IMPRS-gBGC workshop 'Plan B – how to find your career outside academia'
Category: Transferable skills
Credit points: 0.4
1. Time & place
November, 25-26, 2015 (Wednesday-Thursday)
MPI for Biogeochemistry, seminar room B0.002
Approximately timetable
Start: 9.00 am
End: 5 pm
2. The instructor
Dr. Matthias Schwarzkopf counsels students and scientists in all relevant questions concerning their careers. He has been responsible for supporting the appointing procedure of new professors at Jena University, has been head of LehreLernen – the training centre for university teachers – and has done recruitment for private businesses. He has founded www.karrierberatung-akademiker.de together with colleagues out of public administration and private businesses.
3. The class
3.1 Description
Careers in German universities and research institutes are difficult. Towards the end of your PhD or at the beginning of your postdoctoral years you need to decide whether you like to continue your career up to the professor or if you leave academia and public funded research institutes. This step is difficult to the biggest part of PhD-students because until then they did not find or try alternative career paths. In the workshop we will first find out which competencies you have gained until now. Based on the competencies we will explore the labour market and develop ideas of job profiles that fit you. You will receive an introduction to the job search and learn to know relevant job listings. Furthermore we will discuss if it might be an alternative to start your own business. In addition we will consider at what point "Plan B" should begin: How long can you manage to leave academia with success? The next day, a single or small group coaching (one hour maximum) is offered to provide you the opportunity to ask specific questions that the workshop did not touch. Appointments for the coaching can be made in advance or at the workshop.
3.2 Preparation
Please bring an internet-enabled notebook or tablet with you – we will need it for the job search.
4. Feedback
11 out of 13 participants filled in the survey by December 10, 2015. Thanks a lot for taking time! Your feedback is valuable because it helps the instructors and organizers to improve the course.
The survey results are available here. Statistics and statements should not be taken as an exhaustive or exclusive list.