Carolina Mazza

Where are you currently working and since when? 

I am working at infraVelo, since September 2025.

What did you study and when did you graduate?  

I studied Anglophone Modernities in Literature and Culture at the University of Potsdam and I finished my studies in August 2017.

How did you come to work in this job? 

I have been working in the cycling sector since 2019, so I have good knowledge of the most important topics and in general I have collected several experiences as assistant that qualified me for my actual position.

What were the last three tasks you completed at work?

• Organisation and preparation of different kind of meetings within my company and in exchange with a specific department within the Berlin Senate for mobility
• Agenda Management for the CEO
• Control and development of the database of cycling projects in Berlin

How would you describe a typical day of work? (working hours, homeoffice, amount of hours…)

I work 30 hours per week, mostly from the office but I am allowed to work from home as well, which I generally do it at least once a week.

How did your job search go after graduation from M.A. Anglophone Modernities in Literature and Culture? In which sectors did you apply for jobs, and how did it go? 

At the beginning I applied in the culture and literature fields. Although I just had finished my master and had already collected some work experience, I didn’t get any invitation in this field, so I searched for positions in other fields I was and am interested in.

You have studied in an English-speaking Master program - what role did German language skills play in your career path? (How would you describe the development of your German skills and the working language in the jobs you had until now?)

At the beginning of my Master program my German skills were not the best, but during all these years I managed to improve them and make German my second language. Especially at the beginning of my job search I was always afraid that not being mother tongue would disadvantage me compared to other candidates.

Working in a different field than initially planned, which skills or knowledge you gained during your studies are helpful for your current work?

The ability to analyse and understand complex topics and to “translate” them to different audiences. In general to learn and understand all kind of very field-specific information and use it properly within my working context.

What do you think are main competences you acquired through working in marketing and project coordination? 

Organisational skills for sure, the capacity to make a work plan and to follow it without missing deadlines. In addition, how to tell and represent an idea or a message making it pleasant and interesting for others.

How does your current job align with your general career goals?

I am happy and satisfied with my current job since I like my tasks, the atmosphere at my workplace is very pleasant and I have the feeling I can learn from my coworkers and grow within the company. My job is family friendly and leaves me enough space for my private life.
In addition, it is important for me to do a job that is also good for the society and the city I live in.

What is your biggest learning about the German job market and is there something you encountered that was unusual, funny or irritating for you?

I wouldn’t had thought that the job experiences I had as a student would have played such a big role. Since not all students I knew did work during their studies, I thought my work career would really begin after my studies and any experience before could be of help but not so decisive. Looking backwards I think I could have searched for openings already in the “right” field or even do more internships or volunteer work that could have qualified me better for later jobs or at least got in contact with the sector.

What would you recommend (international) students who are looking for a job after graduating from an English-speaking literature & culture program? Is there something you would have liked to know as a career starter?

Basically what I wrote before. Try to figure out what field you would like to work in and search very specifically in that field. Going to all kind events and being in as many networks as possible was also very useful to me, especially when looking outside of the cultural field. Maybe having a look at job descriptions for higher positions and trying to do the steps they require you to have.

From what I heard from many other universities colleagues they had the same struggles… so having a plan B is also a good strategy I guess. I wished there would be a closer connection between the university and the job market. A clearer image of the jobs one could be aiming to or even those which would not be easy to get, the skills one would need.