Philipp Gramlich and Karin Bodewits are founders of Natural Science Careers - a company for career counseling and soft skills seminars for natural scientists. For the Nachrichten aus der Chemie, both write about observations from their consulting work.
"Before we look for a specific position, we first need to analyze ourselves," I begin the topic of introspection in a career workshop. Some participants seem curious, others not. "As a 30-year-old, do I really need a thorough navel-gazing?" Ezra asks with a grin.
At another workshop, Oskar stated right at the beginning: "I know my goal: I want to become a patent attorney." When asked, he explained that he enjoyed intellectual challenges and precise language—this would align well with the requirements of a patent attorney. During the course of the workshop, his introspection revealed that he thinks best when discussing things with colleagues. Of course, patent attorneys also exchange ideas with one another, but this only accounts for a small portion of their working time. The rest is spent alone. Oskar had to reconsider his suitability for what seemed like his dream job.
When scientists take a long time to land their first job, it's not because of a weak application or a shy interview demeanor. Instead, it's almost always a lack of reflection on their own goals and strengths.
Through such introspection, you become aware of your own desires. We often adopt the ideas of charismatic people, accepting their judgment without question. But then we follow their vision, not our own.
Being clear about your requirements will help you better describe your commitment to the position. Without this clarity, many application letters sound as if ChatGPT rewritten the requirements from the job posting into a cover letter.
The downside to outside influences is that you're stuck on well-trodden paths. But what happens when you're applying for the same types of positions, in the same organizations, in the same locations as most of your competitors? That's right. You'll have a tough time standing out in this crowded part of the job market.
Conducting a self-analysis before applying is neither navel-gazing nor a job creation measure for underemployed workshop leaders. It's a key step in tailoring your job search to your own desires and strengths.
Philipp Gramlich, p.gramlich@naturalscience.careers
In a coaching session, I'm sitting across from Magda, who's in the process of accepting a position as production manager. She talks about the upcoming negotiations with her boss: "She's a tough person, and I don't think she'll back down." Magda's move to production would mean a change to her employment contract, as she would have to come in at night in case of emergencies. In return, Magda wants one day of home office per week—not the easiest starting point.
I show her some of the lowlights of the recent rail strikes. Railway CEO Weselsky began the escalation with foul-mouthed insults. The employers refused to begin negotiations before the old collective agreement expired—a painful delay for workers after the wave of inflation. The workers, in turn, refused to negotiate behind closed doors, which made mutual concessions difficult.
"Even if you don't expect any insults in your case, it would be interesting to understand why your boss is acting so harshly," I begin, transferring the discussion to Magda's case. She thinks for a moment and then says, " Management is putting enormous pressure on her, and the HR department is generally skeptical about working from home." I notice that Magda chose different words than she did at the beginning, namely "difficult environment" instead of "tough person." Putting yourself in the other person's shoes focuses on their behavior rather than on perceived character flaws.
By starting negotiations early, Deutsche Bahn AG could have accommodated the employee side without compromising its own negotiating position. "Is there anything you could offer your boss that wouldn't hurt you?" I ask Magda. She nods. "Of course I would agree to the contract change if I took on responsibility in production, but not for free." I ask further: "And conversely: Would there be any advantages for your boss if you occasionally worked from home?" "Sure. Production is like a chicken coop; I can't work quietly if I have to write a report, for example. That's much easier at home."
The negotiating tactic now seems clear: Magda will first speak with her boss alone. She will ask what Management expects from her. Then, together, they will consider how to achieve a win-win situation, which will then be presented as a complete package to the HR department.
Philipp Gramlich, p.gramlich@naturalscience.careers
In an application workshop, I demonstrate the classic interview opening with Faye, an American: "Tell me a bit about yourself." She responds like a shot: In 60 seconds, we learn about the highlights of her educational journey, her motivation for applying, and the added value she brings to the fictitious employer. The other participants look impressed, but also a little concerned. Andreas sums up his thoughts: "If we were competing for the same position, I'd be in trouble—I'd never be able to convince the employer that much."
Faye did a good job. In the US, such short self-introductions are part of the school curriculum—it's understandable that she delivers so fluently. Nevertheless, all would be lost for the other candidates in the fictional situation.
Faye presented herself in her native language; she was playing on home soil. This is both a blessing and a curse. We are all calmer when we can speak the language we grew up with. Native speakers have to expend less mental energy finding the right words. However, speaking very fluently can also lead to the tongue being faster than the mind.1) In discussions, this can lead to impulsive reactions and excessive speech speed during a lecture . Having to find your words first can therefore be an advantage. This is usually the case when you express yourself in a foreign language.
