How to get into the German (non-academic) job market! A workshop for international doctoral candidates and postdocs

Graduate Studies Support Program

This workshop is part of the Graduate Studies Support Program of Berlin University Alliance. For an overview of all Graduate Studies Support Program events, click here.

For early career scholars with an international background, it can be a real challenge to get into the non-academic German job market following an academic position. The entry routes into jobs are not always transparent, candidates are often not well-informed about what to expect in the application process and not everyone can offer German language skills. Where and how you can look for a job outside classic academia depends on your qualifications and skills set, on your individual life situation as well as on knowing about possible entry paths and strategies, the (unwritten) rules of the game and other parameters. 

Objectives
This workshop offers assistance with this – tailored specifically for the needs of international 
scholars – and will encourage participants not just to prepare for this transition in a focused 
way but to create an action plan which they can start to implement.

Content

• Developing a profile: What can I do and where do I want to work with that? What are my skills and competencies? What type of career could I pursue?
• Information about the landscape of the German job market for international postdoctoral candidates: which areas of work are attractive, what are the formal requirements concerning residence and employment, what are the limits and possibilities in your job search, what ways are there of entering a profession, which cultural factors do I need to take into account?
• Planning the next steps: Which factors do I need to consider in planning my next steps (German language skills, how long do I envisage staying in Germany, developing my network etc.?)
• Empowerment: Drawing on numerous case studies of international doctorate holders who have successfully entered the German job market, strategies for success will be highlighted. Participants will gain the confidence to get started and concretize their next steps!