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Career Talks

The Career Talks are a series of online talks in which we invite alumni of the Global Studies Programme to talk about their current employment and about career prospects in their field. The first Career Talks were held in summer 2023. After that they are to take place within each German winter term. The talks are open to students of the Global Studies Programme as well as related study programs at the University of Freiburg.

 

Career Talks in 2024

In 2024, the following GSP alumni will give talks:

  • Hangyu Lee, Research Manager at the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED)
  • Daniel Tuki, Research Fellow at the WZB Berlin Social Science Center, Germany
  • Melody Rolph, Community Lead at Innov8rs
  • Simon Schmid, Country Desk Officer for “Das Kindermissionswerk"

 

Former guest speakers

International Development & NGOs

Amna Syed, United Nations Gender Officer for the Development Program Pakistan
Derya Bischoff, Adviser with Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in Ghana
Sofia Saeed, Consultant at GFA Consulting group
Saanika Amembal, Advisor for development work at DAHW Deutsche Lepra- und Tuberkulosehilfe e.V.

Academia

Christopher Swader, Associate Professor of Sociology at Lund University

Business & industry

Lisen Wirén, Program manager for IKEA social entrepreneurship

Journalism

Carlo Angerer, Multimedia Reporter and Producer for NBC News

Government

Maija Käle, Adviser for the Nordic Council of Minister’s Office in Latvia

 

Recap and Key Takeaways from the Career Talks so far

The online event “Career Talks Social Sciences” brought together alumni from a wide range of professional fields to share their career journeys and provide advice. Throughout the event, several key takeaways and pieces of advice kept on repeating, so we have gathered these here.

Internships and temporary positions Doing internships is the most common piece of advice given to people who are looking to break into a field. Our speakers highlighted that many of them found it easier to secure jobs immediately after completing their internships, compared to applying for a job outright. Internships provide a valuable opportunity to gain practical experience and can serve as a stepping stone towards long-term employment. Even though it can often seem unstable and not worthwhile, accepting temporary positions can also be a strategic career move to expand your networks, and as a potential pathways to a permanent role.

Show your work Another crucial aspect was the significance of making your work available for others. The speakers emphasized the importance of sharing research projects, papers, or other relevant work through various mediums, such as academic journals or online platforms. Publishing does not have to mean a peer-reviewed journal, there are plenty of options to submit your papers or bachelor and Master’s thesis to online portals for academic work. When choosing topics for your projects, it can also be a good idea to consciously focus on areas of interest to the organization you want to work for. This is a good way to show alignment between your interests and their mission and values and helps you already build valuable expertise in the topics which are most relevant for the organization. Some students might also find it useful to start their own website or blog in order to highlight their research and their interests.

Networking The speakers encouraged students to actively reach out and connect with professionals whom they might have a connection with in organizations related to their desired industries. They stressed the value of leveraging personal contacts and professional networks to initiate conversations and get some information from inside the industry on what is required and looked for in new hires.

Use your interdisciplinary background and be adaptable The Global Studies Program provides students with an interdisciplinary background in the social sciences. The number of organizations looking for these profiles is steadily increasing as the different parts of larger organizations try to work closer together. So, try and show this unique selling point in your applications and your academic work. Furthermore, our program’s exposure to diverse environments fosters adaptability and crucial soft skills, allowing our graduates to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Employers are more and more looking for people who are used to international settings and to approaching a problem from various perspectives.

 

 

FAQ Career Talks Social Sciences

  1. When and where will Career Talks Social Sciences be held? Career Talks Social Sciences will be held online during the German winter term. The sessions will probably start in November.
  2. Who can participate? The talks are open to students of the Global Studies Program (GSP) and adjacent study programs from the social sciences.
  3. How do I get the Zoom link to attend the event? The Global Studies program or your own program coordinator or advisor will send you the link via email if your study program is eligible for the event.
  4. What can I expect from the talks? Career Talks Social Sciences will feature talks by alumni of the Global Studies program from a range of industries such as academia, social entrepreneurship, international development and journalism.
  5. Can I ask the speakers questions during or after the event? There will be time for questions at the end of the speaker’s presentation.
  6. Can I attend specific sessions of Career Talks Social Sciences or do I have to participate in the entire event? Participants can choose the sessions they are interested in attending. You are not obligated to participate in the entire event. Pick the sessions that align with your interests and schedule.
  7. Will the sessions be recorded for later viewing? No, the sessions will not be recorded.