From Social and Communication Sciences to Human Resources Development

Mirjam Schilling, from Neugierde, chose to study social and communication sciences because she is interested in people, social contexts, and communication. Step by step, she developed her professional focus, gained practical experience, and thus found her way into human resources and leadership development. Here, she talks about her career path and offers tips on what to keep in mind when starting a career and planning for the future.

When Mirjam Schilling began her studies in social and communication sciences at RPTU, she brought a wide range of interests with her. However, she didn’t yet have a detailed career plan at that point. First and foremost, she wanted to understand how social structures emerge, how groups function, and how people behave. “I wanted to study what interested me and, in the process, take my time figuring out which field I’d like to specialize in later on.” Starting with the bachelor’s program gave her exactly that opportunity.

“I wanted to study what interests me and, in the process, take my time figuring out which area I’d like to specialize in later on.”

The Social and Communication Sciences program focuses on social processes, societal developments, and communication. Students learn to conduct research and apply empirical methods. This includes, for example, collecting and analyzing data, examining correlations, contextualizing discussions, and adopting different perspectives on social issues. In Landau, the degree program is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

Finding Your Own Focus

Right from the first seminars, Mirjam Schilling noticed an atmosphere that would shape her academic journey: “The culture of open discussion inspired me from the very beginning,” she recalls. “Everyone contributed their own perspective, and we discussed things at length. I also learned to incorporate different viewpoints into my thinking and to respond thoughtfully to complex questions.”

During her bachelor’s program, her general interest in people and social contexts evolved into a specific academic focus. She was particularly drawn to the topics of learning, development, and continuing education. “The question of how people can realize their potential became more and more important to me,” says Mirjam Schilling.

“The question of how people can realize their potential has increasingly occupied my thoughts.”

While still pursuing her bachelor’s degree, she completed an internship in human resources at Daimler Mobility AG and, a year later, was offered a position as a working student there. Mirjam Schilling realized that human resources development was her calling. To further her career in this direction, she decided to pursue a master’s degree in adult education and continuing education.

Practical Experience Brings Clarity

While pursuing her master’s degree, Mirjam Schilling sought practical experience and joined the RKW Group as a working student in the HR Talent Management department. There, she once again saw how closely her academic focus was linked to human resources development: “The work was very varied and enriching,” she recalls. “Sometimes I got to prepare training sessions, other times I drafted reports and documentation, or helped design workshops for employees.”

She supports projects and focuses on the topic of continuing education. “Gaining insight into the real world can be very helpful in figuring out which direction you want to go—or even which direction you don’t want to go,” she says. “I think every practical experience really has nothing but advantages. You can always take something away from it.”

"Every practical experience has its benefits. You can always take something away from it."

Her work at the RKW Group also confirms to Mirjam Schilling that she has found her professional focus. She is writing her master’s thesis on “Employee retention in remote work or mobile work” and will subsequently have the opportunity to join the RKW Group full-time in HR Talent Management.

Shaping Learning Within the Company

Today, Mirjam Schilling develops professional development programs for employees and managers, analyzes training needs, and supports projects in the areas of HR and leadership development. There’s hardly ever a typical workday. Sometimes she develops new concepts; other times she coordinates with internal and external partners; and at other times she evaluates employee surveys or oversees development initiatives.

She finds the combination of analytical work and interacting with people particularly appealing. “Human resources development means much more than just organizing seminars,” explains Mirjam Schilling. “It’s really about thinking strategically about learning and aligning individual development with an organization’s goals.”

She encounters much of what she learned in college on a daily basis. The ability to consider different perspectives helps her in her interactions with employees and managers. Her background in the social sciences helps her avoid viewing developments in isolation; instead, she recognizes connections and makes well-informed decisions.

Statistics in Everyday Work

Looking back, Mirjam Schilling often thinks of one part of her degree program that was particularly challenging for her at the time: statistics. “At the beginning of my studies, I didn’t expect to have to deal with numbers so intensively,” she says. “That was definitely a challenge for me—one for which, looking back, I’m grateful.”

Mirjam Schilling regularly benefits from her ability to think analytically in her day-to-day work. Identifying training needs, evaluating survey results, or developing strategic plans—all of this requires the ability to systematically analyze information and make well-informed decisions. “My degree helped me immensely, especially with the conceptual side of the job, conducting needs analyses, and organizing information in a structured way,” she says.

Finding the Right Employer

Mirjam Schilling advises students not to put pressure on themselves when planning their careers. A detailed plan isn’t always necessary. It’s more important to explore one’s interests and gain practical experience: “Instead of having a specific career plan in mind, I think it’s more important to get to know different things.”

“Instead of having a specific career plan in mind, I think it’s more important to get to know different things.”

When starting a career, she also advises against focusing solely on well-known company names. What matters most, she says, is an environment where you can continue to grow. “Especially in your first job, it’s crucial to find an employer who lets you keep learning and makes mistakes.”

A degree program that builds skills

Mirjam Schilling sees just how varied that first job after a social sciences degree program can be among her fellow students: “My classmates have gone down very different paths. Some ended up in communications, others in marketing or politics,” she says. “I think it’s great how many opportunities this degree program opens up—especially because its curriculum is so broad.”

When Mirjam Schilling looks back today on her time as a student in Landau, she sees precisely in this the value of a social sciences degree. It trains analytical thinking, the ability to engage with different perspectives, and the skill to make sense of complex interrelationships. Skills that, in her view, are becoming increasingly important—especially in a rapidly changing workplace shaped by artificial intelligence and new technologies.

AI and Beyond: Being Open to New Ideas

“I believe that in the future, job titles alone will no longer be the deciding factor,” says Mirjam Schilling. “Precisely because the world of work is currently changing so rapidly due to artificial intelligence and other technological developments, the skills you bring to the table and how open you are to learning new things will become increasingly important.”

She also offers this advice: When choosing a degree program, you should focus more on the skills you want to acquire rather than working toward a specific career. “Ultimately, it’s all about learning how to analyze and properly evaluate situations, or how to solve complex problems.”

These are the challenges her job presents her with every day—and which she is able to tackle thanks to her diverse experience. That’s why she would make the same decision about her degree program again in a heartbeat.