On a chilly February morning, I received the news that I had been selected to intern with the Partnership for Energy Efficiency in Buildings (PEEB) program at the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in Bonn. Having just completed my first semester at the Brandt School, I was both thrilled and slightly intimidated by the prospect of moving to a new city that is 350km away from Erfurt and stepping into such a reputable organization. Still, I decided to take a semester off and move to Bonn. 

It turned out to be an amazing journey and incredibly rewarding experience. This internship provided valuable insights into the energy efficiency and climate landscape, highlighting the pivotal role of international institutions in driving the transition, especially in decarbonization of industries. Working under the supervision of our Brandt School alumna Mariana Lima Maia and other dedicated colleagues in the PEEB team and learning from their work was truly inspiring. I am grateful for all the connections I’ve made at PEEB and future opportunities to collaborate with the people I met along the way. 

A heartfelt thank you to PEEB and GIZ for this opportunity. None of this would have been possible without the initial support of Florian Heintze, our internship coordinator, and Jenny Wagner, our DAAD coordinator at the Willy Brandt School.

Now, six months later, I want to take a moment to reflect on this journey and share six key lessons for anyone considering an internship with GIZ.

1. Apply strategically and prepare early

Landing an internship at GIZ requires preparation. Take time to understand both yourself and the organization. For example: what GIZ values, what the program or project is looking for, and what unique contributions you can bring. A tip to figure out all of these is to read as much as possible about the program, the team and relevant stakeholders. LinkedIn was my best friend at this stage of the process. After having all the insights, align these elements clearly in your application. For me, my strength was a consistent track record in international cooperation and project management, including two years at GIZ Vietnam, which aligned well with the needs of my team. 

2. Be clear about what you want to gain

An internship is not only about what you can give, but also what you can learn. Go in with a sense of purpose. I wanted to deepen my knowledge of energy efficiency initiatives in the Global South and to experience managing a diverse portfolio within a large international team. Being clear about my expectations helped me persuade the team, as they also wanted to know how they could enrich my experiences. Setting these expectations helped me make the most of my time. 

3. Tell your story authentically

Your CV and cover letter should do more than list experiences: they should tell your story. While your curriculum vitae gives the recruiters an idea of who you are with relevant keywords, responsibilities, and measurable results, your cover letter gives you more space to tell your story. There is no one-size-fits-all advice on how to do this, but as for me, I framed my experiences as a narrative telling what I did, the skills required, and how those skills will help me contribute to the program. If you make it to the interview, you will have to compete with many talented candidates. But don’t panic; instead, keep in mind that the only story you need to focus on is your own. That is exactly what I did – I emphasized how my previous choices naturally led me to energy efficiency work and how my experience with GIZ Vietnam gave me a unique advantage.

4. Embrace the power of community

GIZ is not just an organization, it’s a network. I had the opportunity to put together an excursion to Vienna with my fellow interns to visit some of the world’s leading organizations on the global energy transition, such as: 

⚡ Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL)
 ⚡ UNIDO
 ⚡ World Energy Council Austria
 ⚡ AustriaEnergy
 ⚡ AIT Austrian Institute of Technology
 ⚡ GWNET: Global Women's Network for the Energy Transition
 ⚡ Energy Community
For further details, you can check out my post about the excursion here: www.linkedin.com/pulse/from-vision-action-our-journey-through-viennas-energy-meshki-kataria-ld2se/

Another good thing about GIZ is you can find many of our Brandt School alumni working here for different programs. I have been lucky to work directly with one of them, Mariana Lima Maia, Junior Advisor at PEEB. These interactions have opened doors in many unexpected ways. Building genuine relationships is just as valuable as the technical skills you’ll gain.

5. Learn from mistakes and communicate proactively

You will make mistakes; it’s part of the learning process. Instead of panicking, the advice that I received from my supervisor that I value very much is to seek guidance from senior colleagues and keep communication open. When working in large, multi-country teams, miscommunication can happen easily, so always be mindful of workflows and information flows. Being proactive goes a long way. 

6. Be confident and enjoy the journey

At GIZ, you’ll meet many inspiring, talented people that you can learn a lot from. However, it can sometimes make you feel small, or like you don’t belong. In times like this, remember that you were chosen to join the team for a reason. You bring your own unique experiences and perspectives that add value to the team. Thus, it is important to surround yourself with supportive people to remind you of this. Stay true to yourself, and don’t forget to enjoy the journey.

If you’re preparing for an internship at GIZ, or in the broader field of international development, I hope these 6 tips will help guide your path.

*About PEEB: PEEB is a one-stop shop to accelerate the global shift towards sustainable buildings. It leads the implementation of comprehensive measures to transform the built environment in 21 countries across four continents. Find out more about PEEB here: https://peeb.build/our-work/

~ The views represented in this blog post do not necessarily represent those of the Brandt School. ~