CAREER COMPASS: WHAT CAN I DO, WHAT DO I WANT, WHERE DO I WANT TO GO?
WORKSHOP GOALS AND CONTENT

The search for the right career path is exciting, but can also seem like an unsolvable puzzle. There are so many possibilities - and at the same time it can feel like nothing really fits. To make a good decision, it helps to both understand your skills and to have a clear picture of your needs and wants. What do I need from a job? Where can I grow and learn best? What do I enjoy - and what won’t work for me? For many students, however, identifying and talking about your strengths can be challenging - and can be even harder to write down exactly what motivates you at work. A solid understanding of what you’re looking for is not only important in the job search, but also plays a major role in the application process. There are many tools and tricks for self-marketing, but these are most useful when we know exactly what we can do - and what we need to feel comfortable in the world of work.

In this workshop, we will address the questions: What can I do? What do I want? Where do I really want to go? Using tools from career coaching, we will look at your strengths, skills, abilities and knowledge - and at the same time, we’ll also look at what is important to you and what truly matters. We’ll learn how to search for possible career paths and explore what’s out there in order to make a decision that leads to a fulfilling and interesting future.

THE RED THREAD: QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, ABILITIES, NEEDS
   
- What (work) experience do I already have? How can I use my previous experience to create a compass for the future?
- What skills have I acquired in my studies and previous experience? How can I recognize my strengths?
- How can I best present my skills (to myself, but also to potential employers in industry, academia, and beyond)?
- How do I create a career profile to guide me in my career choice?

UNDERSTANDING THE JOB MARKET

- What professions are there in my field? How can I find out more about careers in industry, academia or science management?
- In which field of work or job function could I use my skills most effectively and achieve my personal goals?

CREATE A PLAN

- How can I use what I have learned about myself and the job market in my career decisions?
- What do I know today and what do I still need to find out? What goals can I set now? If I can't set clear goals yet - what would help me to feel confident in my decisions?
- What skills do I need to achieve my career goals in the most effective way? What would help me to make the path to my goal easier?