Graduate Melanie Fleisch - MCI project team member

- Why did you decide to study sociology? What other alternatives were there for you?

I attended a training fair in my A-level class when a person told me about studying sociology. It became clear that a whole range of careers were possible with this degree programme, which really fascinated me. In addition, the degree programme allows you to deal with many different social issues over the course of your studies and to deal with them in an interdisciplinary way. There wasn't really an alternative for me. I also thought about studying philosophy, educational science or social work, but none of the subjects inspired me equally (except philosophy, which is why I did a BA in addition to the MA).

- What were you most enthusiastic about during your studies?

I was most enthusiastic about the variety of areas, topics and phenomena covered in sociology, as well as the opportunity to broaden my horizons outside the discipline without having to limit myself as a "sociologist". For me, studying sociology means freedom, in the sense that I am free to look at any phenomena in society in various ways. Studying sociology not only helps me to continuously develop as a researcher and keep up with the times, but also enriches me as a private person, as I can always learn new things about society, people and therefore myself.

- Did you already have an idea of where you would end up when you started your studies?

I already knew before I started my degree programme that I would like to work in research.

- And how did you end up in your current position?

A former fellow student worked at the MCI research centre and he told me that they were looking for a qualitative researcher for a project in the health sector. He recommended me, whereupon I was invited to an interview and eventually got the job as a project assistant.

- In retrospect, what helped you in particular to find a job after your studies?

The professional experience (that I had already worked as a student assistant) and the openness towards the fields of work (among other things, I worked on a project dealing with the physical activity behaviour of young people, which was very much in the medical/behavioural economics field).

- To what extent did your studies help you?

The degree programme helped me a lot to find solutions to various problems and to always remain open to new input. I learnt to deal with a topic in a variety of (theoretical and methodological) ways and to incorporate the knowledge/expertise of other researchers (or subject areas) into my considerations. This enabled me not only to recognise the subtleties, but also to recognise and present the "big picture" without assuming an absolute truth.

- What are the most important experiences from your time as a student?

The experience of having to organise myself completely; to look more closely and critically at topics that are sometimes overlooked in everyday life; to work in a team; to think outside the box; that other perspectives can help to enrich one's own perspective; to set priorities.

- What would you do differently today or do you regret something in connection with your studies?

I would think more about who I would like to have as a supervisor for my Bachelor's and Master's thesis and to what extent the collaboration can work. I would also take certain judgements and opinions of lecturers less to heart - in the knowledge that these people are only human and have their own subjective opinions. 😉

- What do you particularly like to think back on?

The hours we spent together. Certain presentations and speakers, as well as the supposedly carefree atmosphere.

- Last but not least: Is there any advice you would like to give current students for their entry into the professional world?

From my experience, I would advise a person who wants to work in research or pursue an academic career to think about what they want to invest in and what their motivation is. It is also important to be constantly aware of your own strengths, to listen to opinions as openly as possible but to always question them critically. In any case, it is important to be flexible - be it in terms of where you live, how you spend your free time, but also, as a researcher, towards other disciplines and perspectives. Finally, it should be borne in mind that in research, especially for young researchers (PhD students), remuneration is not always fair (many hours invested in a paper, for example, are not remunerated), competition is fierce and hierarchies are sometimes still entrenched.