Postdocs | Counselling and coaching
Questions during the postdoc phase
Are you facing a challenge in your career planning, or do you for example have questions, about balancing research and family? We support you with interdisciplinary counselling and coaching. We offer individual advice on-site, by telephone, or via Zoom in German or English according to your needs.
Counselling and coaching – what’s the difference?
Our counselling services provide you with the information you need for your career planning and decision-making, for example: Which steps are important on the way to a professorship? What other career options are there? How can I increase my visibility within the academic community?
In addition, our coaching opens up a complementary space for self-reflection. Professional guidance will help you look at personal challenges and questions, such as: Do I want to stay in academia? How can I deal with pressure and multiple expectations? How can I resolve conflicts?
Our counselling offers
Individual advice
What requirements do I have to meet to become a professor? What alternative career options are there? What do I need to focus on now? How can I sharpen my academic profile? What can I do for my work-life balance?
These are some typical questions during or after the postdoc phase that may also be on your mind. This is why we offer personal advice on all career-related issues, from deciding for or against an academic career to applying for a (junior) professorship.
Your contact
Simon Kresmann
gcplus@uni-due.de
Fon +49 201-183-2015
Career counselling for female early career researchers
The proportion of women decreases at each career stage, both in academia and business. Therefore, our career counselling for women specifically addresses female Master's students, doctoral candidates, and postdoctoral researchers – regardless of whether you are striving for a career in research, science management, or the private sector.
During an individual appointment, we will explore your goals and options and develop your strengths accordingly.
Your contact
Viktoria Niebel
viktoria.niebel@uni-due.de
Fon +49 201-183-3054
Our coaching offers
Coaching is a goal-oriented way to strengthen your problem-solving skills. You will gain clarity about your concerns and develop coherent solutions in an appreciative and dialog-oriented process. As coach, Valentina Vasilov will accompany you on your journey in a professional and confidential manner.
Valentina Vasilov has additional training as „Mental Health First Aider“ from the Central Institute for Mental Health in Mannheim. This enables her to identify and address mental health problems more quickly and to strengthen self-care. If necessary, she can provide competent information about relevant counselling and treatment centres.
Short profile of Valentina Vasilov
Valentina Vasilov is a person-centered integrative coach (DACB, GwG, RTC) and offers coaching on the following topics:
- Competence profiles and career development
- Personal development, self-reflection of own values, and motivation
- Decision making in ambivalent situations
- Conflict resolution; shaping complex relationships
- Dealing adequately with role plurality and new roles
- Coping with stress, change, or crisis
- Developing time-, goal- and self-management skills
Coaching Hour
During the coaching hour, you can familiarize yourself with our coaching offer or reflect on your concerns in a short session guided through one of our coaches.
The coaching hour can develop into a longer coaching process if required.
Coaching on competence development, competence profile, and career planning
This coaching format invites you to reflect on your career goals, develop an individual career plan, and approach it strategically. In a first step, you will identify your motives, strengths, and potentials based on the UniWiND/GUAT competence model. Next, you will develop a distinctive competence profile that you can adequately communicate to potential employers within and outside of academia. On this basis, you can approach your further competence development in a direct manner and in line with your career goals. You will then develop initial ideas and steps for your career planning and identify potential hurdles as well as necessary resources and possible supporters.
Further counselling offers at the UDE
Science Support Center (SSC)
All about research funding and transfer: SSC supports you in strategic planning, implementation of research activities and acquisition of third-party funding. You will receive tailored advice on national and international funding programmes, as well as on issues relating to spin-offs, inventions, and patents.
Equality of opportunity and the family
UDE’s Equal Opportunity Office provides information on measures and offers for a gender-equal and family-friendly university and addresses FAQ on its website for those who are interested to learn more.