The art of landing a job

Yesterday, our IMPRS-APS students learned how to master a job interview. 

“Tell me about yourself.” Almost every job interview starts with this question – and that first impression matters a lot.

That’s why also yesterday’s workshop on “Career Development Strategies” with trainer Alexander Britz kicked off exactly there: A round of introductions, followed by a discussion on what makes them effective. 

So, what does make a good introduction? Among others, clarity, simplicity and authenticity on the one hand. Confidence and enthusiasm on the other hand. And of course, timing matters – it should not be too short or too long. A solid two to five minutes is a good rule of thumb.

But an introduction is only one piece of the puzzle. A successful job interview has a before, a during, and an after. The workshop therefore also explored other topics like job search strategies, how to answer challenging questions and storytelling techniques like the STAR method. (STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action and Result.)

A highlight of the workshop was a three-person job interview roleplay, with participants rotating between interviewer, interviewee, and observer. This hands-on exercise helped our researchers practice in a low-pressure environment and gain a fresh perspective by switching roles.

A big thank you to Alexander Britz for the fantastic workshop! The next workshop, on time and project management for scientists, is already ongoing.

Pictures: Nina Beier