I finally made it to my first Career Day in Germany. It was in Bonn, and honestly, I’d planned to attend last year, but life happened, and I couldn’t make it. This year, I was determined. I did my research, studied the companies I wanted to speak with, mapped out my approach… and of course, showed up suited and ready.
But the moment I walked in, I felt a little out of place.
There were so many young people… casually dressed, relaxed, confident. I started wondering if I had overdressed. I mean, I looked like I was headed to a corporate boardroom. But hey… better overdressed than underprepared, innit?!
Something else hit me.
Looking around, I realized… I was the only person of colour in that space. At least, at first. Eventually, I did see a few others from different backgrounds, but we were few and far between.
I kept walking through, trying to stay focused. Most of the people at the booths were lovely… smiling, warm, and eager to chat. But then I got to one booth, and I noticed three staff members: two women and a man.
One of the women looked super friendly. She was smiling warmly while talking to someone. The other woman looked a bit stern, so naturally, I waited for the smiling one.
But life loves to teach you lessons.
When it was finally my turn, I was looking forward to speaking with her.
From a distance, she seemed warm and welcoming… the kind of person who’d make you feel at ease. But the moment I opened my mouth, the energy shifted.
She looked right at me. I could tell she understood what I was saying. There was no confusion. But still… something changed.
It wasn’t that she didn’t get me. It was that she didn’t want to deal with me.
Her eyes, her tone, her body language… it all said, “Let’s move this along.” She was distant. Dismissive. Like she’d already decided this wasn’t worth her time.
I stood there, feeling a little exposed. It wasn’t loud or rude, but it cut in that quiet way that stays with you. And for a moment, I felt like walking away.
And honestly? If I had walked away, I would have carried that moment with me. Another disappointing experience, another assumption confirmed. I would have left thinking, “Well, maybe this space isn’t for people like me.”
But something told me to wait and speak to the other woman… the one who looked stern earlier. And when I finally got the chance? She was kind… so kind. She took her time with me, listened, explained everything, and made me feel seen.
That moment reminded me… you really can’t judge a book by its cover.
And if I’d let that first interaction shut me down, I would have missed out on valuable information and a gentle reminder to stay open.
By the time I left, I was tired but grateful. The day didn’t go exactly how I imagined, but it gave me something better… real insight, a lesson in not giving up too quickly, and a little more confidence in how I show up.
Would I go again? Absolutely.
But next time, I’ll remember: dress how you feel most confident, don’t make assumptions based on appearances, and always, always stay open… you never know who might surprise you.
