Hey everybody. I’m Raphael, 21, German. Today is my first day here at Keytoe, so its time to introduce myself. Even though I’m perfectly fine with speaking Dutch, I’ll will write this in English, because my written Dutch … lets say, drags behind.
So how did I get here? First of all I needed to leave my tiny German village called Fuchsstadt and get into a city. After a 15min Google session I found Rotterdam: a cool city where you can study Psychology without Numerus Clausus (you need around a 9 to study Psychology in Germany). Enough reason for me to leave, so I did. After 3 month of Couchsurfing and living at more than 15 places in Rotterdam I finally found a job in a callcenter, a place to live, could speak Dutch and started my Bachelor of Psychology.
In my 3rd year I made a 3 month Minor in Entrepreneurship and realized that I enjoy proactive working way more than reading psychological articles all day long. Thus it was time to radically rethink my future plans and search for new options.
Option 1: Find an Interns hip
On the day I decided that I want an internship I also decided to go to the lecture. And who do I meet? It’s Lennard, giving a presentation over Keytoe and I was like: Yes! Exactly! Pretty much what I’m looking for. After the presentation I spoke to Lennard, we exchanged email addresses, I got invited to an interview and it was a match. So … Option 1 worked, here I am.
Why I chose Keytoe
From the first interview on I felt welcome. Everybody was open, friendly and already tried to integrate me in the team. After that I stayed for a workshop and got free food and free beer! The true secret of winning the heart of a German.
Of course the workshop was really interesting too and the longer I stayed the more I wanted to work here. I’m really amazed by the proactive working culture of Keytoe. That gives me the chance to learn and work in the way I like to, while I can still contribute to a team. The team is also one important point why I choose Keytoe. Everybody is nice and really welcoming which made me want to work here even more.
In my time here I want to learn about marketing and how an innovative company works: getting a broad overview to find out what I’m good at. I think Keytoe is a company where I can learn fast and grow as a person. Today on my first day here I already feel the Keytoe vibe and im looking forward to the rest of my internship.
About me
When it comes to hobbies, I’m pretty much a music person. I love music in whatever way. I started with playing the trumpet when I was 5. Later I switched to electric bass and played in a band with some friends. In Rotterdam I started producing music and also jam with some friends from time to time. Listening to music is also very important for me, thus you probably will see me with headphones quit some times. I’m into Electronic music, Hip-Hop, Jazz, World Music, Experimental and pretty much everything which is not in the TOP 100 charts. Next to music I like to go out and meet people and/or have a good long conversation. Further I like long boarding and road trips.
One special thing about me: Im the youngest of 5 brothers and sisters and I’m an uncle … actually 5 times. I have 3 nieces and 2 nephews which definitely makes me a family person. When I go back to Germany its normally one big family meeting.
What are my plans?
As Im studying Psychology, I still miss quite some skills how to work in a company. So in the beginning I want to keep myself busy here at Keytoe and take as much information in as possible to get a good overview about how things work here. Im interested in marketing and company strategy because I’m thinking about starting my own company after my studies. I guess my biggest strength here is that I bring an outsider view from Psychology. Here I’m especially interested to understand how people make choices and how to positively influence them.
Summarized I still have to find my way here in Keytoe but as I look around I am sure that I’ll have a great time here.