For PhDs & academics
AVGS Coaching for PhDs: moving from academia into industry
You hold a doctorate or have an academic background – and now you want to move into industry, a new role or a new field. The challenge is rarely your qualification; it is translation: putting your academic achievements into a language that hiring managers immediately understand. That is exactly where this coaching starts – as an equal, because I hold a doctorate myself (Dr. phil.) and know this transition first-hand.
Why leaving academia is a specific challenge
- Your CV is not "read", it is categorised: recruiters without an academic background do not always recognise the value of a doctorate at first glance.
- "Overqualified"? A common objection, but the data say otherwise: people with a doctorate are almost fully employed and on average earn more in the private sector. More often it is the subject that does not quite fit, and that is something you can explain well.
- Job boards, company websites and contacts: for graduate-level roles, job boards are the most common route, followed by contacts and company websites. Contacts help on top of that, especially in small businesses.
Who this coaching is for
- PhDs (Dr., PhD) moving from university, research or a postdoc into industry
- Academics who want to change sector or function
- Researchers between fixed-term contracts who want planning security
- International PhDs who want to gain a foothold in the German job market (coaching also available in English, Spanish and French)
What we work on together
- Positioning: sharpening your profile so that "PhD" becomes a clear value proposition.
- CV translation: turning your academic CV into business language: results and impact instead of a list of methods.
- Application strategy: identifying the right roles via job boards, company websites and contacts, including your LinkedIn profile.
- Interviews: confidently turning around typical objections ("too theoretical", "overqualified") using the STAR method.
- Salary & negotiation: assessing your market value realistically and negotiating with confidence.
Why coaching with a coach who holds a doctorate
Free for you if your AVGS is approved: 100% funded
This coaching can be fully funded through an Activation and Placement Voucher (AVGS) from the German Federal Employment Agency or the Jobcenter – which means it is free for you (legal basis: § 45 SGB III). Your caseworker decides on the voucher. Check anonymously in a few minutes whether an AVGS applies to you:
Take along to your appointment
- Checklist: your way to AVGS coaching (PDF, all steps to tick off)
- Handout: what your voucher should say (PDF, with all deadlines)
- Info sheet: coaching vs. consulting (PDF, the difference explained briefly)
All three in 8 languages – English on page 2 of each file.
Frequently asked questions
Is career coaching really worth it for PhDs?
Yes, precisely because the bottleneck in the transition is rarely your qualification, but positioning and communication. In German data, funded programmes run by providers, which include AVGS coaching, raise employment chances by a few percentage points. Coaching has been shown to improve confidence, planning and goal attainment.
Is the coaching really free?
If you receive an AVGS, the Employment Agency or Jobcenter covers the cost in full. There are no fees for you. Check your chances in advance with the free AVGS check.
Does the coaching take place online?
Yes, fully online and location-independent via video. Online coaching is explicitly provided for under the provider’s AZAV accreditation. So you choose your coach by fit – not by postcode.
I'm not a native German speaker – is English possible?
Yes. Coaching is available in English, German, Spanish and French – ideal for international PhDs who want to establish themselves in the German job market.
How quickly can we start?
After a short, free initial call we clarify your goal and the AVGS application. Once the voucher is issued, we start promptly.