Ca_05: PRESENCE How to get into the non-academic German job market! A workshop for international doctoral researchers

International doctoral researchers from all research fields | Level all

Workshop in Presence

Date: 07.-08.10.2026
Time: 09.00 – 16.00 h (incl. lunchbreak)
Trainer: Dr. Philippa Cook
Language: English
Participants: max. 12 persons
Credit Point: acknowledged with 1 CP for RS Certificate

Content

For doctoral researchers with an international background, it can be a real challenge to get into the (non-academic) German job market at the end of an academic position. The entry routes into jobs are not always transparent, researchers 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, the (unwritten) rules of the game and other additional parameters. This workshop offers assistance with this and will encourage participants not just to prepare for this transition in a focused way but to create an action plan which they can implement.

The workshop has four components:

• Developing a profile: What can I do and where do I want to work with that? Special emphasis is placed on seeing an international background as an additional strength.
• Information about the landscape of the German job market for international doctoral researchers: 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?
• 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 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!

In this workshop participants

• learn the vital facts about possibilities and challenges that international doctoral researchers face on the German job market
• create their own qualification-based profile and can develop their ideas about different career options
• are inspired to let their international background strengthen their profile
• will be empowered by case-studies of numerous international doctorate holders who have already successfully entered the German job market
• will have an opportunity to practise pitching themselves to potential (non-academic) employers in formal and informal situations

Methods 

• Preparatory, self-reflective tasks (sent approx 1 week before the workshop)
• Inputs from trainer (e.g. for conducting network discussions, strategies for finding a job)
• Analysis with the UniWiND competencies clusters
• “Success stories” from interviews conducted by Ph. Cook with international PhD-holders
• Feedback from trainer and participants

Trainer:
Dr. Philippa Cook is a specialist careers coach and an expert on supporting international doctoral researchers in crafting their career path in Germany. She has an international background herself – born and raised in England – and worked in research and teaching in German academia for several years. For this workshop she has conducted numerous interviews with international PhD-holders who have successfully entered the German job-market.

Bitte klicken Sie hier, um sich für den Workshop anzumelden: ANMELDUNG