Here you will find all information about the programme and registration for the Career Days. The Career Days will take place from 11 to 13 November as an online event. There are three different event types: Short workshops, career talks and information lectures. On Thursday evening, there will be a networking event in the Auditorium of the Graduate Academy that will allow participants to get to know Alumni working in industry and society.
Registration is required for all events. There are only a limited number of places availible for the workshops and the networking event. We ask you to register for a maximum of two impulse workshops. Registration is also required for the career talks and the information lectures but places are not limited in these formats. Registration is possible from 14 October via the Qualification PortalExternal link of University of Jena. You can find more information on registration here.
Programme of the Career Days
Illustration: Graduierten-AkademieThe salary is an important and sometimes difficult topic within an application process. This session enables you to define and negotiate an adequate salary for each job. We will discuss typical salaries for job starters and criteria which can influence the salary. We will learn to determine a salary for a specific position and how you can find out more about a company?s internal salary structure. Subsequently, we talk about the right approach to a salary negotiation and how to avoid common mistakes. Additionally, you get to know alternative options to substitute a lower payment offer.
Trainer: Heidi St?rr (Push Your Career - Career Consultancy)
Language: English
Viele Promovierende und Postdocs sind sich oft nicht bewusst, welche (überfachlichen) Kompetenzen sie in ihrer wissenschaftlichen Laufbahn erworben haben – und wie wertvoll diese auch au?erhalb der Universit?t sind. Die eigenen Kompetenzen müssen aber in Worte gefasst werden k?nnen, um sich erfolgreich inner- und au?erhalb der Wissenschaft zu bewerben. In diesem praxisorientieren Workshop analysieren die Teilnehmer*innen ihre Kompetenzen, erstellen ihr eigenes Kompetenzprofil und üben, wie sich dieses Profil gezielt in Bewerbungsprozessen einsetzen und überzeugend kommunizieren l?sst.
Lernziele:
Referentin: Dr. Iris K?hler (The Scientist Coach)
Sprache: Deutsch
Promovierte Geistes- und Sozialwissenschaftler:innen besitzen wertvolle F?higkeiten, die auch au?erhalb der Universit?t von einer Vielzahl unterschiedlicher Arbeitgeber ben?tigt und gesch?tzt werden. Viele Promovierende und Postdocs sind jedoch unsicher welche Karrierewege ihnen offenstehen und mit welchen F?higkeiten sie bei potentiellen Arbeitgebern punkten k?nnen. Diese und weitere Fragen werden drei promovierte Wissenschaftler:innen erl?utern, die den Weg in spannende neue Berufsfelder bereits gegangen sind. Sie berichten über ihren Arbeitsalltag und geben wertvolle Tipps zu Jobsuche und Bewerbungsprozess.
Alumni:
Sprache: Deutsch
The first impression a potential employer has of you comes from your CV — and it can make or break your chances. As recruiters with over 10 years of experience in high-tech talent acquisition, we’ll show you how to structure and tailor your CV to truly reflect your potential.
In this session, you will learn:
You’ll walk away with viable insights on how to craft a concise and convincing profile — with focus on the private sector.
Speaker:?
Language: English
This talk will familiarize you with AI-based tools and show you practical use cases for your application phase. Expand your understanding of this innovative technology in the application context. In this session you will get to know various AI use cases with practical examples for applicants. This will not only save you time in the future, but also improve your impression on the recruiter. You get tips on how to optimize your prompting so that you get the right result quickly. Furthermore, you will find out how AI tools are used in recruiting.
Speaker:?
Language: English
You’re (almost) done with your PhD? Now it’s time to show potential employers what you bring to the table. In this session, we focus on how to communicate your strengths clearly and persuasively in job interviews. Whether you're aiming for a career in academia or exploring options beyond, you'll learn how to position yourself with confidence and clarity. We’ll discuss what interviewers are really looking for, how to handle typical and tricky questions, and how to speak about your research in an accessible, engaging way.
Key takeaways and guiding questions:
Trainer: Dr. Annika Bartsch (Karriereberatung für Akademiker*innen)
Language: English
Germany offers a wide range of career opportunities for researchers and scientists—but knowing how to access them can be difficult, especially for international scholars. This interactive workshop provides an orientation toward the German job market, both within and beyond academia. We will explore insights into typical career paths, institutional structures and key features of employment conditions. Particular attention will be paid to the challenges international researchers and scientists may face, such as language requirements, cultural expectations and limited access to professional networks. Through practical examples and group discussion, the workshop aims to equip participants with a clearer understanding of how to identify suitable roles and take the next steps with confidence.
Key Takeaways and Guiding Questions: ?
Trainer: Dr. Matthias Zach (Karriereberatung für Akademiker*innen)
Language: English
Are you thinking about leaving academia after completing your PhD or postdoc? You are not alone. The majority of PhD candidates do not stay in academia for their entire career. In this talk, three STEM alumni, who have successfully transitioned from academia to a career in industry, will share their experiences. They will give valuable advice on job hunting and application processes, career development and working outside of academia.
Alumni:
Language: English
Wie beantworte ich die Frage nach meinem Wunschgehalt? Und ist Perfektionismus wirklich die ideale Schw?che? Mit diesen oder ?hnlichen Themen besch?ftigt man sich in Vorbereitung auf ein Bewerbungsgespr?ch. Aber was sagt eigentlich jemand dazu, der jahrelang als Personalreferentin im Recruiting unterwegs war? Jana Mahnken hat in einem gro?en deutschen Unternehmen über 1500 Bewerbungsgespr?che mit Fach- und Führungskr?ften unterschiedlicher Fachrichtungen geführt. In ihrem Vortrag behandelt Sie die folgenden Themen:
Auch Sie als Teilnehmende sind herzlich eingeladen, ihre Fragen zum Thema Bewerbungsgespr?ch mitzubringen.
