We are happy to announce our next GAUSS Career Service workshop “Mastering Academic Job Interviews: Securing Postdocs, Grants, and Leadership Roles” by Dr Alexander Britz.

This workshop is intended for Postdocs and late-stage PhD students preparing for the next big step in their academic career.

• Dates: Monday, 9 March 2026, 9:00-17:00h and Tuesday, 10 March 2026, 9:00-13:00h
• Duration: 1,5 days
• Location: in-person on North Campus
• Trainer: Dr Alexander Britz

Registration: Please register here (in case you are not registered yet) and send an email to career@gauss.uni-goettingen.de including a short statement on your motivation to attend the workshop.

Workshop description

Whether you’re applying for postdoctoral positions (domestic or abroad), preparing for selection interviews for competitive grants, or aiming for junior group leadership or professorship roles, this workshop is designed to help you excel. In this interactive workshop, participants will develop and practice key skills to leave a strong, professional impression in academic interviews. Effective preparation strategies, presentation techniques, and ways to navigate the unique expectations of academic hiring processes are covered and the specific challenges of academic job applications will be addressed.

Workshop Highlights:

• Postdoc Applications: Learn what matters when applying for postdoc positions and what to expect during interviews, including how to tailor your application to different academic systems.
• Interview Preparation for Grant Applications: Gain insights into what grant reviewers look for during selection interviews and learn how to prepare impactful responses.
• Junior Professorships or Group Leader Positions: Explore the expectations and interview formats for academic leadership positions and how to position yourself as a competitive candidate.

• Strategic Job Searching: Understand how to identify and apply for academic positions that align with your career goals.
• Effective Preparation: Familiarize yourself with structured methods to prepare for academic job interviews and grant panels.
• Self-Presentation Skills: Practice storytelling techniques to confidently present your research, achievements, and future plans.
• Handling Questions: Learn how to respond to both standard and challenging questions and prepare your own thoughtful questions for interviewers.
• Managing Anxiety: Discover techniques to stay calm and in charge under pressure.

Interactive Practice:

The workshop includes hands-on activities such as mock interviews, role-playing exercises, and breakout sessions for personalized trainer and peer feedback. You will leave with a clear action plan and increased confidence in your ability to secure your next academic position. This workshop is tailored to the unique needs of researchers navigating the academic job market. It will empower you to present your best self and make a lasting impression on interviewers.

Testimonials by former participants:

• The workshop was a really valuable experience. It was interactive, engaging, and packed with practical insights. The mock interview was by far the most helpful part — it gave me confidence and a clear sense of how to improve. Highly recommended!
• The workshop gave me a clear understanding of the interview procedure for junior professorship and how to how to structure my responses and present myself impressively. The real-world insights from experienced participants were also invaluable. With a clear understanding, I feel less intimidated. I highly recommend it for PhD or postdocs aiming to pursue career further in academia.
• Being confident during the interview process is already half the job done. For those who are about to face interviews soon, this workshop will prepare you for what to expect and help you become more confident.