Our Advisory & Coaching Services

Together we find answers to your career questions.

Whether applying for a junior research group or a professorship, or getting a foothold in business, science management, or another sector, you benefit from our independent expertise and our cross-sectoral network.

Please note: Our services are currently in high demand, resulting in long wait times. We are therefore delighted to partner with Mighty Real for coaching and sparring sessions.

GSO* & Mighty Real Coaching Partnership

Our trusted partners Elena & Martin of Mighty Real offer you tailored coaching and sparring sessions. Both options are ideal for clarifying your goals, unlocking your potential, and increasing your impact. Coaching takes place via Zoom or in Heidelberg.

Elena Lichtenthaler is a certified co-active coach (CPCC), sinologist and economist by training, with work experience in think tanks, the public sector and as a founder.

Martin R. Lichtenthaler, PhD, MBA is a certified systemic coach (DGSF), chemist by training, with work experience in academia, the private sector and as a founder.

Their clients include early-, mid- and senior-career researchers, faculty and science managers as well as executives and leaders from the private sector and founders.

Pricing: 

Chemistry Call – a brief conversation to get to know each other and to answer any questions you have about coaching or sparring
30 Min | via Zoom | Complimentary

Sparring – a one-time session designed to assess your situation, clarify your skills, motivation and goals, as well as potential next steps
90 Min | 125€ + 19% VAT (self-funded) | 250€ + 19% VAT (sponsored)

Coaching – a structured process to strategically work toward your goals by identifying and leveraging your personal strengths, values and skills; sustainable growth and actionable results lie at the heart of this process
5 x 60 Min | 500€ + 19% VAT (self-funded) | 1000€ + 19% VAT (sponsored)

Note on pricing: As a non-profit registered association, GSO offers coaching at rates significantly lower than the market average and with reduced VAT. Elena and Martin’s rates for the GSO community are at the lower end of the market range.

Book a free chemistry call with Elena or Martin
Coaching at GSO with Birte

Coaching and Sparring with GSO

Are you looking for more in-depth support? You want to clarify your strengths, skills, values, motivation, and goals? You are thinking about leaving academia – but what then? You have challenges ahead of you or behind you and need clarification, a different approach, or want to change something?

Pricing:

Chemistry Call – a brief conversation to get to know each other and to answer any questions you have 
30 Min | via Zoom | Complimentary

Sparring or Coaching – one-time session or structured process 
90 Min | via Zoom or in person at GSO offices in Berlin-Mitte| 85€ + 7% VAT (self-funded) | sponsored (19% VAT): pricing upon request

This service will resume in November 2026.

Free registration

Application Portfolio Check

We discuss your career plans and help you optimize your CV, cover letter and other documents for a convincing application in science, business, or other sectors –  ideally in relation to a specific job posting. Via Zoom.

Do you have a job interview or want to negotiate your salary? We help you prepare.

Pricing:

30€ (1 document, 30 min) | 50€ (2 documents, 45 min) | 70€ (up to 4 documents of one application, 45 min) + 7% VAT (self-funded) | sponsored (19% VAT): pricing upon request

This service will resume in November 2026. Until then, please check our career resources website for tips & advice on CV, cover letter, and interview preparation.

Free registration
Online Counselling for Postdocs with Birte

Brief Career Advice for Postdocs

As a postdoc, book a free consultation, e.g. on one of these questions:

  • How to assess which career path is right for me?
  • How does the German academic system work?
  • How do I find jobs in other sectors?
  • What are the next steps I can take?

30 Min | via Zoom | Complimentary

This service will resume in November 2026. Until then, please check our career resources website for useful tips & career advice.

For legal questions (e.g. professorship negotiations) we recommend membership in the German Association of University Professors and Lecturers, their professional representation in Germany.

Free registration
GSO Workshop
Cherie Birkner

Career Workshops for Groups

We also visit your university, institute, or organization – virtually or in person.

We are happy to get in touch with your institution and offer tailor-made workshops.

Pricing: upon request – depending on the topic, scope, number of trainers, and, if applicable, guests

Scope: from a few hours up to two days

More information

Personal Consultation with GSO

We, Birte & Anne, know the challenges of postdocs from our own experience. We both transitioned from academia to research management and the nonprofit sector; Anne also moved from the US back to Germany. In this process, we learned what works and what doesn’t.

