I have gone through my work experience in the representative office of Mr Thomas Kossendey in Berlin from January, 14th until January, 25th 2008. I have decided on a work experience in the environment of the German Bundestag because I am very interested in politics and I wanted to learn more about the work of our biggest political institution in Germany - the Bundestag.
The daily working hours started at 9 a.m. and usually ended at 4 p.m.. Sometimes I had to work long hours, e.g. because of events that had been appointed for the evening.
Every day my work day started with the so called “Internetticker”. I had to look for the latest reports and articles on Mr Kossendey, on Turkey and on the Federal Armed Forces on the intranet pages of the Bundestag and the CDU/CSU parliamentary group as well as do research on the internet pages of numerous newspapers. I had to find and to print out all relevant articles regarding these topics.
This picture shows Mr Kossendey and me in
his representative office after the daily mail
discussion. I want to thank Mr Kossendey
for the great time I had during my
work experience.
It was also part of my tasks to pick up the daily mail of Mr Kossendey from his PO box and then open it. Writing replies concerning previously received letters or inquiries partly also fell into my responsibility.
Of course also typical office work such as copying and making coffee belonged to my daily working routine.
Much more interesting were online enquiries and telephone research, gathering information and files and writing replies to inquiries of any kind as well as the errands to committees and into the plenum.
Since the work was not only quantitatively demanding but had to be done also with an utmost precision, every day was a new challenge for me! Due to the importance of some information absolute confidentiality was expected from me.
I got a good impression of what it means to have to work perfectly organized, to be precise and to work fast within these two weeks of my work experience. Within the first days most of the work was totally new to me and the amount of tasks, issues and processes hardly seemed to be comprehensible easily for me. But after the first week I got used to my field of work and I was able to take over tasks independently, of course with occasional help and control."The responsibility of a representative arises from the moral obligation to perform in the Bundestag with the best knowledge and conscience possible to the benefit and well-being of the entire nation." (Quotation from Kürschners manual "German Bundestag" to the duties of a representative)
Watching a floor debate on manager salaries, a visit to the ARD and ZDF capital studios, an event at the Konrad-Adenauer foundation concerning the German-Turkish foreign policy with Mr Kossendey and the vice-chairman of the AKP (ruling party in Turkey) as well as the inspection of the Gorch Fock in Elsfleth in connection with a work appointment of the Federal Armed Forces by Mr Kossendey were the high spots of my work experience.
I also found it interesting to go through the daily mail and reflect on everything so that all current and important topics as far as they were related to Mr Kossendey were discussed internally in the office.
It was a pity but understandable that Mr Kossendey was very seldom in the office because he also had to comply with his duty as a permanent secretary in addition to the different and numerous meetings in the federal ministry of defense.I enjoyed the fact that with my trainee identity card I had access virtually everywhere, even where the public does not get any insight. It was also very positive that I had a desk of my own equipped with a computer and a telephone on my own.
I was also very grateful for the cooperative atmosphere in the office and the helpfulness and kindness which were brought to me by Mr Kossendey and his team. I have noticed that they have accepted my support gratefully and that they have shown more and more confidence in me, expressed by the execution in more and more complex orders and more liberty.
It was an absolutely worthwhile time which has helped me in my future planning and which has improved my abilities. In addition, I was able to meet and talk to other trainees and I was able to make new contacts. Politics is an exciting, important and varied issue with interesting working challenges.
I would like to finish with a quotation from Kürschners manual "German Bundestag" which summarizes most of my impressions about my work experience:
"The Bundestag proves to be a lively organism,
in which policy is made by people for people.”
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