Careers Outside Academia
Not every junior researcher aspires to a permanent career at a university or research facility. Perhaps you are interested in a career in the private or the public sector, or are toying with the idea of setting up a business of your own.
As part of its qualification programme, the Graduate Academy offers workshops and seminars on career planning. These address issues related to planning and pursuing your career and those concerned with professional prospects within and outside research. In addition, there is the new GA Future Career Programme – Fit für außeruniversitäre Karrierewerge, specifically relating to the subject of non-academic careers. The programme is addressed to doctoral candidates in the final phase of their doctorates and to postdocs aspiring to a professional future outside research or the university. The curriculum includes, among other things, the development of management skills, knowledge in the field of leadership and team building, basic knowledge of business administration, plus assessing your personal level of expertise and developing your personal profile.
In cooperation with the TUD initiative for start-ups, dresden|exists, we now offer the GA Future Career Program: Innovation! The program is aimed at postdocs and doctoral candidates at the end of their PhDs, who want to be innovative. Be it in research, in business or even as a founder.
If you want to start your own business or work on a freelance basis, you can additionally get help from dresden|exists. Please do not hesitate to contact the dresden|exists representatives directly with your questions concerning start-ups, whether you intend to work alone or in a team, or whether you want to practise a trade or work as a freelance. They will also be happy to provide you with more detailed information on funding opportunities or even with early feedback on your idea.