I ask the group, "Did you understand everything Faye said?" "Your English is very good, of course," Felix replies. "Still, I find it easier to understand the English of someone who isn't a native speaker." He spoke with Andreas from Lower Bavaria during the last coffee break – his dialect was difficult for Felix, a native of Flensburg, to understand. In contrast, Andreas's strong German accent when he speaks English isn't pleasant to listen to, but it's very easy to understand.
If you speak a foreign language, this does not have to be a disadvantage for you: more laborious, but possibly more careful choice of words and perhaps even better comprehensibility will play into your hands.
Philipp Gramlich, p.gramlich@naturalscience.careers
In a career workshop we discuss two principles of salary negotiations. In a negotiation we need an anchor point. In salary negotiations this is the market value, i.e. the salary that is usual for the position you are aiming for.
With the first principle, you set your salary expectations at the upper end of this market value so that you have some buffer for the negotiation. The second principle is called BATNA, short for Best Alternative To a Negotiated Agreement. Think about what could happen if the negotiation does not lead to a satisfactory result? Of all the possible scenarios, BATNA is the best result, i.e. your fallback option.
I want to know from the participants whether their personal situation influences their salary expectations: “Imagine you or your partner were wealthy. Does that change your salary expectations?”
"If I'm already rich, I don't really need the money and I don't have to ask for much," Ina replies. "Or the other way around," Miroslav interjects. "You don't want to lag behind your partner so much, do you?"
Your financial situation can influence your salary expectations - but it shouldn't. If you ask for less than market value, you're giving a poor work sample. After all, if you don't stand up for yourself, how can you negotiate on behalf of the employer in the future and adequately represent their interests? On the other hand, if you ask for more than market value, you'll be unattractive.
"Does your personal situation influence your BATNA?" I ask my second question. The participants quickly realize what I'm getting at. "Unemployment with money is more pleasant than unemployment without money," Miranda says the obvious. And she's right: If you're doing well financially, you're in the comfortable position of being able to turn down a mediocre offer.
Second earners in particular often sell themselves short. And because many people find salary negotiations uncomfortable, they try to end them quickly with defensive tactics.
Naming your salary expectations is a pretty mechanical affair. Think of it as a work sample: show the employer that you can research your market value and present yourself confidently.
Philipp Gramlich, p.gramlich@naturalscience.careers
My first attempt as a scientist to engage with a lay audience was surprisingly challenging. During my postdoc, I took part in the Edinburgh Science Festival and stood on stage in front of 150 school children. I prepared much more intensively than I usually do for lectures: a particularly detailed preliminary discussion with the moderator, a three-dimensional model as visual material and many practice runs. At the end of the event, the moderator asked the audience which of the six of us scientists had made the best impression. None of the 300 hands went up for me. Where did I go wrong?
All my energy was focused on the question: How can I explain my science specifically to this target group in such a way that it is understandable? Despite all my efforts and considerations, I probably did not completely fail to be at least somewhat understandable. What I did not realize, however, was that what I was saying was simply not relevant to the audience. For them, it was the unworldly tinkering of a foreign nerd who stirs transparent liquids for days and occasionally shouts "Eureka" when he sees cryptic lines on his computer.
I am in good company. The former German Chancellor Angela Merkel once had a moment when the physicist in her, who holds a doctorate, broke free: During a Castor transport, small amounts of radioactive material escaped - at a time when there were particularly intense protests against these transports. Merkel stepped in front of the Tagesschau microphones and explained the accident. Something had gone wrong when the container was being transferred. You could imagine it like when children in a sandbox use a small shovel to pour sand from one bucket into another.
If the goal had been to make the process understandable even to viewers who have nothing to do with technology, then the explanation would have been appropriate. But the viewers' concern was something else: They wanted to be sure that something like this would not happen again in the future.
It is good that science is becoming more accessible to the public and that actors are expressing themselves more and more clearly. However, for most situations as communicating scientists, this first step in development is not enough: we need to put ourselves even more deeply in the shoes of our audience and add relevance to comprehensibility.
Philipp Gramlich, p.gramlich@naturalscience.careers
"A horse only jumps as high as it needs to," I say and nod to John, one of the participants in my workshop on writing grant proposals. He seems thoughtful. He has just asked me whether it would make sense to apply for a small travel grant. Because his professor has enough third-party funding to finance a last-minute trip to Mars - should NASA ever come knocking.
Most of the PhD students in my workshops have never submitted a grant application before. They seem to think that submitting a grant application is like preparing for an event as distant – and perhaps unpleasant – as the end of the world.
But writing proposals is a valuable skill that can benefit your Career . Whether you want to stay in academia, work for an NGO, or enter the private sector, this experience brings significant benefits.
