CAMELOT offers students an opportunity of gaining their first practical experience via internships to help them firm up their ideas about work and their professional goals – in this case as a management consultant specializing in the chemical industry.
Marius Molter on his experiences.
While studying for my Master’s in Business Chemistry, a three-month internship enabled me to gain my first practical experience of the field I would later like to work in.
First points of contact with the Consulting Line Chemicals, where chemistry meets business management
I first became aware of CAMELOT at a campus careers fair, where I talked to some very likeable consultants who made a convincing first impression. Shortly afterwards, I sent my application directly to the Consulting Line Chemicals. They deal with problems encountered by clients in the chemicals-related industry along the entire supply chain – issues involving the management of chemical sites and services, the digitalisation of value chains, margin management, and many other topics. It is precisely this combination of the way companies in the chemical industry think and work that fascinates me.
In the thick of it fast via onboarding and the start of my project
It all started for me in February 2020 with a two-day onboarding programme together with other new entrants in Mannheim where I was given the hardware needed, was able to make my first contacts, and learned everything that was relevant to finding my way around at CAMELOT. Then I got to know my team in Cologne, who welcomed me really warmly right from the start. I could hardly believe my luck when I found out I would be involved straight away in a new project, which was going to start immediately.
Your own tasks and plenty of insights even as an intern
Our client had commissioned us to develop strategies for generating growth and process efficiency, and ensuring that the park was integrated into the value chains of its target customers. At the same time, we were busy working out concept ideas for digitalising our client’s business model and reducing their ecological footprint.
During my internship I primarily worked in the Project Management Office (PMO). Among others, this comprised providing support for presentations for the steering committee and the design of a digital profit and loss statement. As well as my work in the PMO, I was also included in various workstreams, so I was able to obtain a very broad insight into the project.
Unfortunately, when the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, our workplace was moved from being on the spot with the client or at the Cologne office to working from home, and after a few weeks the project was put on ice. For me, this turned out to be an opportunity: I was intensively involved in the conception of an international project for a major chemicals company, which in the end also enabled me to take a look beyond the original project.
Steep learning curve as an intern? Definitely!
The topic areas I worked on were challenging and varied, and enabled me to follow a hugely steep learning curve. On the one hand in terms of the specialist knowledge I gained from my intensive project involvement, and also because working together with experienced co-workers and CAMELOT managers helped me greatly with my personal development. At no time did I get the impression they regarded me as “only the intern”; in fact, I was fully involved and taken seriously at all times.
The three months in my team were great fun, and I learned a lot – both professionally and personally. It also undoubtedly confirmed my professional goal of becoming a management consultant. I can unreservedly recommend an internship at CAMELOT, and in particular the Chemicals line of their management consulting. So if you are intending to do an internship, apply to them! You too can look forward to fascinating content, great co-workers, and being closely involved in projects.
