How to shape your future: Career Planning for Postdocs

The workshop will be held by Matthias Merkelbach. He is an expert in career strategy and team communication. A graduate in philosophy and German studies, he has many years of professional experience as a journalist, author of reference books and lecturer. Until 2011, he was the educational director of ISD GmbH, Stuttgart, where he was responsible for the continuing education program for internationally active companies.

Objectives

What are my unique abilities and interests critical in determining the right career path for me?

Can I combine my ideas about a fulfilled life with a university career? How can I develop a strategy for embarking on an academic career path or other career choices?

This seminar helps to answer these – and other - questions for those who want to plan their career development strategically. It focuses on supporting experienced scientists and researchers. It offers them possibilities to reflect upon future university careers or alternative career choices. Based on their individual profiles, participants develop their own vision for their future personal and professional lives.

• You reflect upon your professional career path and develop a well-orchestrated plan
• You develop a biographically-based profile that highlights und evaluates your individual qualifications, skills and job visions
• You get information about formal and hidden requirements for careers outside of the academic world with special focus on Germany
• You explore different occupational alternatives according to choices led by the feedback of your colleagues

Contents in brief:

• Creating your profile of skills and qualifications, highlighting your strengths and accomplishments
• Choosing your own criteria and values for work and life
• Developing a vision for your own professional and private life
• Review and evaluation of personal development goals
• Detect your professional network
• Next steps: application procedures and job interview in Germany

Methods:

• Individual work and team work
• Individual coaching session
• Visualizing methods
• Presentations and group discussion