Work it! Career Days 2026

7–8 May 2026 Alte Kapelle | Campus | Spitalgasse 2–4 | 1090 Vienna

Organisers: Doctoral School of Historical and Cultural Studies and Vienna Doctoral School of Social Sciences

Target group: Early career researchers in the humanities and social sciences at the University of Vienna (SPL40 and SPL41). Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, with a maximum of 30 participants.

Snacks and drinks will be provided throughout the Career Days.

Key note

This talk examines the career trajectories, aspirations, and perceived preparedness of SSH doctoral graduates in Austria. It draws on post-graduation survey data from the University of Vienna and register-based graduate tracking conducted with Statistics Austria. We present outcomes for the first ten years after graduation, focusing on career paths, labour-market status, and earnings. About one third remain in the Austrian research sector (higher education, R&D), another third establish careers in other domestic sectors, and a substantial share of the remainder pursue their careers abroad.

With: Michael Hofer, Quality Assurance

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Input and discussion

An academic career path can be challenging to navigate, with many complex factors impacting success. In this session, experienced colleagues from the Faculty of Historical and Cultural Studies and the Faculty of Social Sciences share their experiences of starting a career in academia. Two doctoral candidates are invited as discussants to facilitate a broader discussion about how to best find and navigate academic career paths as an early stage researcher. Possible topics include, but are not limited to, effective networking, developing a strong research program and publication strategies, successful collaboration, balancing teaching and research demands and finding your personal work-life-balance.

With: 
Juliane Schiel, Department of Economic and Social History 
Andreas Streinzer, Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology
Irina Bănoiu, Institute for Advanced Studies, doctoral candidate in sociology
Martin Gumiela, Research Center for the History of Transformations

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Workshop

Doctoral research equips early career scholars with a wide range of competences – from stakeholder management and navigating uncertainty to analytical thinking, project coordination, and tolerance for ambiguity. Yet, these strengths often remain invisible or difficult to articulate outside academia. In this interactive session, participants will reflect on their own competences, receive peer feedback, and practice translating their skills into language that resonates with employers and organizations beyond academia. Possible topics include, but are not limited to, identifying personal strengths, mapping competences to organizational needs, developing a personal “skill narrative,” and exploring how academic experience can be made relevant and valuable in diverse career contexts.

With: Deniz Seebacher, Organauts, Organisational development and change management

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Movement

Take a break from career planning, brainstorming about transferable skills, and networking and recharge your mind and body. Join our 30-minute yoga session designed especially for PhD students – no experience needed. Stretch, breathe, and reset before diving back into your career day activities feeling refreshed and focused.

With:
Katja Horninger, photographer, embodiment mentor & yoga teacher

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World Cafè & Reception

In Austria, a doctoral degree is considered a pathway to an academic career, but reality is different. Many graduates work in other sectors. Join us in this session and talk with alumni and alumnae from the doctoral program in the social sciences and the humanities who transitioned from academia to companies, government and non-profit organizations, among other fields. They give advice on how to leverage academic skills in non-academic contexts, highlight key qualifications essential to succeed in their professional field, and talk about how career trajectories of doctoral graduates beyond academia often include staying connected to academic networks and research institutions.

With: 
Carina Brestian, formerly Austrian Federal Minstry for Innovation, Mobility, and Infrastructure
Marion Krammer and Margarethe Szeless, wesearch
Markus Mariacher, DaF/DaZ trainer and personal assistant for people with disabilities
Daniel Meßner, Geschichten aus der Geschichte
Bao-Chau Pham, Austrian Research Promotion Agency
Pia Schölnberger, Austrian Federal Ministry for Housing, Arts, Culture, Media, and Sport
Deniz Seebacher, Organauts, Organisational development and change management

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Input and panel discussion

Participants will learn about national and international funding opportunities for early-career postdoctoral researchers, with a particular focus on Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Fellowships, which are funded by the European Commission, and key national funding programmes offered by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF). Successful applicants of postdoctoral funding schemes will share their insights on developing a postdoctoral project, identifying suitable funding programmes and the proposal writing process, as well as their experiences throughout the fellowship.

With: 
Jess Anderson and Thanu Thiengthepvongsa, Research Service and Career Development
Etienne Schneider, Department of Development Studies
Rosamund Johnston, Research Center for the History of Transformation

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Workshop

Are you nearing the end of your doctorate and thinking about your next steps? The job market is evolving, and so are the skills needed to succeed. Academic excellence alone is no longer enough. With AI taking over many technical tasks, your people skills are what will set you apart. In this hands-on session, you will:
• Perfect your CV and cover letter with real examples and expert feedback
• Master mock interviews, tackle tough questions, and practice negotiation strategies

With: Svitlana Kalitsun, The Negotiation Academy

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