In science, grant proposals are about more than just funding. They're about paving the way for your future. Studies show that people who receive small grants early on are more likely to get larger ones later on. These early successes signal that funders recognize your research and that you are able to manage projects and resources. They also show that you can make a compelling case for why your work is important.
Skills you learn from writing grant proposals are also beneficial for non-academic careers—even if you never apply for another grant. They show that you can clearly articulate how your project aligns with and advances an organization's strategic mission. For example, you might pitch a new idea to senior Management or develop a project for a socially relevant cause. So it's not just about securing funding—it's about changing your mindset. You learn to work out where your interests overlap with those of the other side. These are sought-after skills whether you end up in academia or trade your lab coat for a blazer or sport coat. It's worth jumping a little higher than you need to every now and then, so write your first proposals as early as possible.
Karin Bodewits, k.bodewits@naturalscience.careers
“Poster presentations are relevant,” I begin a workshop on the topic of the same name. This introduction is deliberately banal to stimulate thought. If something were not important, it would not be a workshop topic. When it comes to posters, however, this is not a trivial message: we often perceive the poster as a compulsory exercise. In order to be allowed to attend conferences, we usually have to make a contribution – the poster is seen as the low-threshold version of the prestigious lecture.
I am showing a survey that appeared in the Nachrichten aus der Chemie [Nachr. Chem. 2016, 64(11), 1097]. In it, chemists from industry reveal what skills they want from graduates. Poster design is in third place with 46 percent, poster presentation is in fifth place with 41 percent. Proud numbers for this simple compulsory exercise.
I look around: "As an industrial chemist, will you present posters? Probably not. So why does the industry attach so much importance to it?" After thinking for a while, Olga speaks up. "Scientists are said to not get to the point. And if we try to squeeze a full paper onto a poster, we'll spend the poster session alone."
She's right: a good poster provides information in a concise and short manner. The title - it shows visitors whether the poster is interesting for them - and a graphic eye-catcher are central to a good poster design. Add a few clearly explained images and clearly visible conclusions and the work is complete.
What applies to design should also be applied to poster presentations. “How do you feel when you walk up to a poster and are immediately overwhelmed by a long monologue about a tiny detail?” The nodding around tells me that this is a recurring phenomenon. A good presentation is a dialogue that is geared towards the interests of your visitors.
These are precisely the reasons why industry is interested in whether you can design and present posters. In the private sector, you have to communicate with a wider range of colleagues and partners than at a university. Ideally, you have a poster award that shows with a simple line on your CV that you can communicate specifically to a target group and do not get lost in details.
Philipp Gramlich, p.gramlich@naturalscience.careers
In a workshop on applications, Hans tells us about a frustrating experience. "I applied for a postdoc position that was advertised. I was not invited. When I visited the research group's homepage a few months later, I saw that no one had been hired!"
It happens surprisingly often that a position is advertised that doesn't actually exist - or that there is someone who will definitely get the job.
“How can you tell that there is an insider, meaning that you have no chance from the start and could save yourself the time?” I want to know from the group.
I have experienced such a situation myself - from the other side. My own postdoc position was originally planned for 18 months. When I applied for a six-month extension, we had to officially advertise it. Of course, there was no interest in pushing me out of my position.
“How do you think we worded this job advertisement to save time for ourselves and the applicants?” I rephrase my question.
"I would phrase it so specifically that only you would fit it," Josh replies. That's exactly how it went: In the job advertisement, we asked for experience in the field of my doctorate, which had nothing to do with the postdoc, and also for fluent German. The university administration was satisfied: target of zero applications achieved thanks to overly specific job description.
"How should I deal with it if I don't get a response from the employers?" Urzula asks. It's easy to say 'don't get upset'. But if we understand why we sometimes don't get a response, some of our anger will disappear. Of course, sloppiness or even disrespect can lead to us not getting a response. The most common reason, however, is a legal one: if the employer gives a reason for rejecting you, there is always a risk. Because you could try to read a form of discrimination into the arguments for the rejection.
The application process can be very patient. If you understand the motivations of the employer, you can avoid frustration or at least frame it in a way that doesn't get you down.
Philipp Gramlich, p.gramlich@naturalscience.careers
In a consultation, postdoc Daniel told me about his boss: "She's a great scientist, manager and person. But she seems to have a few blind spots when it comes to cultural differences, which often leads to frustration." As an example, he cites how the professor spent half an hour questioning a Chinese doctoral student about her project in front of the entire team. The boss probably wanted to show interest and find solutions to the scientific problems together. The tone was matter-of-fact, but the doctoral student felt that the persistent questioning in front of the group was a loss of face: "Later, she stood at her desk shaking, with tears in her eyes." Daniel offered to talk to her about it, but in vain. "Am I obliged to support my colleague more? Do I perhaps even have to speak to our boss?"