Referentin: Jana Mahnken ist Referentin für au?erakademische Karrierewege im Postdoc-Zentrum der Universit?t Kiel. Davor war sie über 10 Jahre als Personalreferentin bei Ferchau t?tig.
Sprache: Deutsch
Jena and its surroundings combine high quality of living with a large variety of exciting career opportunities offered by international companies like Schott Zeiss and JenOptik, but also by numerous start-ups and smaller companies. This talk explores options open to everyone who considers staying in the region after finishing their PhD (or Postdoc) at the Friedrich Schiller University. It focuses especially on international researchers but is open for everyone.?
It will tackle the following questions:
Speaker:
Language: English
Im Workshop lernen Sie Recruiting aus neuer Perspektive kennen und erarbeiten Handwerkszeug für eine selbstbewusste und chancenorientierte Strategie für Ihr ?Marketing in eigener Sache“ mit Promotion.
Durch die ausführliche Besch?ftigung mit Ihren St?rken, Ihrer Motivation und Ihrem Begeisterungsverm?gen werden Sie Sicherheit für Ihre Pr?sentation beim potentiellen Arbeitgeber gewinnen und Vorstellungsgespr?che souver?ner angehen k?nnen.
Inhalte:
Referent: Wolfgang Leybold (Leybold Strategy Consultants)
Sprache: Deutsch
Sich zu bewerben ist eine anspruchsvolle T?tigkeit, die den wenigsten Menschen leichtf?llt. Eigene F?higkeiten und Erfahrungen müssen bilanziert, mit Stellenprofilen abgeglichen und kommuniziert werden. In diesem Impulsworkshop erfahren Sie, was Sie bei schriftlichen Bewerbungen für den au?eruniversit?ren Arbeitsmarkt beachten sollten und wie Sie typische Fehler vermeiden k?nnen. Sie lernen, mit welchen Kompetenzen Sie punkten k?nnen und wie Sie Ihr Profil in Bewerbungsverfahren authentisch und überzeugend kommunizieren.
Schwerpunkte:
Referentin: Evelyn Hochheim (Karriereberatung für Akademiker*innen)
Sprache: Deutsch
Sie überlegen, nach der Promotion oder Postdoc-Phase ins Wissenschaftsmanagement einzusteigen? Damit sind Sie nicht allein. Viele Promovierte entscheiden sich für eine Laufbahn jenseits der klassischen Forschung und übernehmen verantwortungsvolle Aufgaben in der organisatorischen, administrativen oder strategischen Unterstützung von Hochschulen und Wissenschaftseinrichtungen.
In diesem Gespr?ch berichten drei Alumni, die sich im Wissenschaftsmanagement etabliert haben, von ihren Erfahrungen und geben Einblicke in ihre aktuellen T?tigkeiten. Sie erhalten wertvolle Tipps für die Bewerbungsphase und die Karriereentwicklung und haben auch die Gelegenheit, Fragen zu stellen.
Alumni
Sprache: Deutsch
For many students and researchers, career choices often seem limited to academia or industry. But there is a third path: entrepreneurship. This session invites you to explore entre- and intrapreneurship as an alternative career option. You will gain insights into the entrepreneurial mindset, reflect on your own strengths and blind spots, and discuss which skills and processes are essential to move from ideas to action. Together, we will examine what it takes to actively shape your own entrepreneurial journey.
Key questions and learning goals:
Speaker: Kristin Hesche is a startup advisor at Friedrich Schiller University Jena (K1 Start-up Service). With many years in international companies and her own founder experience in Jena, she supports students, researchers, and alumni on their journey from idea to startup—covering validation, funding, and networking—while championing inclusive, practice-oriented entrepreneurship.
Language: English
Do you want to pursue an academic career after your PhD? Do you want to know about career opportunities and long-term positions in the German academic system?
In this talk, you will learn about the different possibilities for long-term positions in academia. Since the main option in Germany is a professorship, we will talk about routes to get there (i.e. research and teaching positions, junior research group leadership, Junior professorship and Tenure Track positions, and also Habilitation or equivalent). You will get information on the requirements for a professorship, the selection process and advice on how to improve your career chances in academia to find your individual career strategy.
Key questions and learning goals:
Speaker: Anne Dünger is a science coordinator and manager at Graduate Academy. She currently coordinates postdoc and career counsellings, as well as information and qualification events for postdoctoral researchers.
Language: English
A strong network is a valuable asset for a successful career in industry. During this event, we would like to invite doctoral candidates and postdocs to get to know different career options outside of academia and, at the same time, expand their network.
In an interactive discussion format, four PhD-Alumni of the University of Jena from different companies will talk about their career paths and experiences in the industry. They will share valuable insights into application processes, daily work routines, and the specific requirements for professionals and executives in various industries. Additionally, they will give practical advice for a successful transition from academia to industry.
Afterwards, you may continue the conversations in a relaxed atmosphere and enjoy drinks and finger food. This is an opportunity to expand your professional network and gain a deeper understanding of the various career opportunities available.
Alumni:
Host: Yvonne Siewert
Language: English
Place: Auditorium of the Graduate Academy (Johannisstr 13)
On the evening of November 13, the event “Get in Touch with Industry – Networking with Alumni” will take place in the auditorium of the “Zur Rosen” building.
Johannisstr. 13
07743 Jena
