{"id":355,"date":"2024-02-22T18:35:42","date_gmt":"2024-02-22T17:35:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.fu-berlin.de\/drs_podcast\/?p=355"},"modified":"2026-08-04T10:54:41","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T08:54:41","slug":"s02-episode-7-cracking-the-german-job-market-as-an-international-doctoral-student","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.fu-berlin.de\/drs_podcast\/2024\/02\/22\/s02-episode-7-cracking-the-german-job-market-as-an-international-doctoral-student\/","title":{"rendered":"Cracking the German Job Market as an International Doctoral  Researcher"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.fu-berlin.de\/drs_podcast\/files\/2026\/05\/icon-Podcast.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1443\" style=\"width:174px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.fu-berlin.de\/drs_podcast\/files\/2026\/05\/icon-Podcast.png 1080w, https:\/\/blogs.fu-berlin.de\/drs_podcast\/files\/2026\/05\/icon-Podcast-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.fu-berlin.de\/drs_podcast\/files\/2026\/05\/icon-Podcast-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.fu-berlin.de\/drs_podcast\/files\/2026\/05\/icon-Podcast-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/blogs.fu-berlin.de\/drs_podcast\/files\/2026\/05\/icon-Podcast-768x768.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In this episode, we&#8217;re not just unraveling the mysteries of job applications in Germany. We are arming you with tools, with strategies for planning your career, no matter where you&#8217;re from. Get ready for some insights into the German job market \u2013 we are covering aspects you might not have even considered. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Audio <\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Download or listen to the audio version of the podcast here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/blogs.fu-berlin.de\/drs_podcast\/files\/2024\/02\/Interview-Amanda-with-Marlies_final.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>This interview was conducted in February 2024.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Highlights<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>&#8222;Anything that you are doing in your life is, is experience and it&#8217;s just that you need to be able to connect the thing that you that you want to do to something that you&#8217;ve done.&#8220;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8222;I&#8217;ve never worked with anyone who has zero hands-on experience. You all have so much experience and what we tend to underestimate is, all of the work that you&#8217;ve done in your PhD, in your master&#8217;s, even in your bachelor&#8217;s, you have worked with other people to do things&#8230;&#8220;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8222;I think it&#8217;s really, really important that you sit down as early as you can. Give yourself the gift of the time that you will invest in your own career planning.&#8220;<\/p>\n<cite>from our interview with Amanda Wichert<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">SUMMARY<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>English:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this episode, cross-cultural career coach Amanda Wichert talks about job opportunities and application processes for international doctoral students in Germany. She points out that the German job market prefers candidates whose qualifications match job requirements, which makes flexibility challenging. She also notes that most employers prioritize practical experience and education over enthusiasm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Amanda offers job application tips, such as adapting your CV design to the German format, focusing on work history and education. She stresses the importance of both expertise and practical skills for PhD holders; students with limited experience outside of academia should highlight relevant academic projects or volunteer work and consider internships to gain additional skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She discusses her own experiences relocating to Germany and emphasizes the value of networking. Amanda also warns against accepting any job, as it might lead to poor career matches. Additionally, she points out that although some may be advertised as English-speaking, speaking German is often necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The episode also addresses the German &#8222;Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz,&#8220; explaining its impact on temporary academic contracts for PhD holders. Amanda advises students and doctoral candidates to be aware of this law to guide their career decisions and encourages early career planning, emphasizing the need and necessary time for self-reflection and personal exploration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>[see the full transcript of the episode <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.fu-berlin.de\/drs_podcast\/2026\/08\/04\/full-transcript-english-cracking-the-german-job-market-as-an-international-doctoral-researcher\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1701\">here<\/a>]<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>German:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In dieser Folge spricht die auf interkulturelle Karrierefragen spezialisierte Coach Amanda Wichert \u00fcber Karrierem\u00f6glichkeiten und Bewerbungsverfahren f\u00fcr internationale Promovierende in Deutschland. Sie weist darauf hin, dass auf dem deutschen Arbeitsmarkt Kandidat:innen bevorzugt werden, deren Qualifikationen exakt den Stellenanforderungen entsprechen, was Flexibilit\u00e4t erschwert. Zudem betont sie, dass die meisten Arbeitgeber praktische Erfahrung und Ausbildung h\u00f6her gewichten als blo\u00dfe Begeisterung.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Amanda gibt praktische Bewerbungstipps, etwa zur Gestaltung des Lebenslaufs nach deutschem Standard mit Fokus auf den bisherigen beruflichen und akademischen Werdegang. Sie unterstreicht, wie wichtig sowohl Fachwissen als auch praktische Kompetenzen f\u00fcr Promovierte sind; Kandidat:innen mit wenig Erfahrung au\u00dferhalb der Wissenschaft sollten relevante akademische Projekte oder ehrenamtliches Engagement hervorheben und Praktika in Erw\u00e4gung ziehen, um zus\u00e4tzliche F\u00e4higkeiten zu erwerben.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sie berichtet von ihren eigenen Erfahrungen bei der \u00dcbersiedlung nach Deutschland und hebt die Bedeutung von Networking hervor. Amanda warnt aber auch davor, wahllos jede Stelle anzunehmen, da dies zu einer unpassenden beruflichen Entwicklung f\u00fchren kann. Au\u00dferdem merkt sie an, dass auch wenn manche Stellen auf Englisch ausgeschrieben sind, Deutschkenntnisse oft unerl\u00e4sslich sind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Die Folge thematisiert zudem das deutsche Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz und dessen Auswirkungen auf befristete Arbeitsvertr\u00e4ge f\u00fcr Promovierte. Amanda r\u00e4t Studierenden und Promovierenden, sich \u00fcber dieses Gesetz zu informieren, um ihre Karriereentscheidungen fundiert zu treffen. Sie pl\u00e4diert f\u00fcr eine fr\u00fchzeitige Karriereplanung und betont, wie wichtig Selbstreflexion und die pers\u00f6nliche Orientierung sind \u2013 und wie viel Zeit diese Prozesse in Anspruch nehmen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In this episode, we&#8217;re not just unraveling the mysteries of job applications in Germany. We are arming you with tools, with strategies for planning your career, no matter where you&#8217;re from. Get ready for some insights into the German job market \u2013 we are covering aspects you might not have even considered. Audio Download or &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.fu-berlin.de\/drs_podcast\/2024\/02\/22\/s02-episode-7-cracking-the-german-job-market-as-an-international-doctoral-student\/\" class=\"more-link\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">\u201eCracking the German Job Market as an International Doctoral  Researcher\u201c<\/span> weiterlesen<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7050,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[10497],"class_list":["post-355","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-allgemein","tag-season2"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.fu-berlin.de\/drs_podcast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/355","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.fu-berlin.de\/drs_podcast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.fu-berlin.de\/drs_podcast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.fu-berlin.de\/drs_podcast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7050"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.fu-berlin.de\/drs_podcast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=355"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.fu-berlin.de\/drs_podcast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/355\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1704,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.fu-berlin.de\/drs_podcast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/355\/revisions\/1704"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.fu-berlin.de\/drs_podcast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=355"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.fu-berlin.de\/drs_podcast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=355"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.fu-berlin.de\/drs_podcast\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=355"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}