Starting your carreer in Germany: what to expect / 26-5-SCG-1

Participation

Doctoral researchers (all disciplines) of the Berlin University Alliance. 

Before booking a workshop, please make sure that you can attend for the entire duration. Please check our terms and conditions.   

 

Objectives & Content

Starting a career in Germany can be challenging. Contemplating the next steps on a career path can be a bit overwhelming, and it’s not hard to get lost in the sea of job postings, advice, and expectations. Where do I go next? What options are available to me in academia? What am I qualified for outside of academia? How can I translate my skills to fit the requirements of the job market? What do I want, and how can I make a move beyond academia feel like a choice?
For researchers with a doctorate in Germany, especially those with international backgrounds, the structured nature of the German job market can be particularly daunting. Understanding the unique aspects of the German system—both in academia and beyond—will make it easier to make informed decisions about your career path. Gaining confidence about career options and developing a clearer idea of where that path might lead will enable you to set yourself up for success in the future and help you to fully take advantage of your options and potential in the German job market.

• What career options are open to me in academia, industry, and beyond in Germany?
• What rules and regulations shape the German job market, and how do they affect my choices?
• What motivates me in my work, how can I identify the skills and strengths I’ve developed so far, and understand why this is important for German employers and my success?
• How can I understand the differences between the German job market and others, and what do employers here look for?
• What strategies and tools exist to help me decide between staying in academia or moving into industry?
• How can I make sure that moving into my next role—inside or outside academia—feels like a conscious choice?

Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of their career options in Germany, how to navigate the system, and how to make conscious choices about their next steps. They will feel more confident about their ability to make a choice that fits them.

 

Please note

For updates and announcements register to our DRS Newsletter.

Also check out workshops at the BUA partner institutions that are available for you free of charge: Graduate Studies Support Program.

For workshops held online, participation is allowed under the following conditions: a working camera that is turned on and a microphone to allow active participation in discussions and group work. Headphones must also be used to protect other participants from office eavesdroppers. In this context, we would also like to refer to the rules for digital courses at Freie Universität Berlin (Code of Conduct).

 

Further information 

Doctoral programs calculate credits that you can earn by participating in our workshops based on the transcripts (8 work units result in 0.5 credit points; 1 work unit equals 45 min. workshop-time). In the case of mini workshops (less than 8 hours work units), these are calculated on a pro rata basis using the work units. Be aware: You must have attended enough short workshops to have accumulated enough “work units” to be eligible for credit transfer (i.e. 2x 3h workshop = 2x 4 work units à 45 min = 8 work units = 0.5 credits)