Shows
Empower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 48: What to do when you started a new job or internship and have nothing to doRecently a former client of mine reached out to tell me that he started his internship a month ago, but all he has been doing so far is watching tutorials and waiting for a tool licenses to be issued. He wanted some advice on how to still make this a valuable experience and find some tasks of his own.
Since this is not the first time I heard this happening, I thought it makes sense to share my ideas on what to do in this scenario. SO today you will find out how to...2022-07-0612 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 47: Integrating family & parental leave into your CV and application processShould I talk about wanting to become pregnant during the application process?
How can I best include my years of parental leave in my CV?
If you have been wondering how to handle those questions, this Episode is the answer!
While you should always keep in mind that integrating family & career is a highly personal and individual matter with no definite "right" or "wrong", in this Episode I'm sharing my personal take on:
How to handle your desire to found a family during the interview process
...2022-06-2216 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 46: A brief overview about founding a family in GermanySince I announced being pregnant some time ago on LinkedIn, I have naturally also received more questions about founding a family or moving your family to Germany from my international clients. With this Episode, I am aiming to give you a quick overview about the most important topocs if you are thinking about founding a family in Germany or moving here.
We will cover:
Pregnancy: Healthcare, insurance & maternity leave
As an employee: parental allowance
Childcare & education
Please note that I am not an expert in these fields, but as I mention in the Podcast, we...2022-06-0818 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 45: How to decide if a new challenge is right for youA client of mine was asked to become a team lead after working for only 2 years in total. After thinking it through carefully, she decided to decline the offer, because she did not feel ready for this new challenge yet. So another team member got the role and she did not get on with his leadership style at all and frequently kept thinking how much better she would have filled the position. She ended up leaving the company - regretting that she did not have the courage to simply accept this new challenge.
With this episode, I w...2022-05-2517 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 44: What is a career vision and why do I need it?A career vision is a powerful and inspiring tool on your way to figure out who you want to be in your life & career and which impact you want to make on the world.
A career vision serves as your guiding star with making career decisions and choosing your next steps.
Convinced that you need it?
Tune in to find out more!
And before you go:
Please do not forget to leave me a rating or review on the Podcasting platform of your...2022-05-0413 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 43: 4 Strategies to stand out in meetingsMeetings are a crucial scenario if you want to be seen and heard in the workplace and eventually have a great impact on your career progress. Therefore, we really want to make sure that you feel comfortable in meetings, frequently contribute and this way manage to stand out in the workplace.
In this new Episode, I have 4 specific strategies for you that will help you with the following meeting scenarios:
You sit in a meeting and really want to contribute something, but by the time you feel ready to speak up, the agenda has already moved...2022-04-2016 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 42: What to do when you receive more than one job offerLucky you…and welcome to the world of luxury problems :)
Several of my clients have recently found themselves in the state of receiving more than one job, thesis or internship offer.
In this Epsiode, I'll talk about 3 specific criteria that will help you make the decision, but I'm also going to let you know what to do when you have accepted an offer, but then receive an even better one.
Tune in if you need guidance with your decision making process!2022-04-0617 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 41: Birthday Episode full of career nuggets & personal storiesCan you believe it? The Empower to Grow Career Podcast is already 1 year old!!!
So Happy Birthday to me in that case :) and thank you so so much to everyone who has been and is listening!
For this birthday episode, I have decided not to talk about one very specific topic, but to share some of my learnings and decision making processes along the way along with a few very personal insights into my life.
Topics included are:
How to start challenging new projects when you don't feel ready
Making life changing d...2022-02-2324 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 40: 10 standard mistakes that internationals make when applying in Germany and how to fix themThis is an Episode dedicated to all my listeners, who are planning to come to Germany from their home countries.
I'm exploring 10 of the most common mistakes that internationals make, but of course also give you different ideas for each of them about how to fix them.
The topics I cover include:
Do I need a CV in Europass format?
There are so many experts, friends and family members giving me advice on what to do - but I feel completely overwhelmed
Which plattforms should I use when applying?
Should I come to Germany...2022-02-0227 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 39: Demystifying the Hidden JobmarketWhat is this Hidden Jobmarket that everyone is talking about and how do I access it?
If you are also among those people, who has had enough of the mystery that is being created around this and just want to know the facts, this Episode ist for you!
Today you will find out:
What the Hidden Jobmarket is
Why you should even care about it
And what the key to access it is
But let me assure you: If you would like to successfully create your next job opportunity, you...2022-01-1919 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 38: How to plan for a successful year as an employeeHas it ever happened to you that as an employee, you plan your pojects for the year, business events, budgets - but you completely forget to plan your own development or your pay rise?
