Interactive Training for Professionals Supporting Researcher Careers

Researchers increasingly bring complex professional and personal challenges into career conversations: uncertainty, pressure, conflict, mental load, difficult supervisory relationships, mobility concerns, identity questions, and career transitions.

Professionals working in doctoral education and researcher career development are often expected to “help solve” these situations. Yet effective support does not mean taking ownership of the problem.

This highly interactive international training invites participants to explore what meaningful, professional and sustainable career support can look like beyond problem-solving.

Designed for professionals working with doctoral candidates, postdoctoral researchers and early-career researchers, the workshop focuses on strengthening coaching-like conversation skills, reflective practice and professional boundaries in individual career conversations.

Across 2,5 intensive workshop days, participants will work with real-life scenarios, case studies, peer exchange and practical exercises to explore:

• how to navigate difficult or emotionally charged conversations,
• when and how to refer researchers to other support structures,
• dealing with conflict situations and uncertainty,
• recognising the limits of one’s role,
• managing personal frustration and emotional load,
• self-care and resilience for career support professionals,
• and how to normalise challenges experienced by researchers.

The training emphasises practice, international exchange and collaborative learning within the PRIDE community spirit. Participants will leave with concrete tools, increased confidence for complex conversations, and a stronger understanding of their own professional role: not as problem solvers, but as skilled facilitators of reflection, direction and support.