Coaching & Networks

Birte Seffert is trained as a systemic coach.

Anne Schreiter is a certified systemic coach and advisor (ECA).

We are part of a multi-sector network and will work with you on your career strategy.

We tailor our consultations and coachings to your current needs and constraints. If seeking our advice poses a serious financial challenge, we will find a solution.

If possible we connect you with contacts from our network working in different sectors. This gives you the chance to learn more about career paths and how to get there.

We also offer guidance for a membership in The German Association of University Professors and Lecturers (Deutscher Hochschulverband, in short DHV).

Anne Schreiter, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Dr. Birte Seffert
Head of Advisory and Funding Programs

Workshops for

ISTA | Leibniz-Gemeinschaft | Hamburg Research Academy | TU Dresden | Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin | RKI | Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft | Studienstiftung | Joachim Herz Stiftung | Max Planck Law | Deutsches Zentrum für integrative Biodiversitätsforschung | ZEIT Advise | GAIN | CAPiG – Horizon Resource Network | PSI – Humboldt Stiftung | BUA | TU Berlin | Berlin Science Week | btS e.V. – Life Sciences Studierendeninitiative | BTU Cottbus | Einstein Centre for Neurosciences Berlin | Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena | Max-Planck-Gesellschaft | Postdoc Appreciation Week | Ruhr-Universität Bochum | Universität Potsdam | Universität Würzburg | ZALF | UniWiND | Hector Fellow Academy | Universität Bielefeld | Freie Universität Berlin

CV Checks & Coachings at Career Events

Berlin University Alliance | Berlin School of Integrative Oncology | Einstein Centre for Neurosciences Berlin | Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft | Technische Universität Berlin | Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Selected Moderated Events

Moderation “Innovation Day”, Gateway Exzellenz Start-up Center, Universität zu Köln

Moderation Panel “Moving beyond challenges: A vision for the international university”, EURAXESS Tagung, Bremen

Moderation “Forum Wissenschaftsmanagement”, Leibniz Gemeinschaft

Moderation Workshop “Next Generation University”, RWTH Aachen University

Moderation Panel “ENHANCE Conversations 2024”, Technische Universität Berlin

Moderation “Tag des Transfers”, Technische Hochschule Köln

Moderation “The New Fiction of Good Science – In Need of a Paradigm Shift?!”, Wissenschaftsabend und Talking about… Reihe der RWTH Aachen

Moderation “Forum Bahrenfeld – Science City”, HafenCity Hamburg GmbH

Moderation Panels “Prototyping Innovation at Universities” und “STEM Communities”, XPOMET, Berlin

Moderation Panel “Taking action – founding as a researcher”, Marie Curie Alumni Association, Konferenz TU Berlin

Moderation “Gespräche mit Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ina Schieferdecker (BMBF), Dr. Tobias Ernst (Kiron) und Franziska Broer (Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft)”, Weiterbildung Netzwerk Wissenschaftsmanagement!, Berlin

Moderation Panel “Was kommt nach dem Projekt? Organisationsentwicklung an Hochschulen zwischen Förderprogrammen und Grundfinanzierung”, Jahrestagung des Netzwerks Wissenschaftsmanagement, Hannover

Planning and moderation of several panels on career paths for researchers, GAIN-Jahrestagung, Washington D.C, Boston, San Francisco, online (annualy since 2016)

Moderation Panel “Alle Wege führen nach Rom? Karrieren zwischen Tenure Track und Mittelbau”, Hochschulsymposium, Hanns Martin Schleyer-Stiftung, Berlin

Moderation Panel “Should I stay or should I go? Karrierewege in Berlin”, Pop-up Lab, Berlin Partner, London

Selected Talks & Panels

Talk “Career perspectives in science: pathways, projects & practical advice”, Female Career Days, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg

Panel  “How to Achieve Breakthroughs – in Science Communications, Science Startups and Early-stage Science Careers?”, Falling Walls Science Summit

