From the lecture hall to Complion. Our student employee shares: “I never would have thought I’d be able to take on responsibility so quickly.”
What’s it really like to start at Complion? What can students expect during their internship semester or as a working student with us, and which skills from their studies actually help in their day-to-day work?
We spoke with our working student, Luca. In this interview, he explains why he chose Complion, what surprised him during his first few weeks, and why he recommends that other students take the plunge into consulting.
His Path to Complion
Luca’s Complion story—he’s 29 and from Cologne—began shortly before he completed his bachelor’s degree at the Technical University of Cologne. His internship semester led him to Complion.
“I’m currently in the final stages of my studies and just need to complete my internship semester before submitting my bachelor’s thesis.”
He didn’t get started through a traditional job posting. Luca came to Complion primarily through his previous work as a freelancer in the consulting field. There, he worked for a client who had already carried out projects with Complion, which led to his initial contact with our HR department. This initial contact didn’t solidify until Complion presented itself as part of the internship program at the Cologne University of Applied Sciences. Looking back, it quickly became clear to him that the tasks presented were a perfect fit for his interests.
“I told myself: Okay, I have to send in my application here—this interests me, it fits my profile, and this is the kind of work I want to do.”
He found the subsequent job interview to be pleasant and open.
“The interview went smoothly without any major nerves, and I was actually able to simply demonstrate what I’ve already done, what I can do, and what I’ve learned.”
Responsibility from Day 1
Many of his fellow students talk about their internships, where they spent their first few weeks just observing without any real tasks. At Complion, his experience was completely different. As early as his second week, Luca was allowed to prepare and deliver a presentation to a client, accompanied by an experienced colleague who was available to assist him at any time.
“I was surprised that I was allowed to speak directly with a client and present something I’d created myself as early as the second week.”
He was particularly impressed by the trust placed in him.
“It’s great to have the trust to do something like that, but at the same time always have an experienced colleague there as a safety net.”
At Complion, taking on responsibility doesn’t mean being left to fend for yourself. Quite the opposite: Luca describes his onboarding as structured, personalized, and consistently supportive—whether it’s a quick phone call, a message, or a conversation in the office.
“You always have someone to turn to for anything.”
In particular, the open communication within the team and regular feedback sessions with his project manager and mentor helped him develop quickly.
“Whether in the open-plan office or online, the lively communication made me feel welcomed very quickly.”
It is precisely this combination of personal responsibility, guidance, and support from colleagues that he describes as one of the greatest benefits of joining the company. Looking back, he never felt like a typical student assistant, but rather like a full-fledged member of the project team.
“In fact, it felt more like a regular full-time job. I think the tasks were the same as those a junior consultant would have had.”
Here’s what his typical workday looks like
There’s hardly ever a typical day in consulting. That’s exactly what makes it so appealing. The workday usually begins in the morning with regular team and project meetings. After that, he alternates between project work, research, internal tasks, and writing his thesis.
“You usually have an overarching project that you can contribute to.”
It’s precisely this mix that keeps things from getting monotonous.
“You work on a topic for three hours, then do some research on something new or prepare a report. In between, I can work on my thesis. It’s varied and helps me stay focused.”
Added to this is the flexibility of the workday. Breaks, remote work, and days in the office can be planned individually.
“The great thing is that you can freely choose your breaks, working hours, and work location outside of scheduled appointments. So if the dog wants to go out earlier than planned, that’s all possible.”
Academic Study vs. Practical Experience
Of course, a college degree helps you in your professional life. Analytical thinking, structured work, and technical understanding, in particular, make getting started much easier. Thanks to his data science studies, Luca was able to stand out with the analytical skills and technical understanding he’d acquired.
“Solving problems isn’t a subject in and of itself, but during your studies, you learn to understand complex issues and document them technically in a way that’s easy to follow. In my view, scientific work in particular was a big help in that regard.”
He cites three subjects from his degree program as helpful hard skills that he still uses almost every day.
“Information visualization, information retrieval, and statistical data analysis are three subjects that I’ve been able to apply every workday.”
In particular, a deep understanding of statistical data analysis has proven to be a valuable skill in most of my areas of responsibility.
“We also have a module with the same name that focuses on deriving specific insights from unstructured data.”
The connection between his studies and real-world practice was therefore much stronger than he had initially expected. Just as important, however, are the skills you rarely find in a lecture hall. These include the right team dynamics, effective communication, and collaboration on real-world projects.
“During college, you sometimes work in groups, but ultimately you’re just working toward your own goal. At Complion, an entire team works together on a project toward a common goal. My colleagues are equally responsible and motivated. I’ve had different experiences during my studies…”
He was particularly surprised by how important it is to present complex content in an understandable way.
“In day-to-day consulting work, PowerPoint is your tool of choice—you have to be able to present what you’ve developed. PowerPoint isn’t just a design program. It’s crucial to present content in a way that colleagues—and especially clients—can understand quickly.”
What Skills Really Matter at Complion
In his view, in addition to technical expertise, initiative, a willingness to learn, and a sense of responsibility are particularly crucial. Especially in the beginning, he says, you have to be willing to step outside your comfort zone and continuously develop your skills.
“I often step outside my comfort zone.”
Working students take on responsibility early on at Complion. That’s why the company also expects a professional standard of work.
“Working independently and maintaining a certain standard of work quality are definitely expected. You’re entrusted with responsibility early on, grow through the tasks, and at the same time know that experienced colleagues are there to support you at any time.”
The Complion Culture: Friendly and Supportive
When asked what makes Complion special, our working student doesn’t have to think twice. He describes the company culture as family-like, open, and characterized by mutual support.
“It’s a very positive environment with a great sense of camaraderie.”
He was particularly impressed by how willing his colleagues were to help.
“There were a few times I had to wait more than an hour for a reply to an email. But no one ever said, ‘Oh, here comes another email from the student worker.’”
Luca also finds the combination of working from home and coming into the office—without any mandatory office hours—ideal. He emphasizes, however, that it’s especially important for students to still be in the office regularly to really get to know the work environment and their colleagues. After all, that’s what the practical component of a degree program is meant for.
Why it’s worth starting at Complion as a working student
For him, three points clearly stand out:
- Responsibility from day one
- a steep learning curve through real projects
- a close-knit team that provides support on any topic at any time
His conclusion sums up the experience of joining Complion perfectly:
“From day one, you’re given a task for which you’re responsible. Your work feels meaningful, and you never feel left on your own. In the end, I feel that Complion has gained added value from me, and I, too, have taken something away from Complion.”
Want to finally put theory into practice?
Whether it’s an internship, a part-time student job, or your first job at Complion, you’ll work on real client projects from day one, take on responsibility, and be supported by experienced colleagues along the way.
Go for it! We look forward to getting to know you:
karriere@complion.de
Author: Florian Müller