Career Mentoring for Doctoral Candidates in the Humanities and Social Sciences

Mentoring programme of the Graduate Academy

Signpost for Career Mentoring

Graphic: Melissa Fiebig

At the end of their doctorate, PhD candidates have to choose between different career options. For many one thing is sure, the next job will take them out of academia and into one of the various fields in industry and society. Beyond this decision, however, many questions remain unanswered: Which of the many options is the right one? How to succeed in leaving academia and entering new fields? Which skills do you need to be successful in your desired occupational field? How can you build a professional network?

The programme "Career Mentoring for Doctoral Candidates in the Humanities and Social Sciences" supports PhD candidates in answering those questions and prepares them for a successful career outside academia. During the programme participants have the opportunity to define their career goals, develop their competence profile for the non-academic job market and expand their professional networks.

In a first pilot, eight PhD candidates from the Humanities and Social Sciences will be supported by the career mentoring. The programme offers a combination of three components: career mentoring, networking activities and several workshops. The mentoring programme lasts one year. The first cohort will run from January 2026 to December 2026. The call for applications is open until 24 November 2025.

Apply here

The programme is funded by the State of Thuringia.

Components of the programme:
Mentoring

A mentor gives advice to a mentee
Image: Adobestock.com/fizkes

During the mentoring, mentees will receive counselling by experienced professionals from various fields of work in industry and society. The mentors have successfully stepped outside academia after their doctoral projects and will share their experience and knowledge about structures, strategies, and processes in their new jobs. They also support the mentees in planning their professional future, provide orientation in the application process and answer career related questions.

The mentees initiate and organise regular meetings with their mentor. The frequency and duration of the meetings may vary depending on the needs and capacities of the mentees and mentors. However, at least one meeting every three months is highly recommended. Depending on the individual requirements of the mentees, the mentoring can take place in pairs of one mentor and one mentee or in groups of two mentees and one mentor.

Networking

Young people talking
Image: rawpixel.com

For the networking component regular peer meetings will take place. The mentees will get the opportunity to connect, support each other and share their expericenes.

In addition, the programme coordination organises various events for mentees and mentors. A highlight is the annual networking evening that is organised in cooperation with the Career Mentoring of STEM Doctoral Candidates. The event brings together mentees, mentors and alumni of both programmes. In addition, several career talks will take place. During these smaller events mentees will get the opportunity to meet with alumni pursueing various different careers.

The networking includes face-to-face formats and digital offers. Digital events enable low-threshold, location-independent participation.

Workshops

The programme starts with a one-day preparatoy workshop. This prepares the mentees for the programme and helps them to define their professional goals more precisely. In further workshops, the doctoral researchers acquire important skills and knowledge that are necessary for the transition to occupational fields outside of academia.

Some of the workshops will take place on site at the Graduate Academy. Shorter workshops will take place virtually via online platforms. Participation in these workshops is mandatory for the mentees.

Framework programme

The mentoring programme is accompanied by a framework programme. This includes:

Kick-off event to formally welcome mentors and mentees into the programme
Interim evaluation with the programme coordination
Closing event with awarding of the mentoring certificates

Mentees and mentors of the Career Mentoring for STEM Doctoral Candidates sharing impressions

Image: Privat

Stefanie Lawrinowitz, Mentee 2020/21
"It was very interesting to exchange experiences with the other mentees. I appreciated the exchange with my mentor a lot, we had really great and helpful conversations and I felt like I was learning a lot and literally growing from our discussions."