It felt a bit like fate when I happened to be taken to the airport in Stuttgart by an Indian taxi driver. I was on my way to Mumbai, where Capgemini invited me on an excursion as a working student as part of its “students@offshore” program. The taxi driver described the city to me as an exciting and vibrant metropolis. He should be right. As soon as I arrived, the city captivated me. It was loud, the smells were different and I had never seen so many people at once before. The traffic was simply incredibly chaotic - at least compared to the traffic in Stuttgart - and yet I was looking forward to exploring the city over the next eight days and finally getting to know my Indian colleagues.
When different cultures work together
As a working student in Germany, I had already actively worked on a project that our German team will be implementing together with our Indian office in the future. Capgemini had designed software for a large automobile company, which is now to be developed by our Indian colleagues. Both teams now meet regularly in Mumbai and jointly define the framework conditions for cooperation. I was able to experience first hand how international work works in practice in different cultures. Especially in the IT industry, where more and more projects are being worked on in global teams, this was an important addition to the theory in the course. Because it shows how working methods can be combined in different cultures and what you have to pay attention to. In India, for example, hierarchies play a much greater role than in Germany. You have to take this into account in everyday project life. But my direct teammates were very relaxed, they will take over the management on the Indian side and have often worked with Germans.
The city of contrasts
At the weekend my new colleagues showed me the city. We checked out sights like the Gateway of India and the extraordinary seaside promenades. Visits to various bazaars were also on the program. Here you can discover spices, handmade items, fruit and typical Indian flair. I especially liked the food - it's incredibly varied and flavorful. I was also impressed by the hospitality I encountered everywhere. My colleagues took great care of me and looked after me, went around the house with me and showed me their city. For example, we also looked at the largest laundry in Mumbai, where even large hotel chains have their laundry washed. Every district was different from the next, even the vegetation was constantly changing. But the difference between rich and poor was always visible - in some parts of the city, because of their wealth, people thought that a Bollywood star would appear at any moment, and in others, children were begging for money.
Every IT student should experience this
I would recommend all IT students to stay in India. Not only because it has a lot to offer culturally, but also professionally. Many IT consulting companies now work with Indian offices and the development potential in India is far from exhausted. So it can only be an advantage to gain work experience there and see what everyday working life is like on site. However, I would advise you not to start your journey until you have completed your basic studies. Then you have already learned the necessary know-how, the most stressful part is behind you and you can fully concentrate on your stay. I don't yet know whether working in India would be an option for me. But I wouldn't rule it out from now on.
- Text: Thomas Gonzales
It felt a bit like fate when I happened to be taken to the airport in Stuttgart by an Indian taxi driver. I was on my way to Mumbai, where Capgemini invited me on an excursion as a working student as part of its “students@offshore” program. The taxi driver described the city to me as an exciting and vibrant metropolis. He should be right.