It is nice how much he thinks about interpersonal issues in addition to science. However, people with such a complex consciousness often feel overwhelmed by their sense of duty. How far does our responsibility extend as a boss, colleague or employee?
"What would your job description say," I want to know, "if it were really carefully written and not just filled out as a bureaucratic exercise?" It would say that you should behave constructively towards your colleagues and superiors. Acting as a coach or advisor to your boss would not be part of it. This realization can make this difficult decision easier for you: you can, but do not have to, point out your boss's weak points. If you do, it is honest and praiseworthy, and you can be proud of yourself. On the other hand, you should be lenient with yourself if you do not always exceed your target: above all, you are committed to your core tasks and your mental health.
You can apply this knowledge not only to questions about your duties, but also to your rights. For example, when you consider whether it is OK for you to work towards your professional development and a varied range of tasks. The answer will now be easy for you: Yes, of course that is OK. You are not a robot, but a highly qualified professional who should keep fit through lifelong learning - a clear core task of your job profile.
Philipp Gramlich, p.gramlich@naturalscience.careers
Clara is overjoyed: A top law firm has offered her a position as a patent attorney candidate. However, the salary in the draft contract is below the market rate - Clara is astonished. Nevertheless, two days later she writes to the HR manager saying that she would be happy to accept the position. Who knows whether such an opportunity will arise again? The HR manager's answer blows Clara away: "We do not want to offer you a position. The document sent was only a draft contract for viewing, without our signature." When Clara asks why she is suddenly no longer wanted, she is told: "If you work for us, you have to charge clients at least 350 euros an hour. That requires a certain business mindset. If you don't even demand a market-based salary for yourself, then you probably won't do so on behalf of the law firm either."
When it comes to something as important as an employment contract, you should always make sure that it is in the correct written form. That was Clara's mistake. She also disregarded a principle that applies to the entire application process - every step is a sample of work. Advocating for a salary in line with the market is not greed, but shows your future employer that you will confidently represent their interests.
We know the classic hidden work sample from films: the quirky doorman is the first test of whether your manners are polite. I was put to the test myself when I was invited to an interview after an open application. When I wanted to know what kind of position we were actually talking about, I was told that it would only be discussed towards the end of the interview - a test of how I would deal with this uncertainty. Such tests occur at many different moments. Because of all types of interview questions, work samples provide the employer with the most information.
Does the employer call you without prior notice to clarify a few key points in your application? Simply ask yourself how you would react in a similar situation in your new job. This reduces stress and makes it clear which tactic would be the right one. A good strategy: apologize for your indisposition and arrange a time when you can talk without being disturbed.
Philipp Gramlich, p.gramlich@naturalscience.careers
“Chemists get a doctorate! If you don’t like it, drop out!” First-year students are still greeted with such words. Is this still up-to-date? 25 years after the Bologna reform was signed, are bachelor’s and master’s degrees still not established as professional qualifications in chemistry?
The doctorate rate in chemistry in Germany was 85 percent in 2023. Anyone looking to start a career with a bachelor's or master's degree is still swimming against the tide. Employers usually equate bachelor's graduates with chemical technical assistants - despite their stronger theoretical foundation.
The only jobs in the private sector where a doctorate is almost essential are responsible positions in research. Nevertheless, a doctorate in chemistry - in contrast to almost all other disciplines - is often accepted as a God-given constant. Yet with a master's degree and four years of experience in industry, you are at least as well qualified for most jobs as a doctoral graduate entering the workforce.
How do you get your foot in the door without a doctorate? A classic chicken-and-egg situation, you might think. However, the job market is currently shifting: the shortage of skilled workers that has long been a concern across the country is only now having an impact on chemistry due to the high number of students. Companies that are prepared to break with the traditions surrounding doctorates will probably compete more strongly with doctoral mothers for master's graduates. First-year students will then increasingly hear: "We hope that you will stay with us after your studies to do a doctorate."
If you want to start your career straight after your bachelor's degree, let your supervisor know that you would like to take on tasks outside of everyday laboratory life and that you are willing to undertake further training to do so.
If you are starting a career straight after your master's degree, you should be aware that employers in Germany traditionally like to portray themselves as elitist in job advertisements. So don't take everything literally. If you explain why you already have the necessary qualifications, you show that you understand which attributes and characteristics are important in everyday professional life. This is a good example of your ability to research information.
Philipp Gramlich, p.gramlich@naturalscience.careers
GDCh career calendar
Experience job profiles on site!
Dates and information here
back to overview Links all about the job market
back to the main Career and profession
This page has been machine translated. If you have any feedback or comments please feel free to contact us. 
last modified: 06.05.2025 07:59 H from N/A