And when months of the year have passed and you finally get round to planning and asking for them you hear lame excuses like:
"Sorry, this is not the right time to discuss this."
"We don't have any budget for this."
"Your team member is already attending a similar training. Get the input from them."
Etc., etc.
Let me...2022-01-0521 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 37: Gratefulness - The key to happiness?I've been thinking for a while what to talk about in my Episode just before Christmas - and which other topic seems more obvious than gratefulness?
In some ways, it's become a hype in the past years, because everybody seems to be talking about it. But there are definitely worse hypes out there, than to focus on the good things in your life - or what do you think?
Therefore, in today's Epsiode you will find out why I personally consider being grateful for who you are and for what you have so important. I'll...2021-12-2219 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 36: 3 easy steps to turn your initiative application into successAre you sick and tired of scrolling jobboards until you find something that matches?
If your answer is a clear YES: This episode is for you!
If you know what kind of job you would like to have, I consider it your personaly responsibility for your future you to just go out there and grab the chance.
In this Episode, you'll learn my 3 easy steps of how to make your initiative application or unsolicited application work.
I'll guide you through:
What "Initiative" application actually means
What the greatest benefits are
...2021-12-1522 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 35: Should I stop my jobsearch activities at the end of the year?So many rumours out there about jobsearching within the last weeks of the year. In several calls I heard that:
"Companies are not hiring anyway now, why should I even make an effort?"
In this quick and insightful Episode I'm providing you with lots of arguments, why now might actually even be the BEST time to continue jobsearching. Want to find out more?
Tune in!
If you want to polish up your jobsearch strategy, I would strongly recommend you to join my online Community Careergineers! W...2021-11-2410 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 34: 5 Reasons why rehearsing your interviews gives you a headstartLast weeks success story of my 15 year old cousin scoring a job offer in her first interview ever after we rehearsed for it together, hast prompted me to share my interview prep secrets with you today.
I strongly believe everyone can do amazingly well in interviews - if only you prepare and actually practise your introduction and answers to tricky questions ALOUD, preferably with somebody elso to listen and give you feedback.
In this Epsiode I am describing my exact steps of how I prepare interviews with clients and give you 5 reasons why it is...2021-11-1720 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 33: Interviewing the interviewer - honest talk with Yadu & SarahBy popular demand, Yadu is back! And we've flipped the script on the traditional interview process, as listeners who heard Episode #28 might have seen coming - he's doing the interview this time!
For the first time in the history of The Empower to Grow Career Podcast, I am on the guest chair and answering a fun list of questions about me and the truths behind all my content creation.
You'll find the answers to weird and maybe controversial questions about recruitment in Germany, FAQ from clients and a discussion about biases on international names in...2021-10-2739 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 32: 4 reasons why your CV really needs a profile summaryIn this really quick and crisp Epsiode, I will let you know exactly why I am convinced that every CV should contain a profile summary.
You will learn 4 reasons in what way this section that is also often called "About me" or "Personal information" will be of great benefit to you.
Of course I will also explain, which information this section should contain.
If you want to see some great examples of profile summaries and learn how to create an excellent CV, make sure to join my next free webinar in November. I'm...2021-10-2008 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 31: Relocating to Germany & Founding your own business - Interview with International HR Consultant, Founder & Podcaster Daniel ZinnerIreland, Australia, New Zealand, The Netherlands, UK, Canada & Germany
My interview guest today has lived and worked in 8 countries and founded multiple companies. The most recent company that he co-founded, Noah Mobility GmbH, specialises in assisting internationals with their relocation to Germany.
This makes Daniel Zinner just the perfect interview guest to discuss relocating to Germany as well as founding your own company. Daniel is an International HR Consultant, Founder and Podcaster with a wealth of experience in global assignments and relocation.
From todays Episode you will learn:
How to create a...2021-10-1334 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 30: If the sky is the limit - what stops you? Looking at your limiting beliefsYou can have the best jobsearch strategy, perfect application documents, a supportive network, prepare meticulously for interviews and still not succeed in creating your dream career. But why is that?
Have you already heard about limiting beliefs aka the stories you tell yourself and believe to be absolutely true? If you haven't, but keep asking yourself "Why am I not successful with what I am doing?" this is a worthwhile field to tap into.
If you are already aware of some of your beliefs - let's check if you hold any of the examples I...2021-10-0621 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 29: Step by step guide to achieving your out of reach goalsAfter the amazingly successful episode I did with Yadu last week, I felt the need to talk about something BIG today.
And what could be bigger than showing you a step by step process of how to achieve the goals that currently seem faaaar out of reach for you.
No matter if this is founding your own company, financial freedom, learning to skydive - the bigger, the better.
Based on my own story and experiences, I will show you:
How to identify the biggest fear that stops you
How to summon the...2021-09-2920 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 28: 6 Unconventional ways of finding a job - Interview with fuel cell engineer & content creator YaduLast week I told you why you need to do more than just sending out applications to successfully create the best job opportunity for yourself. This week I am back with another interview, where we will introduce 6 unconventional ways of finding a job for you - without sending out a single application.
I am joined by the amazing fuel cell engineer & content creator Yadu Krishna and we will start off this Episode by an exciting announcement!
Yadu will tell you the exact steps how he created a job for himself that never existed and will...2021-09-2234 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 27: Why sending out applications does not count as a jobsearch strategyYou might or might not be aware that currently only about 25% of all existing job opportunities on the German market are posted on job boards. Naturally, these are heavily targeted by all active jobsearchers.
This already makes it obvious that just sending out applications to those jobs is NOT the strategy that will bring you the best success or access to the best opportunities for yourself.
In this new Episode I will reveal my 3 pillars of a good jobsearch strategy and explain what you need for each of them.
Learn how recruitment agencies can...2021-09-1519 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 26: How to successfully get through your first days in the new jobIt's September, hiring has picked up again in Germany - and an increasing amount of people are starting into their new jobs.
In this new Epsiode, I have come up with 9 things to do, to ensure that your first weeks in the new company are successful and will set you up for great progress.
We will look at:
General onboarding procedures
Some German habits of starting in a new role
Building relationships & a network
Possibilities to receive even more benefits than initially offered
Tune in if you have recently started a new job...2021-09-0818 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 25: Falling for the coolest job of the century? Interview with Airbus Data Scientist YassineHave you been considering a career in Data Science?
Are you wondering what it takes to succeed in this field?
In this amazingly valuable new interview Episode, Airbus Data Scientist Yassine and I talk about his passion field.
He will let you know the technical basis you need as well as the most relevant skills to have and develop to succeed as a Data Scientist.
BUT: He will also honestly talk about why falling for the coolest job of the century is not for everybody...2021-09-0143 min
Empower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 24: 3 of my most valuable interview tips for you
Is your upcoming interview something that gives you anxiety?
Do you also never know how honest and authentic you should really be in interviews?
Have you ever wondered what to do when you have several interviews and receive an offer - but not from your favourite company?
If these are questions on your mind at the moment, then this Episode comes exactly at the right time for you!
I am sharing some especially valuable interview tips with you that you will only rarely find in other career guides or blogs.
Tune in...2021-08-2515 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 23: How to use your holiday for your careerA holiday no matter if you are travelling or not, is always a great time to do a quick career check-up and assess how you feel about your current job. Being away from the office, but also especially thinking about going back there, reveals a lot.
This is why I want to share with you some self-assessment questions today that will help you assess where you stand and if there are any needs for change.
Just dedicate an hour of your valuable holiday time to think about them. It's gonna be worth it!
2021-08-1814 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 22: 9 ways to turn your AUG (ANÜ) contract into a permanent oneThe good new is: You have suceeded in securing a job for yourself in Germany at your dream company! But currently, you are under a leasing contract under the AUG regulation or ANÜ-Vertrag in German. Naturally, you want to give your best to be offered a permanent contract once your assignment ends or at least get an extension.
For this new Episode, I have come up with 9 ways that will help you convert your AUG contract into a permanent one and make yourself a valuable asset to the company that they simply cannot let go.
2021-08-1113 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 21: Working in Germany - 3 common ways to be employedBeing employed in Germany for the first time can be confusing if you are exploring this from your home country, have just moved here or have studied in Germany, but never worked full time.
In this Episode, my aim is to give you an overview of the 3 1/2 most common ways of employment for engineers and technical experts.
Full-time permanent contract - limited and unlimited
Permanent contract with AUG labour leasing to another company
Freelance work
Minijobs
Tune in to understand the differences as well as some advantages and disadvantages for you with each contract type.2021-08-0417 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 20: Stop procrastinating! 4 steps to turn you into an action takerIf only I was already done with my application documents…I had wanted to do it last month already!
Do you also know the problem of procrastination - especially if there is no fixed deadline attached?
And if there is a deadline, you do make it - but in what state?
Emotional stress, sleepless nights and the never ending feeling of "I could have done much better, if I had had more time."
You beat yourself up for procrastinating - but have yo...2021-07-2823 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 19: Answers to difficult interview questionsSome interview questions are more easy to answer than others. In this Episode, I have picked 3 very common interview questions, that most of my clients find difficult to answer.
You will find my strategies to answer:
The weakness question:
What are your weaknesses?
The future question:
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
The location question:
Why do you want to work in this location?
Of course, I am also sharing some specific sample answers.
If you want...2021-07-2117 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 18: Am I a failure?Temporary failure is part of every game!
A few months ago I was feeling really low. I was drained of energy. I had less bookings and therefore of course also less money.
Wherever I looked, it seemed like everyone else was so much more successful and like it was going really well for everyone but me.
In this new Episode, I am taking you on a very personal inside journey through a time that I experienced as failure. Allthough you might be in an entirely different situation in your life...2021-07-1422 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 17: Culture & Career Talk - Interview with Intercultural Trainer Vanessa PaisleyBecoming a fluent communicator in an intercultural environment does not start with country specific training along the lines of "How to work successfully in Germany". Just as your career development, it also starts with a thorough self-analysis. To move away from stereotypes it is important to move away from very generalised cultural traits towards preferences of individuals inside cultural norms.
Initially, Intercultural Coach & Trainer Vanessa Paisley and I wanted to discuss the influences of intercultural awareness and skills on career development - but this interview Episode has turned out to be so much more and certainly has...2021-07-0745 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 16: Help! I just don't know how to write a cover letterGet out a job description you want to apply for and tune into this Episode.
I am guiding you step by step through the process of writing a good cover letter. Together with me you will explore:
Which paragraphs to include
Which information to put in every paragraph
How to write a catchy entry that makes the recruiter want to call you
How long the cover letter needs to be
The quickest way to be done with a cover letter
…and many other things.
So if you have been sitting in front of a...2021-06-3023 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 15: Take ownership of your career!Quiz question: If you have been promised a certain role or project by your manager and the promise is not getting fulfilled for several months or even years, whose responsibility is this?
In this new Episode, I will give you my answer (Spoiler: It's you!) and give you some guidance what to do if you find yourself in the situation of having been promised something during the interview process, but it keeps getting postponed further and further.
So tune in if you want to know how to reclaim the driver's seat of your career.
2021-06-2318 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 14: 8 ways to enhance your career & CV as a studentMany of you come to Germany to pursue a Master's degree and then start your career here. Within the application process, any practical experience you have in the field that you are aiming to get into is valued most highly, even higher than a good education and grades.
The most common way is to do internships, write your thesis in cooperation with a company or take on a working student job. But what if eypecially during the pandemic times you have not been able to secure one of these opportunities?
In this Episode I will...2021-06-1715 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 13: 3 Things to do when you can't decide what job opportunity to go forAre you looking for that one job that has it all?
A job where you can use all your skills?
A job that is in line with your values & your goals?
A job that leaves great opportunity for learning & growth?
Then you have set yourself up for a tough jobsearch and tough decision to make.
In the new Episode of the Empower to Grow Career Podcast, I am showing you 3 things to do when you feel overwhelmed by that decision for the perfect job.
Let me give...2021-06-0921 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 12: Painful Recruiter Stories & Reasons for RejectionInspired by Diversity Day this week, I recorded this Epsiode, but it has taken me some days to decide wether or not I want to release it.
But: It is part of my experience as a former recruiter and I felt that it needed to get out of my head.
So today I am telling you stories.
Stories about the saddest and most painful experiences of my recruiting years.
Stories about outright discrimination and reasons for rejection that you will never know about.
Stories of times...2021-05-2322 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 11: The perfect CV as a side effect - Interview with my Coaching Client Iara"To allow myself to dream was pretty hard, but worth it!"
In this Epsiode you will get two powerful insights within one: My wonderful client Iara from Brazil will share her insights & golden advise from her personal career journey so far as an international engineer in Germany.
You will learn about:
Iara's steps to finding a great job in Germany
What she thinks about German language skills and how they help you in your jobsearch
Her most powerful source for receiving job offers
But she will also take you on her personal transformation...2021-05-1237 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 10: How to address people in GermanyDear Madam, how do I address people in Germany?
Sehr geehrte/r vs. Liebe/r
Sir/Madam or Damen und Herren?
Hallo or Hi?
Du or Sie?
Firstname? Lastname?
Do you also find the issue of addressing people correctly in Germany really confusing?
Believe me - you are not alone in this!
With businesses operating globally and increased global networking through social media, even Germans are not sure anymore how to address people in Germany. On LinkedIn, you will often find posts and discussions initiated by German business people, where they ask their...2021-05-0519 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 9: 4 Reasons why you need a LinkedIn strategy to develop your careerWhy are you using LinkedIn?
Networking?
Applying?
Researching?
There are multiple reasons for being on LinkedIn - active or passive. In this new Episode of the Empower to Grow Career Podcast, I am sharing 4 reasons with you, why you should be implementing a LinkedIn strategy to develop your career further - irrespective of which career stage you are in right now.
There is so much power, potential and opportunity on this platform and I would like all of you to use this to the fullest.
I will tell...2021-04-2820 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 8: Make your German Finances Easy - Interview with Financial Advisor Alicia AswaniYour goal is financial freedom but since you came to Germany, you are not even sure if you have the right insurances?
Time to talk about money, insurances, budgeting & saving for your pension!
In this new Episode of the Empower to Grow Career Podcast im am talking to Financial Advisor Alicia Aswani.
After experiencing herself what it is like to move to Germany as an expat, accidentally not being covered by mandatory health insurance & feeling lost in German bureaucracy, she now specialises in assisting other expats in Germany to help...2021-04-2146 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 7: Jobsearching for PhDs, Postdocs and Researchers - Do these 5 things to succeed in securing an industry job"Believe me, I can simulate everything."
"With my experience, I can work in any industry."
These are just 2 statements I heard from some of my 4 current PhD, Postdoc and Research Expert clients. And while I strongly believe that they can do those things, it is not good enough to state that in a CV or interview.
You need to be able to showcase specifically, which benefits you can bring to the company and industry you are aiming to move into.
Within this Epsiode, I am equipping you with 5 tips to consider w...2021-04-1419 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 6: Use this strategy to nail your interview introductionTell us about yourself…
Does this part of every interview give you headaches, because your are never quite sure
What to say?
How long to talk?
How much detail to include?
In this epsiode I am going to introduce one of my favourite strategies to you to help you nail the introduction or self-presentation part of your interview - no matter if you are a student or on a management level.
I will guide you with some easy steps that help you tell your own personal story.
Enjoy this episode and pl...2021-04-0719 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 5: Breaking the language barrier - Interview with German Language Coach Lesley HossnerI'm so excited to share my very first interview today about a topic that each and every single one of my international clients has mentioned as one of their biggest challenges: The language barrier.
Living and working in Germany make it necessary, to have at least a conversational level of German. But from my experience, no matter if my clients are on an A2 or C1 level - they always feel that their current language level is stopping them from making the next step in their career.
In this Epsiode I will tackle this topic...2021-03-3152 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 4: 10 CV myths uncoveredWho cares what you put in your CV?
Especially if it's longer than one page!
And anyways: What are your hobbies doing in there?
There are so many opinions and myths that circle around the topic "CV", what it should look like and what to include that it is no surpise that so many people are confused.
In today's new episode of the Empower to Grow Career Podcast I will uncover 10 of the most common CV and application myths and answer some of the most frequently asked questions about the topic.2021-03-2429 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 3: 4 hacks to explore the potential of your current job"I am really unhappy with my current job"
This is a sentence I frequently hear in my discovery calls or from my clients.
But what does it mean to be unhappy with your job?
In this episode, we will explore how to identify which areas of your job you are unhappy with and you will get several suggestions of how to change that.
I will also give you 4 hacks to help you explore the potential of your current job and company further that you have probably not thought of yet.
2021-03-1719 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 2: How to turn your strengths into a great CV & Cover Letter
Have you ever sat in front your CV or cover letter and wondered what on earth to write?
Are you still unsure how to make your application documents reflect your unique strengths and skills?
Would you like to prepare specific examples for a wide range of interview questions but you don't know how?
If you can answer all of the above with yes - this episode is going to give you what you are looking for:
A step by step guide to creating a great CV and cover letter as well as preparing specific examples for interview qu...2021-03-0813 minEmpower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 1: 3 easy ways to discover your strengthsCareer development never starts with scrolling jobboards or typing random jobtitles into Google.
It always starts with yourself! To truly grow personally and in your career, you have to know yourself, your strengths, your values and goals. But to get to know yourself is not as easy as it seems.
In this first Episode of the Empower to Grow Career Podcast we will start by exploring your strengths. I will show you 3 easy ways that will help you discover:
What you are really good at
What you truly enjoy doing
Which strengths other people s...2021-02-1813 min
Empower to Grow - The Career PodcastEpisode 0: Introducing the Empower to Grow Career Podcast by Career Coach Sarah GrötzingerIn this first episode, I want to let you know who this podcast is for and what you can expect from it, but also give you some information about myself and why I am doing this podcast.
If you want to find out more about me, just connect with me on LinkedIn and send me a message: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-groetzinger/
or visit my website: https://www.careercoach-deutschland.de/2021-02-1809 min