Vice President International Affairs and Diversity (VP3)
2. Career planning during your studies
You will find starting work much easier if you know what your strengths and core competences are, what German employers expect, how your application documents should be structured, how to prepare for coming interviews and how to find the right job.
Even if your curriculum doesn’t specify a work placement while you are still studying, it is advisable to try and get work experience, perhaps during the holidays. Being able to provide evidence that you have gained experience of this kind will significantly improve your prospects on the German job market.
Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences (H-BRS), the University of Bonn and other stakeholders offer a large number of services which you can use while you are still a student to help you get started on your career. These will assist you as you prepare for the job market and strategically plan your career.
2.1 Career advice
Advice, coaching sessions and workshops that teach you for example how to prepare for an interview and make the best possible impression can make starting your career much easier.
Our services for you:
coSTARK– coaching for international students (only H-BRS)
Peer coaching by students for international students.
This career coaching service aims to help international students with specific career-related concerns and make the start of their working lives easier.
Career centre at the University of Bonn
The career centre is a service facility for students at the University of Bonn. It offers assistance with professional orientation and career planning advice and seminars on professional orientation and application strategies career events
Career Service homepage — University of Bonn (uni-bonn.de (only Uni Bonn)
International office at the University of Bonn
The international office offers talks and workshops on starting a career aimed at international students and doctoral candidates at the University of Bonn.
https://www.uni-bonn.de/studying/international-students/counceling-and-service?set_language=en (only Uni Bonn)
The Federal Employment Agency’s Virtual Welcome Centre
Do you want to work, study or complete a course of training in Germany? The Federal Employment Agency’s Virtual Welcome Center (VWC) is your main port of call for information on living and working in Germany.
https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/en/welcome
2.2 Career fairs
Career fairs are one way in which you can contact potential employers in person if you are seeking permanent employment or a placement for a semester’s practical work. In many cases, the staff at the stands can tell you exactly what the company expects from their employees and what their corporate philosophy is. This puts you in a better position to decide whether you would consider the company as a potential employer and whether you would like to apply to them.
2.2.1 Preparing for career fairs
Preparing for a career fair is important, and it is advisable to get started a few weeks beforehand.
You should give some thought to the following three steps:
- 1. Preparation
- 2. During the fair
- 3. Follow-up
Before going to a career fair, you should find out which companies will be attending and decide which ones you would like to speak to.
H-BRS offers a webinar on the LEA learning platform which will help you prepare for a career fair. If you use this webinar, you will find out how to get ready for a career fair, what you should consider during the event and what you need to do when following up.
LINKS
LEA webinar “Career Fair Etiquette”
https://lea.hochschule-bonn-rhein-sieg.de/goto.php?target=grp_569517&client_id=db_040811
(registration required)
Summary of the content of the webinar “Career Fair Etiquette”
https://www.h-brs.de/files/related/messe-knigge_zusammengefasst.pdf
Here you will find information on the career fairs held internally by universities in the Bonn / Rhein-Sieg region:
Unternehmenstag: Career fair for students and career starters
“Unternehmenstag” (Company Day) is a career fair that takes place every year.
It gives international students the opportunity to make contact with a select number of companies which are particularly welcoming of foreign applicants.
Unternehmenstag/International (only H-BRS)
Karrieretag – the job fair in your region
Are you seeking to broaden your professional horizons or get your career off to a flying start? If so, come to Karrieretag (Careers Day) and take the opportunity to introduce yourself to reputable employers in your region. The extensive supporting programme offered at this job fair is free of charge for all visitors.
www.karrieretag.org/ (only H-BRS)
Information about other career fairs for students and graduates, such as Absolventa and Connecticum, is available on the internet.
2.3 Visiting companies to orient yourself and get ready to start work
Since 2015, university students and graduates have been meeting potential employers in the Bonn / Rhein-Sieg / Ahrweiler region at “Next Stop: Job” events. Here you can find out about future areas of work and possible opportunities for work placements, student research projects and final dissertations.
English is also spoken in some cases.
Presentations and workshops are offered to help anyone interested prepare for work placements and visits to employers. Example offered during the winter semester 2019/2020: “Next stop: job – presenting yourself to companies and making a good impression”.
