Andreas found the internship he dreamt of – and some clarification
It was the job advert for an internship at the coming Danish Museum of Rock Music in Roskilde that finally led to all the pieces falling into place for Andreas Fredslund Sørensen, giving him a clear idea about how to make use of his Master’s degree programme in history. Even though it wasn’t the obvious choice with a subsidiary subject in social science.
The last ‘extenders’ at AU
Omnibus has met three Master’s degree students who’ve just avoided being hit by the study progress reform by a split second.
Their internships and temporary positions were possible because they are the very last students to have the chance to extend their time to degree, in contrast to the students who will come after them.
They are happy about this. The practical experience and the accompanying responsibility makes them feel more adult, capable, and professional – qualities that will make it easier for them to brand themselves on the labour market.
"Many history students with my combination apply for internships at embassies. But that’s not really me. What excited me was the tasks I have at the rock museum," says the 27-year-old student.
It was here that Andreas could combine his great interest in music and youth culture with a heightened focus on communicating his subject. It just felt completely right for him – especially after he found out early in his Master’s degree programme that he couldn’t see himself as a history teacher at an upper secondary school.
Waiting led to a sharper profile
He applied for the job during his third semester and was invited to an interview. But there were many applicants and the rock museum chose someone else.
But Andreas did not give up – on the contrary, he focused on becoming better qualified.
"I felt the interview went well, but I was told that I did not have enough to offer when it came to communication," he says.
He therefore chose to change his plans for the third semester. Instead of an internship, he took a profile course in cultural communication and a course in cultural journalism at the Danish School of Journalism.
And because the study progress reform first hits home in the summer, Andreas had precisely one more chance to apply for an internship at the Danish Museum of Rock this semester, even though that means he must postpone his Master’s thesis. But on the other hand, he is now in the internship of his dreams.
One more chance
Omnibus meets Andreas in a conference room full of record sleeve posters. Behind him a noticeboard is plastered with yellow post-its with information about the history of music.
The Danish Museum of Rock Music will first open in a year and until then the employees are located in a barrack-like building on Rabalderstræde right next to the head office of the Roskilde Festival.
"I'm happy that I managed to get one more chance to try something I really, really want to do. It’s definitely confirmed to me that this is the kind of thing I want to do," he says.
Academia concretised
At the rock museum one of Andreas tasks is to do research for a rock encyclopaedia and write basic texts which will be turned into texts for exhibitions or teaching material. It's great to see how academia can be concretised, he says.
"I have responsibility for the tasks and can influence how the product should look. It is very motivating to see how I can utilise my competences."
Andreas has already spoken to the museum about a possible collaboration in connection with his Master's thesis.
Translated by Peter Lambourne