
How will this experience help you in your job search and career?
The German American Business Council was founded as an initiative from the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany and provides a space where leaders and businesses from both countries can meet and exchange views. While not specifically related to the security field, the GABC works extensively with defense firms and it is a topic that is of great importance to both American and German policy makers. Ultimately, I think I would like to work on transatlantic security policy. Since I will not be able to get a security clearance here in the United States, I will either have to return to Europe and find work here in the private sector. The GABC is incredibly well connected, and my experience here will hopefully help me build my transatlantic career.
Have you changed as a result of this experience? If so, how?
This internship has shown me that the private sector has incredibly interesting work opportunities that I previously had not considered. While public service is still a goal of mine, I think I have become more open about other possibilities. It has also opened my eyes about my future career prospects in the United States.
Why did you choose this particular internship? Please be specific.
As a German citizen, living here in the United States the transatlantic relationship is one that has long fascinated me. I was first introduced to the issue as a High School exchange student living in Leavenworth, Kansas. This is of course, where I first learned about the American military and what inspired me to study Security Studies here at Georgetown. During my International Studies undergraduate degree at Leiden University, I chose the regional focus of North America, with a linguistic focus on Spanish and an exchange semester in Mexico. After graduation I realized that studying the transatlantic relationship from one side would not be enough, and so here at Georgetown I am focusing on international security. The German American Business Council provides a forum to encourage transatlantic conversations, so it felt like a natural fit. While I had previously studied the transatlantic relationship, I never looked at it from a private enterprise point of view. This seemed like a great opportunity to get to know another point of view.
How will this experience help you in your job search and career?
The German American Business Council was founded as an initiative from the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany and provides a space where leaders and businesses from both countries can meet and exchange views. While not specifically related to the security field, the GABC works extensively with defense firms and it is a topic that is of great importance to both American and German policy makers. Ultimately, I think I would like to work on transatlantic security policy. Since I will not be able to get a security clearance here in the United States, I will either have to return to Europe and find work here in the private sector. The GABC is incredibly well connected, and my experience here will hopefully help me build my transatlantic career.
Have you changed as a result of this experience? If so, how?
This internship has shown me that the private sector has incredibly interesting work opportunities that I previously had not considered. While public service is still a goal of mine, I think I have become more open about other possibilities. It has also opened my eyes about my future career prospects in the United States.