Guidance, Skills & Opportunities for Researchers e.V. (GSO)

Translating Your Postdoc Experience for the German Job Market: What Really Matters “Too qualified.” “Overpriced.” “Not a cultural fit.” These are not critiques of a PhD work. They might just be the employer’s way of saying: we didn’t understand how your experience applies here. At our 2024 *Tbh-Conference, Birte Seffert and HR leader Susanne Kortendick took a close look at the gap between postdoctoral expertise and the expectations of the German job market. No sugar-coating. Just clarity. What stood out? A few things that might feel familiar: 🔹 German CVs read differently. Your five-page academic CV won’t land well if it doesn’t clearly show outcomes. #Translation is key: supervising a lab is also people #management. Managing a DFG grant is #budget experience. 🔹 Pay expectations must match reality. Know your #salary bands. A role listed at TV-L E10 isn’t going to flex just because you have a doctorate. And that mismatch is often what gets you labeled “overqualified.” 🔹 The #Mittelstand matters. While many postdocs look to big-name companies, 60% of jobs in Germany are in small and mid-sized enterprises. These “hidden champs” offer #innovation, #stability - and roles for researchers. But you won’t find them on every #English-language job board. 🔹 Don’t apologize for career gaps. Mention #caregiving, explain #transitions, and show how you kept professionally active. Employers value honesty more than creative CV gymnastics. 🔹 #Authenticity is not branding. What you #share, how you #connect, and who sees your work - these are professional habits, not self-promotion. You’re not selling yourself. You’re creating access points. This session was a reminder: the PhD isn’t a puzzle employers must solve. It’s a skillset you can frame - with language, clarity, and context.

🌟 What an amazing kickoff to our first ever AlumNode Panel Discussion on #Mentoring in #Academia and #Industry! A big thank you to everyone who joined us from across the globe. A special shout-out goes to our moderator Anne Schreiter, Ph.D. and our lovely panelists Cerene Rathilal, Katrina Meyer, and Suman Sourav, who shared personal stories and actionable tips on what mentoring really looks like in both academic and industry settings. ➡️ Cerene reminded us that mentoring isn't just a good deed, it’s a #strategic #advantage: It counts towards your performance goals and can even boost your funding applications. But more than that, it's about paying it forward: helping others like someone once helped you. ➡️ Katrina captured the essence of mentorship with a quote that resonated deeply with the others: "Be the #compass, not the map." ➡️ Suman encouraged a human-first approach by stating that mentoring can evolve like a friendship. It’s a two-way street and mentees also carry #responsibility. ✅ One message echoed again and again: Mentoring is not a moment, it’s a #relationship. Whether you’re guiding someone, or just starting to seek support, this journey is one we walk together. And because every mentee is different, there’s no one-size-fits-all in mentoring. Keep the conversation going - reflect on what mentoring means to you, reach out to someone you can support, or ask for guidance yourself. After all, mentoring is lifelong, and sometimes, it makes us family. Last but not least, check out the #AlumNode #Peer #Mentoring #Program and stay tuned for upcoming discussions. Want to be part of the next panel? Reach out!

🌟 What an amazing kickoff to our first ever AlumNode Panel Discussion on #Mentoring in #Academia and #Industry! A big thank you to everyone who joined us from across the globe. A special shout-out goes to our moderator Anne Schreiter, Ph.D. and our lovely panelists Cerene Rathilal, Katrina Meyer, and Suman Sourav, who shared personal stories and actionable tips on what mentoring really looks like in both academic and industry settings. ➡️ Cerene reminded us that mentoring isn't just a good deed, it’s a #strategic #advantage: It counts towards your performance goals and can even boost your funding applications. But more than that, it's about paying it forward: helping others like someone once helped you. ➡️ Katrina captured the essence of mentorship with a quote that resonated deeply with the others: "Be the #compass, not the map." ➡️ Suman encouraged a human-first approach by stating that mentoring can evolve like a friendship. It’s a two-way street and mentees also carry #responsibility. ✅ One message echoed again and again: Mentoring is not a moment, it’s a #relationship. Whether you’re guiding someone, or just starting to seek support, this journey is one we walk together. And because every mentee is different, there’s no one-size-fits-all in mentoring. Keep the conversation going - reflect on what mentoring means to you, reach out to someone you can support, or ask for guidance yourself. After all, mentoring is lifelong, and sometimes, it makes us family. Last but not least, check out the #AlumNode #Peer #Mentoring #Program and stay tuned for upcoming discussions. Want to be part of the next panel? Reach out!