Keynote “The lucky mindset – How to attract serendipitous opportunities in your career”, HITS Alumni Meeting 2025

Talk “Your Successful Career Path: Application Strategies and CV-Writing for Academia & other Sectors”, Philipp Schwartz Forum, Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung

Lunch Talk “How to walk the talk – Wirkungsmessung im Wissenschaftsmanagement”, TwentyOne Skills

Lecture series “Become the Captain of your Life – Wie Wissenschaftler*innen angesichts eines defizitären Systems ihre Karriere gestalten können”, TU Darmstadt

Keynote “The Landscape of Diverse Career Options”, Leibniz Explorations: Diverse Careers, Leibniz PostDoc Network

Keynote “How to set yourself up for lucky coincidences in your career”, International Researcher Night, Hamburg Research Academy

Keynote “The German scientific system – what do I need to know and how can I plan?”, Postdoc Day, TU Dresden

Talk „Karrierestrategien für Wissenschaftler*innen”, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum

Panel “What’s next? Prospective future pathways”, PhD Symposium, Berlin School of Integrative Oncology

Panel “Zwischen Mikromanagement und Kontrollverlust: Schmerzpunkte moderner Führung im Stiftungsalltag”, Stiftungstag Mannheim, Bundesverband Deutscher Stiftungen

Panel “Internationalisierung der Wissenschaft – Chancen und Potentiale internationaler Zusammenarbeit”, Gesellschaft für Hochschulforschung, Jahrestagung Magdeburg

Talk “Scientists’ Careers in Business”, Marie Curie Alumni Association, Konferenz TU Berlin

Panel “Departments statt Lehrstühle”, Symposium der Jungen Akademie, BBAW, Berlin

Keynote “Career paths in and outside academia after the PhD”, HIGRADE Graduiertenschule des UFZ Leipzig

Talk “Akademische Ausbildung für die Praxis”, Schader-Stiftung , Darmstadt

Panel “Researcher training and career development”, DAAD PRIME Alumnikonferenz, Bonn

Podcasts

Podcast guest “Führung braucht Zeit”, Die Zukunftsmacher*innen Podcast

Podcast guest “Exploring the Uncertain Landscape of Academic Careers”, Smart and Well Podcast

What Others Say About Our Personalised Career Services:

"Making my way to the United States for my 2‐year postdoc visit was an easy transition. Trying to go back to Germany was more challenging. I needed to find and apply for a job without an idea on where to start searching and how the German system works. Attending the GSO Fit for Germany-Workshop helped me to get a good overview over the academic landscape and where to start. Once I found a great job posting I reached out to the GSO for advice on my application package. They took the time to go over all my documents and helped me to tailor my CV and cover letter which eventually got me the job. The support and encouragement from the GSO guided me through the whole process from the start to the finish line and was instrumental for my success."
Dr. Bettina Hieronimus
"I am an academic from the USA, who decided to move to Berlin with my family. That was challenging enough but I also began searching for non-academic jobs, and I needed all the advice I could get. This is when I reached out to the GSO, who provided very helpful advice and context to my job search. They helped me to revamp my CV, develop some new strategies, and referred me to some new contacts. I gained a new perspective on the entire process and was better able to see how finding a job in Germany differs from doing so in my native country. While my job search was neither quick nor easy, it would have been more difficult and less manageable without the help of the GSO."
Jeffrey Wolf, PhD
“After living abroad for more than a decade and after our most recent stay in the USA, my husband and I decided to move back to Germany. Without a network in Germany, finding a job was very challenging. A friend recommended the GSO and I reached out for advice on the application process, documents, and the market situation. Not only did the GSO help me with the process, e.g. reviewing my CV and cover letter, but they were always there for me and genuinely cared about my situation. It is a very special organization with wonderful people, who were an essential element in starting my career in Germany.”
Dr. Silvia Keppler
"I did a post‐doc in the US when I came in touch with GSO at a networking conference. GSO supported me for job applications back home in Germany. There have been a lot of generous efforts, e.g., in revamping CV and the application letter, and also in simply motivating me to keep on the academic track. I was really impressed by the enthusiasm of the GSO team. Thank you so much!"
Dr. Christoph Rosche