Workshop: Career orientation

Description:

Doing a PhD opens many doors. The possibilities for what you can do afterwards are endless. By
doing a PhD you prove that you can work independently, think logically, and finish a huge piece
of work to high professional standards. But what comes next? You may wish to continue in
academia, or explore other careers. You may not be sure what you want to do, or even what is
possible. In this workshop we will explore those possibilities and identify what you can do now, to
expand your options for the future.
A complex challenge. What are the advantages and disadvantages of doing a post doc? How do
I start preparing for that now if it is something I want to consider? What alternatives are there if I
want to leave academia? How do I critically evaluate job descriptions and places of work if I am
not familiar with the role? How can I get additional training if I need to re- orientate myself? Do I
want to start my own start up? How do I write a convincing job application or business plan?
Learning objectives. This workshop helps participants to explore and evaluate their own career
and life goals. Participants develop a broad understanding of the different potential career paths
after a PhD. You will have the opportunity to consider which career paths are most attractive to
you and why, to improve your chances of succeeding in your plans, and to help others with
constructive feedback.
After the workshop, participants can:
• Critically evaluate their own career and life goals and develop strategies for how to reach
them.
• Identify and analyse potential career paths and compare these to their own range of
skills and requirements.
• Optimise their CV and motivation letter for different purposes.
• Identify, analyse and summarise sources of information about alternative careers

Instructor: Leonie Ringrose

Registration: IMPRS-IDI office (imprs-office@mpiib-berlin.mpg.de)