Next stop: job
https://www.wissenschaftsregion-bonn.de/news-termine/next-stop-job1/
2.4 Using virtual social networks for your career
Efficient use of social networks can help you draw attention to yourself and make sure that recruiters can find you. Here an appealing profile is essential. Always view your profile through the eyes of the companies you are interested in. The best way to present yourself is by compiling a brief, informative biography in which you state your qualifications and experience. Be precise about what you are looking for (work placement, entry-level job, permanent employment).
Use the social business networks to find alumni, i.e. graduates of your university. Be brave! Don’t be afraid to make contact. Having a university background in common is a good point of connection. Alumni might be able to give you inside information about the companies you are interested in.
Make a habit of contacting people you meet, e.g. at events, through professional social networks. It goes without saying that the usual rules of conduct and politeness apply when communicating through business networks (“netiquette”).
Use social networks for strategic career planning and identify people who could serve you as role models. What education, what experience, what positions have they had during their training and careers? What can you learn from their career paths?
The differentiated search options offered by the business networks can also help you identify companies which could be of interest as potential employers.
2.4.1 XING
XING is particularly well-known in the German-speaking countries and enables its users to find new professional contacts, manage existing ones and exchange messages.
Each user presents themselves in a personal profile. Companies and universities are also “members” of XING and use the platform to look for new employees or review applicant profiles.
This is why we recommend putting together a professional profile on XING.
Members of the network can also join various groups to take part in discussions or publicise their interest and expertise in the subject which the group focuses on. People who join the alumni group of their university or universities can meet people with the same education and see what career steps took them to their current position.
LINK
2.4.2 LinkedIn
Unlike XING, LinkedIn attracts larger numbers of international and foreign concerns. If you are seeking to start an international career, you should therefore use LinkedIn. Just like XING, you can use LinkedIn to maintain existing business contacts and make new ones. LinkedIn also offers its users the opportunity to create a profile and CV in several languages.
LINK
2.5 Language courses
As an international student, it is strongly recommended that you use the language coursesoffered by your university to improve your language skills. A sound knowledge of German will make it considerably easier for you to find a job since most companies require graduates to have a good command of German (at least B2 level).
The language centres at H-BRS and the University of Bonn also have a writing centre and writing lab respectively which offer workshops and individual advice on writing. Their goal is to teach basic techniques for compiling various types of text and provide individual help with problems encountered when writing assignments and dissertations.
The universities also promote tandem language learning, in which students with different native languages work together in pairs.
Language Centre at Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences
The Language Centre offers German language courses, a writing workshop in the German language (consisting of workshops and individual advice on writing) and a tandem language learning programme.
www.h-brs.de/en/spz/writing-centre
https://www.h-brs.de/en/spz/tandem-language-learning
(only H-BRS)
Language Learning Centre (SLZ) at the University of Bonn
At the SLZ, students at the University of Bonn can make use of an extensive range of foreign language courses in blended learning format supplemented by a wide variety of self-learning resources.
https://www.ikm.uni-bonn.de/sprachlernzentrum
https://www.schreiblabor.uni-bonn.de/
(only Uni Bonn)
International Office
The “German as a Foreign Language” department at the University of Bonn's international office is responsible for German language instruction and advice on all associated matters.
https://www.uni-bonn.de/studying/international-students/german?set_language=en
2.6 Additional services for refugee students
On its website, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees offers displaced persons detailed information in the form of an information sheet, an explanatory video and an app.
Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences and the University of Bonn also actively help displaced persons integrate into their studies.
There are numerous voluntary refugee initiatives and a central coordination unit at the international office which offer advice, help with integration and funding for language courses. The NRWege ins Studium programme is funded by the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of NRW and coordinated through the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
You are welcome to come and get advice about language integration, integration into your studies and funding programmes.
FdIS programme of the University of Bonn
The FdIS programme offers refugees who are interested in studying the opportunity – free of charge and with very little bureaucracy – to take a “preliminary” course which will prepare them if they decide to study at the University of Bonn later on. This will also help them integrate into everyday student life.
LINKS
Here you will find information about applying for asylum and the protection offered to refugees:
https://www.bamf.de/EN/Startseite/startseite_node.html
Here you will find information about the services which H-BRS offers for displaced persons: