An update from Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures alum Christine Meier ’04, who earned her B.A. in international business with a minor in German.
“I used to get asked a lot why I studied German, and if I actually thought it would be useful! In the end, studying German was what made me a unique candidate for employment. It showed I wasn’t scared to try something different, that I was open to new cultures and this uniqueness opened many doors for my career.
When I graduated in 2004, I went to work for a non-profit and learned a great deal about German and American business relations. This position gave me the foundation for a further experience of living abroad with the Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange, where I spent a year abroad studying and completing an internship.
Upon returning to the United States, I was recruited by a company specifically looking for dual language speakers. Now I’m working for a German manufacturer of wind turbines and use my language skills on a daily basis.
My primary responsibility is to ensure that all our needs are met for Wind Turbine Projects. I work directly with Production, Sales and Supply Chain Management to communicate and coordinate project needs. I’m responsible as well for documenting and tracking material movements, stocks and finalized construction. The picture here is at a project recently put up in Wisconsin.
Even if you don’t use German upon leaving college, it’s an interesting language rich with culture and history.”
