Events and Courses for Postdocs

Please notice: The seminar will be preceded by a webcast (duration about 4,5 hours, available from 25.09.2023 – 17.10.2023)The webcast will first deal with the procedure and the formal aspects of the appointment process (with focus on Germany). Afterwards, all necessary application documents (especially CV, cover letter, research and teaching concept) will be discussed in detail and partly illustrated with sample materials. The third part addresses all aspects of the hearing. You will learn about the requirements for the application talk and the demonstration lecture. In addition, the most frequently asked questions in the interview with the selection committee will be discussed. Before meeting in small groups, you will consequently watch the webcast and prepare a 3-minute talk to present your own profile. In the group sessions, there is first of all the opportunity to clarify all your open questions about applying for professorships. Subsequently, all participants will give their prepared 3-minute presentation to present your own profile and receive feedback from your peers and your trainer. Finally, the interview with the committee will be discussed. Here, we will practice to answer some typical and challenging questions from committee interview and will also receive feedback.Individual process support can be discussed, upon request, after the seminar.Please note: Our training programme is designed for the interaction of the participants. Comparable to face-to-face seminars, we ask you to turn on your camera during online events for an exchange at eye level. [more]

Please notice: The seminar will be preceded by a webcast (duration about 4,5 hours, available from 25.09.2023 – 17.10.2023)The webcast will first deal with the procedure and the formal aspects of the appointment process (with focus on Germany). Afterwards, all necessary application documents (especially CV, cover letter, research and teaching concept) will be discussed in detail and partly illustrated with sample materials. The third part addresses all aspects of the hearing. You will learn about the requirements for the application talk and the demonstration lecture. In addition, the most frequently asked questions in the interview with the selection committee will be discussed. Before meeting in small groups, you will consequently watch the webcast and prepare a 3-minute talk to present your own profile. In the group sessions, there is first of all the opportunity to clarify all your open questions about applying for professorships. Subsequently, all participants will give their prepared 3-minute presentation to present your own profile and receive feedback from your peers and your trainer. Finally, the interview with the committee will be discussed. Here, we will practice to answer some typical and challenging questions from committee interview and will also receive feedback.Individual process support can be discussed, upon request, after the seminar.Please note: Our training programme is designed for the interaction of the participants. Comparable to face-to-face seminars, we ask you to turn on your camera during online events for an exchange at eye level. [more]

The first part of this workshop focuses on the application documents. In exercises you will reflect your individual achievements so far and learn how to convincingly present them in the CV as the center-piece of every application. By analysing real job ads, you will practise how to write cover letters that create the desire to meet the author. You will get advice on how your determination for a specific career path can be reflected in your CV and cover letter and what other application documents to include considering differences between jobs in academia and industry. The focus of the second part lies on job interviews and covers questions such as how to react upon the invitation, how to prepare for the interview, the interview itself and how to deal with it afterwards. Differences between real and virtual interviews will be covered. After preparatory exercises, you will practise giving examples of skills and abilities. You will be primed for specific situations when confronted with awkward questions or unexpected challenges and practise these in training sequences. In individual online live coaching sessions, you can discuss individual questions with your trainer. This may include the check of application documents (1 CV and 1 motivational letter) for a specific job ad. All documents should be handed in a week prior to the individually scheduled appointments. These appointments should take place within 2 months after the workshop. • Checking and optimising application documents (CV, cover letter, etc.)• Preparation for in person and virtual interviews• Preparatory exercises and training sequences (skills, abibilities, and challenging situations)• Individual coaching for one specific application processPlease note: Our training programme is designed for the interaction of the participants. Comparable to face-to-face seminars, we ask you to turn on your camera during online events for an exchange at eye level. [more]

The first part of this workshop focuses on the application documents. In exercises you will reflect your individual achievements so far and learn how to convincingly present them in the CV as the center-piece of every application. By analysing real job ads, you will practise how to write cover letters that create the desire to meet the author. You will get advice on how your determination for a specific career path can be reflected in your CV and cover letter and what other application documents to include considering differences between jobs in academia and industry. The focus of the second part lies on job interviews and covers questions such as how to react upon the invitation, how to prepare for the interview, the interview itself and how to deal with it afterwards. Differences between real and virtual interviews will be covered. After preparatory exercises, you will practise giving examples of skills and abilities. You will be primed for specific situations when confronted with awkward questions or unexpected challenges and practise these in training sequences. In individual online live coaching sessions, you can discuss individual questions with your trainer. This may include the check of application documents (1 CV and 1 motivational letter) for a specific job ad. All documents should be handed in a week prior to the individually scheduled appointments. These appointments should take place within 2 months after the workshop. • Checking and optimising application documents (CV, cover letter, etc.)• Preparation for in person and virtual interviews• Preparatory exercises and training sequences (skills, abibilities, and challenging situations)• Individual coaching for one specific application processPlease note: Our training programme is designed for the interaction of the participants. Comparable to face-to-face seminars, we ask you to turn on your camera during online events for an exchange at eye level. [more]

The postdoc years are essential for academic career development. During this period, researchers are often torn between conflicting priorities of intellectual independence, on the one hand, and meeting professional obligations towards their employers, on the other hand. Postdoctoral candidates are expected to develop an independent publication record, apply for external funding, create a distinct research profile, build a teaching portfolio, communicate their research, build a network, undertake research stays abroad, etc. In this seminar, we will address questions such as: Which of these tasks are particularly important? What are the top priorities? Which time frame is appropriate and compatible with my personal private priorities? How important is the habilitation? Seminar contents:• Peer learning as well as individual coaching sessions• Requirements for a long-term career in academia• Analysis of the individual current situation, reviewing the current academic profile• Development and specification of the next goals and planning of the next stepsPlease note: Our training programme is designed for the interaction of the participants. Comparable to face-to-face seminars, we ask you to turn on your camera during online events for an exchange at eye level. [more]

You will get an overview of various career options in the public sector, including academic research, as well as in the private sector, in non-profit organisations and, where appropriate, in self-employment. Different job profiles and the associated professional and personal entry requirements and approaches are discussed. The correct reading of job advertisements and the clarification of one's own strengths and successes help you to better assess your own fit.Seminar contents:• What does career mean?• Researchers in different fields of the public sector• Researchers in private enterprises• Non-profit associations/societies and foundations• Use and extension of one’s network• Development of an individual strategyPlease note: Our training programme is designed for the interaction of the participants. Comparable to face-to-face seminars, we ask you to turn on your camera during online events for an exchange at eye level. [more]

You will get an overview of various career options in the public sector, including academic research, as well as in the private sector, in non-profit organisations and, where appropriate, in self-employment. Different job profiles and the associated professional and personal entry requirements and approaches are discussed. The correct reading of job advertisements and the clarification of one's own strengths and successes help you to better assess your own fit.Seminar contents:• What does career mean?• Scientists in different fields of the public sector• Scientists in private enterprises• Use and extension of one’s network• Development of an individual strategyPlease note: Our training programme is designed for the interaction of the participants. Comparable to face-to-face seminars, we ask you to turn on your camera during online events for an exchange at eye level. [more]