📣 Online Event: Integrating gender and intersectionality in research - from policy to practice What does it actually mean to integrate gender and intersectionality into research? And how can researchers move from vague expectations to meaningful practice? On May 28, this online event explores one of the most pressing challenges in research policy today: applying gender and intersectional analysis in ways that are both rigorous and relevant — not just box-ticking exercises. Whether you're writing proposals, advising teams, or evaluating projects, you’ll hear from EU #policyexperts, #researchers, and Horizon Europe #projectleaders on: 🔹 Why gender and intersectionality are now essential parts of EU research funding and evaluation 🔹 What tools and frameworks are already available — including new resources from GENDERACTIONplus and the ERA Forum 🔹 How intersectional approaches improve research quality, relevance, and impact When? Wednesday, 28 May 2025 - 14:00–16:00 CEST | 📍 Online via Zoom Organised by INSPIRING ERA in collaboration with the GENDERACTIONplus project, this session is part of a broader effort to support the implementation of the #EuropeanResearchArea (ERA) Policy Agenda. ✅ A timely conversation — not just about compliance, but about doing better research. Registration link and event details in the first comment!

Visibility isn’t the goal. It’s what it does. At the Zia - Visible Women in Science & Humanities Congress yesterday, one thing became clear: visibility is not a trophy or a branding exercise - it’s a force that shifts structures. As Dr. Hanna Proner put it, visibility isn’t an end in itself. It influences status, access, perception. It creates momentum for individuals, and for the system around them. We were invited to take part in the “Thementische” format - a setting designed for deeper conversation, not only small talk. We spoke about the quiet #mechanics of #visibility: how #presence can become #power, how #networks don’t have to feel like work, and how #change is often sparked in moments that don’t look like milestones. We met colleagues from across institutions, disciplines, and sectors—but also across career stages and lived experiences. ✅ And honestly, it didn’t feel like networking - showing up doesn’t feel strategic here - it feels like joining in. Fellows and alumni like Stefanie Bärthel and Katrina Meyer (our #KTBoost Fellows) stopped by to chat, and Clara von Randow (our new Leadership Academy fellow) and Prof. Dr. Carolin Krahn (our Leadership alumna), dropped in simply to say hello. That’s the kind of presence a strong network makes possible - #uncomplicated, #genuine, and #impactful. ➡️ What we took home: ✅ Networks are not backup plans—they are infrastructure. ✅ Being seen is not the same as being visible. ✅Equality isn’t a future ambition. It’s daily maintenance. Even after experiencing it with our Leadership Academy fellows at Schader-Stiftung, 'Versäumte Bilder' by Gesine Born left a lasting impression once again - a posthumous #tribute to #womeninscience through powerful AI-generated portraits of what history never officially recorded. Many thanks to Hanna Proner and Alexandra Lion for the invitation and to all those we ran into, listened to, and learned from: Elena Lichtenthaler, Tatjana Gust, Magdalena Skipper, Henrike Hartmann, Alessa Ringel, Swantje Rother, Franziska Kraus, and the many more whose work resonated throughout the day. And to those behind the scenes - VolkswagenStiftung, ZEIT Verlagsgruppe, Holtzbrinck Berlin - Inspire Together Berlin – Inspire Together: thank you for creating this space. Some impressions from the day - thanks to ©Phil Dera for capturing part of the atmosphere for Holtzbrinck Berlin, and a few snapshots from our side as well. ➡️ Let’s stay visible - and keep others in view, too.

📣 Thinking beyond the lab? The Postdoc Career Fair 2025, hosted by Berlin University Alliance, is your chance to explore what’s next — outside academia. When: June 26, 2025 Where: Humboldt Graduate School, Luisenstr. 56, Berlin Register soon — first come, first served! What to expect: ✅ Strategic input from keynote speakers on navigating career shifts ✅ Panels with researchers-turned-leaders from #sciencemanagement, #startups, #industry & #nonprofits ✅ Hands-on advice in small group sessions with HR professionals & career coaches ✅ A “Career Marketplace” with companies & organizations actively #recruiting #postdocs 🔁 We know how valuable these spaces can be - this fair is designed to support researchers navigating change, facing questions, and looking for meaningful next steps. So if you’re in Berlin (or nearby) and asking yourself what’s next — this is worth your time. Registration link and program details in the first comment!

