An Indian woman’s hopes for a German internship were dashed just two days after relocating to Munich from Berlin. Kaajal Tekwani shared her disheartening experience on Instagram, detailing how she was let go from her startup internship shortly after starting.
Tekwani explained that after a rigorous interview process, completing an assignment, and even turning down other job offers for this particular opportunity, she was initially assured of accommodation in Munich and seemed to be on good terms with the company. However, soon after beginning her internship, she received unexpected criticism from the founder, who reportedly told her she had an ‘attitude problem’ and ‘lacked fire.’
The situation escalated when, on her second day at the office, she was a few minutes late due to an eye infection. Despite informing her team, she was terminated later that evening. The company cited her not being a ‘team fit,’ lacking the expected senior-level expertise for an intern role, and punctuality issues as reasons for her dismissal.
Tekwani has since returned to Berlin and advised others to be cautious when considering similar startup opportunities, especially if the compensation is low and red flags are apparent from the start. While the company did reimburse her travel and accommodation costs, she emphasized the significant financial and emotional toll the experience took on her.
Her account resonated with many online, with numerous users sharing their own similar experiences with unpredictable job markets and unexpected terminations, particularly as international students or interns in Germany.