Dual Career Service – University of Freiburg

Services and Information

Applicants to professorships or high-ranking management positions and their partners can use the advising to make an informed decision concerning mobility, to realistically assess their career opportunities, and to receive support in finding a position:

individual advising sessions
admission into the dual career network
support for your own job search
feedback on application documents
advice on application processes in Germany
cooperation with the university’s Family Service

Information on:

the job market
the housing market
life in Freiburg
continuing education and language courses

Living and Working in Freiburg

On the City of Freiburg

Freiburg offers an excellent quality of life for all needs thanks to its ample green spaces and short commuting distances. The only drawback is that its highly desirable location and geographically limited supply of space are reflected in above-average rent levels and real estate prices. All Freiburg neighborhoods and many surrounding municipalities are accessible by good public transit connections. A successful market and center concept as well as numerous neighborhood markets ensure the local supply of goods for daily needs.

Job Portals for Freiburg and the Region

Some of the regional job portals offer the possibility to filter job offers by location, by professional field, or by type of work.

University Advising and Support Services

The University of Freiburg offers a wide range of advising and support services. Here is an overview of our services arranged by topic as well as a list of the relevant municipal institutions.

Networks

Dual Career Network Germany (DCND)

University dual career service departments help partners of researchers to continue their professional career after a move to a new location. They also advise couples on how to plan and implement decisions concerning mobility. The experts at the dual career service departments of 20 German universities have formed the “Dual Career Network Germany (DCND)” to exchange experience and expertise and to improve the (inter)national visibility of support programs for dual career couples.

The DCND has set itself the objectives of developing national quality criteria for the work with dual career couples, enhancing the attractiveness of Germany as a center for science and research, and professionalizing dual career advisors through further training.

The DCND participated in Europe’s largest research project for the promotion of female researchers to date with observer status: GENDER NET, an EU project within the context of HORIZON 2020 (formerly the 7th EU Framework Programme), compares funding instruments for female researchers across Europe and makes recommendations on how to improve women’s career paths in science and research. In Germany, there are currently around 36,000 male professors but only around 10,000 female professors.

Statistics on male and female professors

Dual Career Network Germany

Dual Career Network Upper Rhine (DCNO)

In 2010, the University of Freiburg was the driving force in the establishment of an innovative and cross-border network in the Freiburg region that is dedicated to providing high-ranking personnel and their families support in reorienting their careers.

In order to provide effective support to dual career couples, we need to be able to draw on a good regional network. Such a network has been built up in the past years: The first step was the establishment of the dual career network of the Eucor universities Basel, Mulhouse, Strasbourg, Karlsruhe, and Freiburg. The next step was the signing of a declaration of intent for the regional Dual Career Network Upper Rhine by 18 participants on 6 December 2010. The network has continued to grow to this day through the admission of new members.

International and Innovative Network
Employers exchange information about applications and vacant positions across international borders. All participating institutions can approach human resources managers directly. In this way, the network establishes promising contacts between universities, research institutes, businesses, government agencies, and professional associations and serves as a model for other regions. This provides a variety of opportunities to reach individual employers, but also entire industries, in order to increase the chances of finding a job for the accompanying spouse or partner.

Personal Relationship
Meeting in person with human resources managers on the one hand and applicants on the other allows us to compare profiles and make recommendations that are a perfect fit.

We are also connected with the regional alliance for equal opportunities of the Southwest Economic Region in Lörrach. This increases the chances of a successful job search:

Netzwerk der Wirtschaftsregion Südwest GmbH

Further partners are welcome. Please contact the Dual Career Service directly if you are interested (see Contact).

Overview of Ongoing Appointment Procedures

International

The advice centers for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications offer free advice and information on the recognition process. Also listed are advice centers for cross-border issues.

FAQ

We want to answer your questions and thus offer you an introduction to the topic here.

“Partnerships in which both partners are employed and career-oriented and at the same time lead a (family) life (together).”Source: Prof. Dr. Michel E. Domsch, MDC Management Development Center

Partners of people who are currently engaged in appointment negotiations with the University of Freiburg or have applied for a high-ranking management position in research, administration, or technical services/IT. Acceptance of the position would require a move to Freiburg. Comprehensive advising can be initiated only by the Rectorate.

Recruiting and retaining excellent researchers
Making Freiburg more attractive as a center for research
Promoting equal opportunities
Promoting a balance between family and career

The desire to receive support from the Dual Career Service is often mentioned in the position paper.

We start by taking a detailed look at your employment history. Then we discuss specific wishes and possible alternatives with you. Finally, we suggest specific paths for you in Freiburg job market.

The Dual Career Service puts you in contact with the networks and accompanies the application process with qualified advice. In this way, you receive effective advice and support for your own job search.

For financial and legal reasons, we cannot give you a job guarantee.

The Dual Career Service keeps your personal information confidential and adheres to data privacy law as a matter of course.

In most cases, it is the Rectorate, the board of the relevant faculty, or the department responsible for the hiring.

The DCS takes action only on the instructions of the University of Freiburg Rectorate.

The application documents customary in Germany: a detailed curriculum vitae, certificates, possibly a cover letter

The first step is usually a face-to-face meeting or a telephone conversation. In the course of the following days and weeks, we provide you with the names of possible employers or specific contact persons. We ask you to please let us know when you have found a job.

Usually until you receive a job and inform us of the fact. The support is provided for an average of 6 months, or 1 year at the most.

Examination of your application documents
Discussion of the planning and procedure with the applicant
Detailed description of possibilities for support and their limits
Network-oriented career planning
Advice on application documents and self-presentation
Discussion of potential employment prospects in the region
Writing up of a target agreement:

Target agreement:

Agreement on the measures and the next steps
When is the advising process successful?
Time and form of the next contact