Fit for the German Job Market

iStart Career Program for International Students

Are you thinking about your career plans once your studies are done? Are you keen to find an internship or job in Germany while you are studying? Would you like to start building your network of fellow international students and graduates that may prove invaluable down the road? — With our iStart project, we would like to help you along this journey.

The Program

Preparing to Get on the Career Ladder

The University of Bonn offers the iStart career program for international students as part of the “NRWege Leuchttürme” grant program of the MKW NRW.

iStart teaches participants tangible knowledge and valuable skills that will enable them to write successful applications for jobs in Germany. The program is geared toward giving you a successful career path both during and after your studies and thus making it easier for you to enter the job market.

Participation in the program is free. The program is conducted in English.

All international students can access the following services:

  • Selected events and career counseling
  • Grammar check of application documents written in German or English
  • iStart podcasts and explanatory videos 
  • Lists of current vacancies and useful information

Go online to register for events and make use of services.

Our Intensive Career Program

Alongside the services that are available to students at any time to help them make their own preparations, we also organize an Intensive Career Program every semester, which is made up of three consecutive blocks:

  • Orientation: in this block, you will learn about the German job market and how to create your own career profile in group and individual coaching sessions.
  • Networking: meet international university graduates and local companies and make valuable contacts for getting on the career ladder further down the line.
  • Application: this block will teach you how to apply for jobs. You will be able to get your application documents reviewed in a one-to-one coaching session.

We have also arranged a special bonus for active participants: a professional photoshoot for your applications!

Registration

Criteria and Process

You will be able to participate in our intensive career program if you:

  • Study at the University of Bonn
  • Come from outside Germany

Please note that only a limited number of spots are available. Application for the summer semester 2024 is open until April 07, 2024.

Missed the Deadline?

Has the deadline already passed?  Make use of the services that are available to students at any time to help them make their own preparations, as these run independently of the intensive career program. A new round of the program will begin next semester.

You can also contact the Career Service at the University of Bonn. The Career Service is the first place students should go if they have any questions about career guidance or starting a career.

For Companies, Institutions and Organizations

Interested in taking on international staff and keen to work together with iStart? There are two options: via our internship placement program and our company visit program. Each offers an unparalleled opportunity to speak directly to future graduates of the University of Bonn, drawing on our help as organizers who maintain constant contact with both you and the students.

Internship Placement

You can use our network to find suitable interns for your organization:

  • We will add your internship listing to our internship and volunteer position database.
  • Based on the criteria you specify, we will identify the right candidate from the applications we receive.
  • You in turn will be presented with an intern you can trust to do the job right. Should the candidate not fit for whatever reason, we will offer alternatives.
  • Throughout the internship, we will serve as a contact for both you and our intern.

Company Tours

Our company visit program gives you the chance to make yourself known to future graduates – and hence potential employees – in a targeted way.

At the same time, the events are designed to allow our international students to learn more about individual companies and begin building a network of contacts in the world of work. You are thus giving the students the opportunity to look “behind the scenes” and learn more about various fields of activity and what they need in order to work at your company.

Interested? Feel free to contact Kristina Khrul at any time for more information.

For Alumni

Are you a former international student at the University of Bonn? Take part as a speaker, a mentor or simply an observer at our alumni networking meetings.

For international alumni and students, these offer a valuable opportunity to share insights about working or looking for employment in Germany. As an alumnus or alumna, you will be able to tell the students more about your personal journey into the world of work. There will also be the opportunity for networking between alumni and students, allowing you as a former student to keep in touch with the University of Bonn while also helping the current intake find a job.

If you are interested in taking part, you can contact us at any time to register or find out more. You can also do some networking via the “International Alumni Exchange” group at the University of Bonn.

Practical Guide for Career Programs

Our practical guide “Internationale Studierende als (zukünftige) Fachkräfte vs. Fachkräftemangel” (available in German only) is there to help employees of German universities plan, implement and evaluate career programs for international students.

Events
iStart: International Alumni*ae Day
Zoom
05:00 PM - 06:30 PM
This semester’s iStart International Alumni*ae Day is approaching! As always, a range of different job fields will be present: from the Natural Sciences and ...
iStart: Job Application Training
Online
04:00 PM - 05:30 PM
Writing successful applications is tricky, but still one of the most important steps towards your dream job. In this event you will learn how to analyze a job ...
iStart: Job Interviews Coaching
Bonn
10:00 AM - 02:00 PM
The last hurdle of the application process: the job interview. But don’t panic, this coaching will equip you with all the info you need to confidently navigate ...

Contact

Avatar Khrul

Kristina Khrul

iStart Career Program

U 1.001

Poppelsdorfer Allee 102

53115 Bonn (Germany)

Office Hours

Please book an appointment via eCampus

  • Mondays (via Zoom)
    12:00 pm - 01:00 pm

  • Wednesdays (on site)
    12:00 pm - 01:00 pm

  • and by appointment

MKW_975x200px_80.jpg
© MKW

This project is funded by the Ministry of Culture and Science of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Also see

Career Service at the University of Bonn

The Career Service supports the University of Bonn’s students in the transition from their studies to their professional career.

IAESTE specialist internships abroad

The local IAESTE committee arranges internships outside Germany and looks after international interns in Bonn.

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