Career Paths of our Alumni

My career path after graduation:

• Bachelor’s degree programme in Sociology at Otto Friedrich University of Bamberg (until SoSe25)
• Position as a student assistant with the Social Sciences Equal Opportunities Officers at the University of Bamberg (until SoSe25)
• Internship during a Bachelor’s degree at the City of Augsburg’s European Office, in collaboration with Europe Direct 

What I gained from my studies in Bamberg:

• Fundamentals of Empirical Social Research and Statistical Methods
• Application of methodological approaches, in particular through the two-semester research seminar and my empirical Bachelor’s thesis
• Theoretical and methodological knowledge of migration studies 

What particularly inspired me about the Sociology programme in Bamberg was the wide range of topics covered. Thanks to the diverse range of departments and research fields, I was able to explore different perspectives and develop my own interests. At the same time, the thorough training in qualitative methods equipped me with key skills that form the foundation for my future professional and academic career.

My advice for new students: 

The sociology programme in Bamberg covers an exceptionally wide range of topics. Take the opportunity to get to know the various departments and areas of research. You don’t have to know right from the start where your path will lead you! 

Job description: 

• Managing daily operations of a high-compliance diagnostic laboratory
• Leading and training laboratory staff, including mentoring and performance management
• Conducting audits, risk assessments, and reporting to stakeholders
• Developing, implementing and improving work structures, laboratory systems and standardised procedures
• Managing project reporting and ensuring compliance with safety and regulatory standards
• Coordinating team workflows, schedules, and operational priorities
• Data Collection & Analysis 

My career path after graduation:

• Senior Laboratory Supervisor, Seeka Limited, New Zealand 2025
• Laboratory Manager, South Australian Research and Development Institute - SARDI | Department of Primary Industries and Regions 2025 - 2026

What I gained from my studies in Bamberg:

• Ability to collect and analyse data and explain it clearly to others
• Skill in bringing structure into complex or unorganised work environments
• Ability to manage work independently and prioritise tasks
• Strong research skills, including finding, understanding, and applying information

My advice for new students: 

The world is your oyster. Sociology covers such an incredibly wide range of topics that it can be quite overwhelming to decide which direction to take. But that’s precisely where the opportunity lies. You can go in any direction.

My career path after graduation:

• Date of graduation: June 2024
• My path into the profession: I established a connection with my future employer through a personal contact whilst working as a student trainee at an automotive supplier. There was no prospect of a permanent role at the automotive supplier
• Started my career (whilst working on my Master’s thesis) in May 2024 as an Account Manager at a recruitment agency specialising in engineering. Main responsibilities: business development and client relationship management for corporate clients, as well as active sourcing and recruitment of engineers in the fields of energy engineering, mechanical engineering, automation technology, ... 

What I gained from my studies in Bamberg:

• Being able to choose major fields of study was brilliant for paving the way for my future career whilst I was still on the Master’s programme
• Knowledge: labour market theories,
• Skills: text analysis; quickly filtering relevant information from a wide range of sources; handling large sets of numerical data; methodological competence
• Social Skills: acceptance of and respect for all people; persistence and resilience in the face of all challenges 

My advice for new students: 

Plan a semester abroad to develop your intercultural skills. That was by far the best decision I made during my degree, and it was during this time that I experienced the most significant and lasting change in my character, which continues to shape me to this day. My second advice is: Start a part-time job whilst you’re still studying, regardless of the number of hours, to gain work experience and get a feel for the wide range of job opportunities by getting your first taste of the job market. 

My career path after graduation:

• 2022-2023: Starter Scholarship at BAGSS
• Since 2023: PhD in Sociology, University of Groningen & NIDI-KNAW (Nederlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute)

Job description:

My PhD research examines whether the Dutch quota for women on company boards has a positive impact on gender equality within organisations beyond the executive level. The sociology departments at several universities in the Netherlands are linked through a joint graduate school (the ‘ICS’). As a result, parts of my PhD also consist of the graduate school’s teaching programme and exchanges between the departments. In my job, I have a fair amount of freedom and time for research; I also teach the undergraduate course ‘Organisations’ once a year and am involved in academic self-governance as coordinator of my research cluster and as a board member of my graduate school’s alumni organisation.

What I gained from my studies in Bamberg:

Although my entire Master’s degree in Bamberg was studied online, I was lucky enough to get to know lots of brilliant fellow students. I’m still very good friends with some of them and keep in regular contact, whilst I also meet others from time to time at conferences and workshops. 

In my career, the methodology course in Bamberg has been particularly beneficial to me – the fundamentals taught on the Master’s programme are still very helpful to me. But I also continue to benefit greatly from courses on social inequality and migration, as well as from my work as a student assistant at the ifb and the Chair of Social Structure Analysis.

My advice for new students: 

I’d simply advise doing whatever you enjoy most. And if something doesn’t work out or you can’t find a job, then it’s perfectly fine to change direction. A bit of flexibility is (unfortunately) often necessary for that. For example, I started my PhD on a scholarship in Bamberg, but had no prospect of a follow-up position there. That forced me to re-evaluate my options in terms of both location and research focus – and at my new location I’ve had more job security and have been happy in my career so far. Above all, it was important to have an interesting research project and to feel comfortable with my supervisor.