Meet one of our newest GSO members: Dr. Nele Diekmann - Historian by training, creative by conviction. Nele always had a knack for making the past come alive. After studying ancient languages and religious studies, she earned her PhD in Assyriology, researching how cuneiform was deciphered in 19th-century England. But during her academic years, she realized that #academicwriting — while rigorous and essential — didn’t match how she naturally communicated: curious, engaging, and imaginative. That insight sparked a bold career pivot. Today, Nele is the co-founder and creative lead of Historicity, an agency for #culturaltourism and #publichistory. Together with her partner Marcel vom Lehn, she designs compelling ways to share historical stories with broad audiences — whether through tours, exhibitions, or written dialogues for adults and children. Her #interdisciplinary #approach and innovative thinking shape every project she touches. ➡️ Nele’s advice to others who may be questioning their path? ✅ Do ask yourself what makes you truly happy. Talking to people? Writing? Finding out new things? Teaching? Or maybe none of the above? ✅ Don’t shy away from looking for career opportunities outside academia – and don’t let yourself by defined by being a researcher or scientist alone. We’re so happy to welcome Nele to our community — and to have her perspective as someone who bridges research and storytelling, analysis and creativity.

📣 AlumNode Panel Talk: Mentoring in Academia & Industry on Thursday, May 8 #Mentorship can be a game changer – whether you`re in the middle of the academic jungle or taking your first steps in industry. But how do you find the right mentor or become one? What makes mentoring meaningful, impactful, and maybe even fun? We’re kicking off our first #AlumNode #PanelTalk on May 8 at 4:00 pm CEST with a deep dive into the many facets of mentoring — from finding a suitable mentor to becoming one yourself. This session is all about what it really means to support and be supported across different career paths in #academia and #industry. Hosted by the Executive Director of Guidance, Skills & Opportunities for Researchers e.V. (GSO), Anne Schreiter, Ph.D., we’ll hear from our inspiring AlumNode panelists: ➡️ Cerene Rathilal, Senior lecturer at the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, #SouthAfrica ➡️ Katrina Meyer, Postdoc at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics (MPI-MG), #Germany ➡️ Suman Sourav, Assistant Professor at Aalborg University, #Denmark Expect personal stories, honest advice, and plenty of inspiration for your next steps on your mentoring journey. 🗓️ Thursday, May 8, 2025 | 4:00 – 5:00 pm CEST (UTC+2) | Zoom 🎟️ Registration open for our Alumni - please login to your AlumNode account to sign up: https://lnkd.in/dzbabbT2

Meet one of our newest members: Dr. Maxim Egorov ❓ What motivates you to lead? And why should anyone be led by you? For Maxim, these aren’t just philosophical questions — they’re essential reflections for anyone who takes #leadership seriously. ➡️Currently serving as interim Professor for Responsible Leadership at Munich Business School, Maxim also works as an independent #consultant, executive #coach, and #trainer, guiding individuals, companies, and scientific institutions through change and development. His academic affiliations include the Leadership Excellence Institute Zeppelin | LEIZ at Zeppelin University and the Department of Finance at the University of Zurich. ➡️Maxim’s research and coaching focus on #ethical leadership and leadership development. He earned his doctorate at the TUM School of Management and holds a degree in psychology from the University of Koblenz and Landau. ➡️His message to early-career leaders is clear: Leadership development is often associated with knowledge and skills — but our self-views matter just as much. Leadership development is often mainly associated with the acquisition of leadership #knowledge, as well as specific #skills, and #competencies. Nevertheless, also our leadership-related self-views matter and variables such as leadership self-efficacy, leader identity and self-awareness play a crucial role in effective leadership development processes! (Day & Dragoni, 2015). ➡️His advice? ✅ Do: Reflect on your leadership-related self-views. Ask yourself: What motivates me to lead? Why should anyone be led by me? ❌ Don’t: Believe in the myth of “born leaders.” Leadership is not innate — it’s a lifelong journey. The sooner you start shaping it, the better. We’re glad to have Maxim on board — and look forward to the perspectives and depth he brings to the table!

📣 See you at the Zia Congress 2025! On May 6, we’ll be joining the #ZiaCongress in Berlin - alongside many initiatives to talk about key challenges around equal opportunities in research. Meet Anne Schreiter, Ph.D., and Kübra Kananathan at the thematic session at 3:40 pm — together with #KooperationInternational, the research project Prof:inSicht by Hochschule München, #InnovativeFrauen, and Metavorhaben „Innovative Frauen im Fokus“ (meta-IFiF). 📆 When: May 6, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. 📍 Where: BOLLE Festsäle, Alt-Moabit 98, 10559 Berlin ⭕ Who: Women working in science and research ✅ Registration is still open – find the link to register in the first comment! The Zia Congress is a joint project by Holtzbrinck Berlin - Inspire Together, VolkswagenStiftung, and ZEIT Verlagsgruppe. We’re looking forward to seeing many of you there!