We are happy to announce our next GAUSS Career Service workshop “How to get into the non-academic job market” by Dr Philippa Cook.
For postdoctoral researchers with an international background, it can be a real challenge to get into Germany’s non-academic 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. 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.
Dates: Thursday and Friday, 21-21 January 2027, 9-16h
Duration: 2 full days, 9-16h
Location: in person on North campus
Trainer: Dr Philippa Cook
Registration: Please register here and send an email to career@gauss.uni-goettingen.de including a short statement on your motivation to attend the workshop.
Workshop description:
The workshop focuses on the following:
- 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 post-
doctoral candidates: which areas of work are attractive, what are the formal re-
quirements 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!
Participants will receive a small preparatory task approximately one week before attending
the workshop.
Testimonials:
- “It is a great workshops for anyone who has experience only within academia and is looking to branch out. It clarifies what steps to takes and how to go about looking for jobs outside of academia.”
- “As an international postdoc, I was unaware of many aspects of the German job market as well as how as an international person could contribute to a different job market. This workshop navigates and instills hope in finding all these and how unique our skills are in industry.”
- “Very eye-opening workshop to help you define your mindset when leaving academia!”
- “Philippa gives a well-rounded overview of the German job market, equips the participants with valuable tools, and is very engaging.”
- “It is highly recommendable, for two days you stop your work-inertia and dedicate some time to think about what you like and don’t like.”