One of the best things about my job is using German every day
As an export coordinator at the textile company Beirholm, Marie-Luise Rix Andersen uses her language skills in German and English every day in her work with customers, manufacturers, and colleagues across the organization.
"I have always been very interested in the German language and Germany. That’s also why I chose to study International Business, Language and Culture in Sønderborg and Flensburg, because you really get under the skin of the language while also studying at both a Danish and a German university. The combination of the Danish and German systems was truly exciting for me, and already during my studies I knew that I wanted to work in a field where I could use the language afterward.
Today, I work as an export coordinator, where I am in daily contact with customers—primarily in the German market and in Switzerland. I use German every day, both spoken and written, and also English and Danish. My role is very broad. I handle sales orders and quotations, place purchase orders with manufacturers, and coordinate deliveries. At the same time, I have close contact with logistics, finance, and other internal departments, so you end up acting a bit like an octopus within the organization.
”especially draw on the language skills and cultural understanding I gained during my studies. Understanding German business culture and communication styles makes a real difference in my work. In addition, I use the business-related competencies when working with pricing, volumes, and forecasting.
From my studies, I especially use the language and cultural understanding. It makes a big difference to understand German business culture and communication styles. In addition, I draw on my business economics courses when working with pricing, volumes, and forecasting, as well as more general skills in structuring and organizing complex tasks.
What motivates me the most is the collaboration with customers and the feeling of making things succeed together. I like that the tasks vary and that you work with both operations, projects, and occasionally product development. But the biggest advantage for me is definitely that I get to use the German language every single day.”
Marie-Luise's path
Marie-Luise holds:
- a Bachelor’s degree in International Business Administration, Language and Culture (University of Southern Denmark)
- a Master's degree in International Business, Language and Culture (Cand.merc.int.) (University of Southern Denmark)
Marie-Luise’s career path has been shaped by both academic and personal interests, as well as the choices she made during his studies. What will your path be?