Outside the Border: Jacob Cramer Secures Internship in Germany
By Abby P. Metzger
 Jacob Cramer learned that adventure can lead to opportunity when he took a trip to Germany last school year to fulfill his international business option.
The OSU Honors College senior studied abroad at the Berufsakademie in Bad Mergentheim and, because of his strong language and entrepreneurial skills, secured a six-month internship for Würth Group.
A multi-national and family-owned business based in Künzelsau, Germany, Würth Group specializes in the sale and fixing of assembly materials, including screws, screw accessories, dowels and plugs, chemical products, furniture, and construction fittings.
From July to December of 2008, Cramer will work with international key accounts in sales and marketing for Würth, and will be given two projects during the six-month period. The internship complements his program of study at OSU in international business and German.
"I heard there was an opportunity to get an internship at Würth for those who have a foundational understanding of the language. And I figured since I spoke some German, there was a possibility of getting it," he said.
Cramer spoke with Axel Gerloff, the director of the international business program at the Berufsakademie, to set up an interview with Würth. "The interview process was a lot different than your standardized American process. It was more of a personable interview-getting to know who I was and my motivation behind wanting to work in an international firm," Cramer explained.
He asked questions, expressed interest, and displayed a genuine understanding of his skill set and how he could be an asset to the company. Because of this, Cramer got the internship.
The experience was nerve-wracking but ultimately rewarding because internships in Germany are rare for foreigners, who often lack culture and language competency. "It will be a challenging experience, but definitely worth it. Not only for the experience itself, but for the amount of German I'll learn," he said.
Growing up in Canby, Oregon, Cramer worked floor and corporate sales during his summers for Front Room Corporation, a furniture company. He came to OSU and enrolled in mechanical engineering before discovering that he would rather experience the world first hand than from behind a drafting board.
He then realized a degree in international business would give him both a fundamental understanding of the industry and an opportunity to gain valuable cultural insights. "The degree gives you the basis of business, but then it really broadens your perspective and pulls you out of that narrow view of American business into global business," Cramer stated.
The OSU senior says he's looking forward to using his academic discipline in a tangible situation, both during his internship and beyond. When he returns from Würth in December, Cramer will have a term left before he ventures beyond the borders of OSU. "This experience could really alter my perspective, but at this point, I see myself starting work in the U.S after I graduate."
A new perspective and invaluable training are just two of the benefits he will reap during the internship. Cramer is testament that stepping out and going on an adventure can create opportunities and prospects.
"People need to follow what they really love. Don't worry about the job at the end of the road. It's good to experience new situations and get involved in things you wouldn't normally do," he concluded.
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