With our expertise in personnel development, science management and policy, as well as many years of experience as recipients of applications in industry or the public sector, we know what companies, research institutes and institutions expect of their future employees. We pass on this insider knowledge in our workshops and provide direction and assistance to scientists on their way into the future. This begins with an analysis of your own strengths, motivation and personal circumstances, through knowledge of the opportunities offered by the market in fields other than academic research, to the preparation of an appealing and meaningful application for the identified position with and a confident interview. We also prepare you for your first steps in a previously unknown working world and culture. To give you an idea of workshop content and methods, please take a look at these sample workshops:

 

 

Career Development

 

 

Company World
Life scientists are often unfamiliar with business life and are usually not trained in economic thinking. They often do not know how companies create value or how different departments contribute to the economic success of a company. This lack of knowledge makes them insecure about their chances in professional fields besides research and development and is the reason why their applications for jobs outside academia are often not convincing.

 

Content

The participants gain an initial insight into the management and operational processes of companies. Using a model, they learn which steps are necessary from the development of an idea to the sale of a product. By directly "stepping into" their organizational role, the participants realize what requirements they might be confronted with in a specific job.

 

Target group

PhD students who are considering a transition to small or large companies and who would like to find out in which area/department their future job might lie.

 

Learning objectives

  • Understand the concept of business and management
  • Know various roles and functions in companies
  • Understand the correlation of personality and function
  • Setup a plan to acquire business-related competences

 

Methods

Trainer input, role play with defined roles, own research, evaluation of the role play, reflection in pairs and in plenary

 

Duration

1.5 days

 

Group size

12 participants

Unsolicited applications

Content

In this workshop, the participants will learn how to access the hidden labor market. We will talk about creative approaches to identifying employment opportunities. Sometimes it is much more promising to be well informed and develop individual strategies than to compete with many others for the same advertised position.

 

Learning objectives

  • Know where and how to look for job opportunities
  • Identify your own advantages over others
  • Find arguments why you are the right person for the job

 

Target group

Postdocs and doctoral students at the end of their doctoral studies

 

Group size

Max. 12 participants

 

Duration

1 day

Application Training

Target group

This workshop is aimed at people who are informed about possible career paths after doctoral studies, who have already considered their suitability and motivation with regard to the various career options, and who now want to actively pursue their further career path in or outside academia.

 

Content

In Part 1, the focus is on the written application. How can I convey my strengths and competencies, how can I present myself as interesting? What are the differences between a CV for science and one for industry? What to consider when writing a motivation letter?

 
Part 2 includes the preparation of application documents and a review of the documents by the trainer.

 
Part 3 is dedicated to the oral presentation. Requirements in the job interview are worked on - in theory and practice. If desired, the day can be concluded with practical exercises for the assessment center.

 

Learning objectives

  • Presentation of strengths and competencies in the resume
  • Making motivation visible in an appealing cover letter
  • Preparation for the interview

 

Group size

Max. 12 participants

 

Methods

Motivational talks, presentations, working in large and small groups, individual work, training sequences with video recordings, individual review of the resume / cover letter

 

Duration

2 days

My next career step
Short-term employment, personal reasons or the desire for a change in career are some of the reasons for a professional re-orientation.

 

Content

Looking back on previous successes enables participants to identify personal strengths and competencies. An overview of various career options outside academic research reveals options in previously ignored professional fields. Individual values, motivations, and preferences will also be taken into account to identify suitable career paths after PhD and provide clarity. Finally, the participants reflect on the next steps they should take and where they can find support.

 

Target group

Young postdocs or doctoral students in life and natural sciences or humanities and social sciences in their last year before completing their doctorate

 

Learning objectives

  • Know career options in academic and nonacademic fields
  • Understand professional and personal prerequisites for career fields
  • Analyze individual accomplishments, competencies, and strengths
  • Determine next steps on individual career path

 

Group size

Max. 12 participants

 

Duration

2 days

Setting up an own business

Content

To start with, the participants are given an insight into the possibilities of self-employment and the respective requirements including formal aspects such as legal form, social insurance and taxes.

Looking at successful examples of entrepreneurship, the principles of the business model, the basis of self-employment, are explained. The participants will learn to apply the "Business Model Canvas" as a method to experiment with their own self-employment. Ideas for this are generated together and run through in small teams under supervision. Finally, further steps to implement the ideas will be elaborated.

 

Learning objectives

  • The participants learn what it means to be self-employed
  • They will be able to evaluate decisions regarding this career option
  • They know a method for developing a business model
  • They have developed ideas and received feedback on them

 

Target group

Postdocs and doctoral students in natural sciences in the last year before completing their doctorate

 

Group size

Max. 12 participants

 

Methods

Motivational talks, presentations, work in small groups, business model canvas, creativity techniques, evaluation methods, feedback

 

Duration

1 - 2 days

 
 


 
 
 


 
 

Contact

KEPOS
Kepos
Barbara Hoffbauer
Leonie-Ossowski-Promenade 9
68309 Mannheim
Barbara Hoffbauer
+49 1515 5158 282
info@kepos.com
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