Elen Niedermeyer studied computer science at the Free University of Berlin and completed her master's degree there in 2022. She is currently working as a software developer at BVG.

Did you earn a doctorate? Why? Why not?
No. Although I had the offer from my master's thesis supervisor to continue working on the project and thereby obtain a doctorate, I decided against it. I was interested in the project, but I had had enough of scientific work and writing, the meticulous work with sources, etc.

Why did you decide on your current career?
I had a job as a working student at a small company. Unfortunately, over time, more and more colleagues left the company, and I had to take on more and more responsibility alone, without being able to exchange with someone in a similar situation. That would be too much for me, and I looked for a new job. The good working conditions and secure jobs at BVG were certainly also an argument in favor of it. But I liked the fact that I could deal with other technologies again, the colleagues in my team are all quite young, and we share responsibility among ourselves. That works really well!

What knowledge or skills did you acquire in your studies that you didn't think you would ever need?
Basics in AI. I never wanted to work in a theoretical field. Of course, AI is all the rage now, and it's sometimes very helpful to explain to others that it's just statistical calculations that I could even program myself. Just to rationalize the discussions about it.

What would you have liked to have done or learned during your studies?
Internships are really useful. As a working student, I was able to get to know a company and adapt theoretical work methods to practice. In addition to programming, many other aspects play a role, because I work in structures and hierarchies. In retrospect, I would take my business administration course a bit more seriously, to better understand in the future why certain entrepreneurial decisions are made. After all, these decisions affect me and my work as well. I would also have liked to do more resilience training, which you really need again and again in everyday work life. It would also be useful to discuss rights and responsibilities in the working life. I was lucky to have good support there, but it can sometimes be really difficult to estimate what my boss is actually allowed to do and what he is not allowed to do, for example when my working hours affect my leisure time planning at short notice.

What recommendations do you have for students who want to complete their studies in a timely manner?
Use contacts! Did you enjoy your internship? A friend started with a job last year? Get opinions from the people around you about their experiences in the working world. At the beginning, you sometimes don't know what to look for in a company because there are just so many unknowns. But you're not alone. Other people have had the same experience, learn from them. And if it still doesn't work out with the dream job: Be brave and keep going. You don't have to keep your first job forever, all doors are still open to you!