5 questions to: Julia Pehle, International Office

Translation of the German interview:

Dear Ms. Pehle, for several years now, you have been looking after the international students at TU Dortmund University on the topic of Career Service in the International Office.

Question 1: What challenges do international students face when starting their careers?
First of all, the lack of German language skills can be a major challenge, because these are central to successfully gaining a foothold in the German job market. Of course, there are also companies where the working language is primarily English, but the pool of potential employers is greatly reduced if graduates are still at the beginning with their knowledge of the German language.
At the end of their studies, it is also important to clarify residence issues. After the successful completion of their studies, graduates have to change or extend their residence permit while they are looking for a job in Germany that corresponds to their qualifications.
In addition, as an international graduate, you should take active steps to develop a professional network to establish contacts and build relationships with potential employers. This is also the starting point for some of our offers in the International Department.

Question 2: In your opinion, what are the decisive factors for a successful entry and long-term success on the job market for internationals?
Our graduates bring with them a whole range of different skills. Of course, professional qualifications are central to starting a career. Most of our international students are studying STEM subjects, which makes them sought-after candidates on the German labor market.
As mentioned above, a good command of the German language facilitates communication in the workplace and improves career opportunities. Since the graduates have already lived in Germany for several years, German culture is no longer new territory for many of them. Studying in another country requires a high degree of flexibility and the competence to work with people from different cultures. Our graduates then benefit from this learning process when they enter the job market, where they step into a different cultural sphere in addition to the university, where different norms and behaviors may apply.
We receive feedback from graduates that internships or working student activities during their studies are retrospectively evaluated as very profitable; whether for more precise career orientation, the development of personal networks or getting to know one or more corporate cultures.
In addition, it makes sense to deal with the topic at an early stage - building up a network, obtaining information from the relevant offices in good time, etc., takes time. That is why we are currently developing a "digital companion" called CareerCompanion in our International Office, which will provide graduates with impulses and information over a longer period of time.

Question 3: What does the International Office have to offer in terms of career entry?
International students and graduates have access to a number of different offers on this topic:
Once a year, the "International Career Fair" is held together with the Dortmund Chamber of Industry and Commerce, where international students and graduates can directly meet company representatives from Dortmund and the region on campus and make contacts for internships, working student positions and career entry. The fair is accompanied by the workshop "The Perfect Business Appearance", where participants learn more about cultural norms in professional life and reflect on them together.
The mentoring program "Tandem2Job" offers a very personal insight into the world of work and individual support: Here, mentors with professional experience support international students with their questions and concerns about entering the job market and accompany them over several weeks in one-to-one mentoring.
We also organize regular information events together with the Foreigners' Office in Dortmund on the topic of visas and residence rights. On our website (www.international.tu-dortmund.de/karriere) we have compiled various links and ressources on this topic.

Question 4: The International Career Fair seems to be a good opportunity for students to get in touch with companies. How does the whole thing work?
The International Career Fair is indeed an excellent opportunity to get to know representatives of different companies in a direct personal exchange and to convince them of your own strengths. On October 25, 2023, 30 companies from various industries took part. The companies were specifically looking for international students and graduates. The special thing about the fair is the matching in advance, which results in appointments on the day of the fair and thus in targeted and efficient discussions. This year, for the first time, we used the "Talent Finder" app, which allows company representatives and graduates to meet online before the event, get to know each other and then arrange to meet in person on the day of the fair.
The International Career Fair took place for the twelfth time this year and has already written several success stories. These can be found online at www.international.tu-dortmund.de/erfolgsgeschichten

Question 5: And finally, do you have any advice for our international students about starting a career?
My tip would be to actively use the many offers at TU Dortmund University - whether from us in the International Office or from the many other committed offices. Students are not alone with many questions and concerns and can access a wide range of support. The job search can also take some time. It is important to remain patient and persistent and not to give up.   
Our graduates are highly qualified professionals whose qualifications, perspectives and skills are an asset to the German labor market. Sometimes it is not easy to appear self-confident in the application process for the first job, so you should always keep this in mind after successfully completing your studies.

Thank you very much for the interview!

If you would like to know more about the International Office's offers and upcoming events, you can find all the information at:
www.international.tu-dortmund.de/karriere