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

CV and Cover Letter Check
We discuss your career plans and help you optimize your CV and/or cover letter for a convincing application in science, business, or other sectors – also in relation to a specific job posting.
Do you have a job interview or want to negotiate your salary? We help you prepare.
Cost: 30 Euros + 7% VAT (CV) / 50 Euros + 7% VAT (CV and cover letter) – to be transferred after the consultation
Scope: 30 or 45 min. via Zoom

Coaching
Are you looking for more in-depth support? Coaching helps if
- 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
Cost: 30 min. get-to-know-each-other free of charge. After the conclusion of the coaching agreement 75 Euro (+ 7% VAT) per session – to be transferred after the session
Scope: 90 min. via zoom or in person at GSO offices in Berlin-Mitte

Brief Career Advice for Postdocs
As a postdoc you can book a free consultation, e.g. on these questions:
- 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?
For more in-depth support, see below if coaching is suitable for you.
For legal questions (e.g. professorship negotiations) we recommend membership in the German Association of University Professors and Lecturers, their professional representation in Germany.
Scope: One-time, 30 min. via Zoom

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.
Cost: upon request – depending on the topic, scope, number of trainers, and, if applicable, guests
Scope: from a few hours up to two days
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).
Workshops for
ISTA | Leibniz-Gemeinschaft | Hamburg Research Academy | TU Dresden | Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin | RKI | Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft | Studienstiftung | Joachim Herz Stiftung | Max Plank 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