Advising international students on career perspectives in Germany
Correct as of: 10/03/2023
Many German universities advise international students on how to navigate the labour market, one of them being Leipzig University. This is where a Career Service was established as a project in 2010; since October 2016, it has placed a special emphasis on international students. What exactly does the Career Service for Internationals at Leipzig University do? We chatted briefly to Ms Susanne Benko, staff member of the service centre, about this.
The Career Service for Internationals at Leipzig University advises international students on their career prospects during their academic education in Leipzig. What services are available in this area? Which ones are popular with the students?
We offer our students and graduates (up to two years after graduation) not only one-to-one guidance, but also qualification courses. The latter include workshops on topics such as interviews, employment contracts and project management, but also events where we invite international alumni to share their experiences and provide advice on how to manage the transition from higher education to work, as well as talk about the potential challenges involved. We are also in the process of opening up our Career Start Mentoring Programme to more international students by offering the framework programme in two languages. Here, too, we benefit from our experienced alumni, who are more than happy to give something back to their alma mater and its current students.
Our one-to-one guidance is especially popular; in my view, this service makes students feel particularly valued and respected.