Felix Leander Droop studied bioinformatics at the Free University of Berlin and graduated in 2025. He is currently working as a software consultant at TNG Technology Consulting.

Why did you decide on your current career?
Programming was the most enjoyable part of my studies from the beginning. That's why I wanted to work in this direction. To be honest, the bio background from bioinformatics wasn't really important to me anymore.
As a software consultant at TNG, I work mostly like a normal software developer for or with companies that are clients of my company. My job has little to do with "Strategy Consulting".
I was unsure if I wanted to work for a company like TNG because I wouldn't always be able to choose the projects I work on completely independently. This would be different for a company that develops a specific product itself. However, it is unrealistic to find a job that is a perfect fit, and especially for newcomers to the job market, the choices are not too great at the moment. Additionally, there are also some advantages to a structure like TNG. I am part of a network of many young and experienced software developers who actively exchange ideas about their various projects. A lot can be learned in this process. Additionally, great emphasis is placed on ongoing education, which is very valuable for newcomers to the profession.

Are you pursuing a doctorate in this context? Why did you decide for or against a doctorate?
No, I'm not going to get my PhD. I studied for eight years and I've had enough. I didn't find it appealing to acquire more specific knowledge in an area where I already know a lot. A career in science up to professor seemed unrealistic to me. If I'm going to go into the free economy anyway, why not directly?

What knowledge or skills did you acquire in your studies that you didn't think you'd ever need?
My studies have only been over for less than half a year, so there hasn't been much time for surprises. I believe that technical content is less relevant than general skills such as scientific/structured work, communication, and logical/analytical approach to problem-solving.

What would you have liked to have done or learned during your studies? 
Gaining more experience as a factory student or through internships would have been helpful in the application process. Java and TypeScript are programming languages that I have had little contact with, but they are enormously relevant in the business world.

What recommendations do you have for students who want to complete their studies in a timely manner?
The job market is not good for newcomers right now, even in technical fields. One should think early on about where one wants to go and set the course accordingly. If you don't want to pursue a doctorate, I wouldn't recommend specializing too much in a specific academic topic in your master's degree.
It also helps to engage with nerdy/technical topics outside of the curriculum. For example, my interest in the programming language Rust gave me a lot of knowledge about programming in general, which certainly helped me in the job interview. One should try to find things that are fun and can be economically productive at the same time.
I would also recommend a semester abroad to everyone; the experiences are very enriching.