Career-Planning with Alumni

On Saturday, June 3, 2017, our third event from the series ‘Career Prospects with Alumni’ took place at the Teerhof Guest House of the University of Bremen.

The workshop was held by Dipl.-Ing. Michael Blochberger, who has been a personality trainer and coach since 1997. After a few welcoming words an introduction followed, in which all participants were able to specify their expectations for the workshop and how it fit into their current occupational situation. Previously, as in all ‘Career Prospects with Alumni’ workshops, all participants agreed to profess confidentiality, openness, and respectful interactions with and among each other, which allowed for the discussion of private and personal issues.

This is where a first important advantage of the workshop and the alumni group came into play: In accordance with the additional information given in the introduction, the workshop could be adapted to meeting the needs of the participants.

In order to become aware of one’s goals and expectations in this context, exercises regarding career influencing factors played a major role. Central aspects were income and professional and private goals, but also emotional security and values. On the basis of these aspects as well as practical examples from work and private life, participants were able to work out the factors that are of importance to them in their job and their career. They were given the opportunity to speak to other alumni and exchange tips and suggestions in small groups. That way, some participants were able to define their future plans more clearly already after this task.

Subsequently, the results could be applied within the model of ‘logical levels’. The participants thought about hierarchically structured levels one by one, by which they received a distant view onto their own situation, their behavior, and their capabilities. ‘Where do I stand?’ and ‘Where do I want to go?’ were fundamental questions in this exercise. With the help of the other alumni, all participants were able to work towards further opportunities and new objectives, in the process of which a few members also realized what was still needed in order to achieve these goals.

At the end of the workshop, everyone had the feeling to have advanced a few steps in the planning of their career. The feedback both addressed to Mr. Blochberger and the group dynamics was extremely positive. Everyone felt very comfortable throughout the workshop and received honest and valuable suggestions from the other team members for their future path. “It was a very interesting workshop that allowed for reflection of oneself and one’s own situation, and it encouraged me to also take the necessary steps,” one participant stated at the end.