As a student, are you ever asking yourself: “What am I going to do with my degree?”. You might need some inspiration. For some fields of study it is not immediately obvious how to make a living from it. Yet, this does not mean that they are any less valuable to society than the university courses that directly lead to a certain occupation. Don’t let people tell you otherwise. For the most part I would tell you to shrug off…
Templates for a great CV design
There is much to be said for having a CV with a beautiful design. A CV template with a neat and well-arranged appearance helps you get selected for job interviews. You might be bored by your old and stale CV design. Choosing a fresh new design for your resume will lift your spirits and boost morale. Making your CV beautiful can be fun! Read also more tips on how to mix up your job application. Of course, you can design…
Conflicting traits of highly creative people
In his book „Creativity“ Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi investigates the psychology of discovery and invention. To do so he studied the lives of highly creative individuals. All these men and women made groundbreaking contributions to their respective fields be it in science or in the arts. In one of the chapters, the author describes antithetical characteristics of creative individuals. His descriptions illustrate the contrariness of the characters of creative people. Several opposing traits are often present in successful scientists and artists. These…
How to get information about a potential new employer
You sent out some job applications already. Now you hope to hear back from them soon. Once you get an invitation to a job interview, your need to inform yourself about the company. This is easier said than done. Here are a few ideas how to boost your knowledge about your potential employer: The company’s homepage is the go-to source of information The company homepage is a great source of information. Normally, this is the obvious choice and the place…
Three human instincts to fight in your work life
Biologically speaking, humans are nothing but animals. The baser instincts that are an integral part of us kept us alive for many generations. However, in the modern work environment some of these human instincts do not serve us but hamper our performance. Being aware of those aspects is the first step towards a better workplace. Read about three of them and note whether you, like me, are guilty of following your baser instincts sometimes.Three human instincts to fight in your…
Find your way through the house of change when job hunting
Well, it is this time of the year again. Leaves are falling. The mood is turning gloomy. The wind is picking up. You are feeling chilly. It is time to apply for jobs. Oh and yea, it is autumn, too. While reflecting on my feelings about this particular time in my live, I came across the house of change. The house of change is a concept introduced by Claes Janssen used to describe any change process. I noticed that it…
Not all Postdocs are created equal
Your are thinking about doing a Postdoc? Great idea! But be aware that not all Postdoc positions are created equal. Thus, not every Postdoc will suit your particular needs or help you achieve your goals. Read this article to learn about the considerable differences between five common types of Postdocs. The academic Postdoc Doing a Postdoc in academia is the obvious choice especially if you want to pursue an academic career. Yet, be aware that not all academic Postdocs are…
Should I do another course after completing my PhD?
Upon completing a PhD, many PhD students decide to pursue a career in industry. Lots of them get a position in a company straight away. But many do find it hard to get a job offer in industry right after completion of their doctorate. Those might be facing the question whether to do an extra training course in preparation for an industry job. Why do another course after your PhD? You have already invested many years into your education. When…
Five writing mistakes to avoid in your thesis
Avoid these five mistakes when writing your bachelor, master, or doctoral thesis. From experience, students keep making these mistakes. They are not difficult to avoid. Staying clear of these common pitfalls will give your work a professional touch. So the reader is able focus on the scientific content. Skipping the acknowledgments Do not skip the acknowledgment section. Write at least one abstract. Better yet, write half a page of acknowledgements or more. No matter how fed up you are with…
The three most embarrassing mistakes I made in a job interview
No one likes to talk about their mistakes, especially if they are very embarrassing. Still, there is an emerging error culture, which you can experience for example in fuck-up nights. In this spirit, I share three of my most embarrassing mistakes in connection with job interviews. I am sure similar faux pas happen to many of us. If it happens to you and you embarrassed yourself so much that you wanted to vanish through a hole in the ground, know…