Successfully entering professional life after the doctorate: Strategic networking as access to the (hidden) job market

Focus: non-academic job market. After completing a doctorate or a postdoc position, many are faced with the challenge of starting a career outside the university. The question often arises: “What do I want to achieve professionally and how do I find the right job?” The search for job advertisements may seem obvious, but it does not always lead to success. In fact, over two thirds of all jobs in Germany are awarded without being advertised. How does an application process outside the academic world work and how do you get these hidden jobs? The key lies in contacts and networks. Some of these connections already exist, others you can build up specifically. These contacts not only provide access to job opportunities, but also valuable insights into different career fields, specific tasks and company cultures. This information will help you to choose the right career direction for you.