Benjamin Kostka

Did you gain any professional experience or complete an apprenticeship before starting your studies?

Before starting my studies, I completed a student internship at Mercedes-Benz in the workshop and sales department at Salzufer.

What motivated you to choose the Business Information Systems programme at HWR Berlin?

My interest in the stock market and the combination of theory and practice. At first, I wanted to pursue a dual degree in Industrial Engineering, but the company only offered Business Informatics. Thanks to Prof. Faustmann’s excellent lectures, I quickly developed a passion for computer science.

What situation, person, or experience at HWR Berlin do you remember most vividly, and why?

I’d especially like to thank Prof. Dr. Becker and Prof. Dr. Fischer for their intensive and kind support during my bachelor’s thesis.

The Erasmus trip to Saint Pölten had a profound impact on me. That’s where I gave my first presentation in English in front of 80 people.

In the HWR Startup Incubator with Prof. Dr. Baumgärtner, I experienced startups up close for the first time. And the ChessHub programming project with Lukas, where I developed a chess game management program over the course of three modules.

Was there an experience during your studies that had a lasting impact on you?

• Prof. Dr. Becker: His inspiring introduction to his background during the orientation session.
• Prof. Dr. Fischer: The clarity of the lecture content.
• Erasmus trip to Saint Pölten.
• ChessHub programming project: I’m still continuing to develop the project as open source.

What are you currently working on?

I’m working on a new billing tool built with modern microservice architecture in Java, which handles invoice generation and data storage in SAP.

What does a typical workday look like for you?

• In the morning, I hold a daily stand-up to define tasks for the day.
• Pair programming with colleagues.
• Table tennis after lunch.
• Depending on the day of the week, meetings such as retrospectives, reviews, planning sessions, etc.

How did you learn about your current position?

I knew as early as my second semester that I wanted to work in software development. An opportunity arose at the end of my bachelor’s degree due to the expansion of the IT department.

What do you particularly appreciate about your current job?

Very nice colleagues who support me, as well as senior-level colleagues with a wealth of experience and knowledge in software development. Very good working conditions in terms of compensation and work-life balance.

What are your next career steps?

I’d like to gain a deeper understanding of electrical engineering so I can work on hardware-related software development. That’s why I plan to earn a bachelor’s degree at TUM, so I can re-enter the workforce with more knowledge.

Is there a particular milestone, career phase, or formative event that has significantly influenced your career path?

The enthusiasm for computer science that I gained from Mr. Faustmann’s lectures and the project with Lukas Zander was decisive for my career path.

Reflection on HWR Berlin – from today’s perspective
How well did your studies prepare you for your current job?

My studies gave me a solid foundation in programming and databases. In addition, through group work, I learned how to work in a team using agile methods.

What advice would you give to students in your field today?

Personal commitment is crucial for programming. In addition to your studies, you should start your own projects to further your development.