Due to a number of factors, including years of efforts to achieve gender equality, candidates are increasingly making career decisions with an eye to not only their own opportunities, but career opportunities for their partners as well.

For the higher education institutions and scientific organizations in the state of Berlin, which increasingly have to compete with other regions to recruit top talent, this development has presented a particular challenge. Now, the university’s recruitment processes and appointment negotiations require not only a professional relocation network, but also – and especially – a range of services to help the candidate’s spouse or partner locate career opportunities.

The work of the Dual Career Network Berlin focuses on linking together higher education institutions in Berlin in order to enlarge the pool of appointment and employment opportunities for everyone involved. An overarching, service-oriented network, the Dual Career Network Berlin is aimed at the partners of both newly appointed faculty members and junior executives in academia and research and offers support for professional and personal orientation in Berlin.

The Dual Career Network Berlin is a joint project sponsored by all of the higher education institutions in Berlin.

The network provides a wide range of services:

• Networking with higher education institutions in Berlin, and in the future also with research organizations not affiliated with the universities and other institutions and businesses within the Berlin region.
• Professional prospects: assistance with finding a job, job postings in academia, the business sector, and other institutions, making contact with academic, scientific, and business enterprises in the Berlin region.
• Continuing education and qualifications: overview of continuing and professional education opportunities, language and computer classes, and support with the application process.
• A fresh start in Berlin – life and living in Berlin: contact with additional agencies and support bodies as well as family support centers in Berlin, general information on infrastructure, and an overview of cultural attractions and recreation options.

The DCNB website at http://www.talent-berlin.de/en/working-in-berlin/dual-career/ offers initial guidance.