Frankfurt Job Fair for Natural Scientists: Connecting Job Seekers and Companies

The natural sciences job market is in demand. It offers preparation for applications and networking.

In a lecture hall on the Riedberg campus of Frankfurt’s Goethe University, suitcases stand in the side aisle; Lawyer Christian Lange from the Association of Employees Academics will give a lecture on the subject of employment contracts and the rights of employees in the event of dismissals or secondary employment. Young researchers have come from all over Germany to prepare for working life.

The 23rd Frankfurt job fair for natural scientists is organized by the Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry and Pharmacy at Goethe University, the Young Chemists Forum (JCF) of the Society of German Chemists and the university team of the Federal Employment Agency.

The event is divided into the preparatory workshop day, where tips are given on job interviews in English, telephone contact with superiors or choosing the right employer, and the following trade fair day, with companies such as BASF, Tesa, Bluemind Consulting or Boehringer Ingelheim. The organizers Claudia Catapano and Nils Wegerich from the JCF are happy about the large number of interested people. Around 140 people will take part on the workshop day, and both expect 1,500 participants on the trade fair day, including students looking for internships or supervision for their theses.

The trade fair is a good way to bring job seekers and companies together. “Many companies only get to know each other at the trade fair,” says Captano. This seems to be worth it for employers – many have been involved for more than ten years for a small fee. The project is also made possible by the voluntary commitment of those involved, says Nils Wegerich.

Marina, a doctoral chemist from the Technical University of Dresden, came especially for the Frankfurt job fair. She has decided to specifically address representatives from the pharmaceutical industry on the day of the trade fair: “You never know what these contacts will be useful for.” Chemist Marius, who is also doing his doctorate at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, is there for the first time. The seminar he attended was well received by him: “Otherwise you have few points of contact with employment contracts and your own rights.”

Workshop participant Daniela Brenner is also approaching the end of her doctorate and traveled to Frankfurt with her friends from Würzburg. The individual application portfolio check was particularly helpful for her. A job interview was simulated here. “You can’t get that taught anywhere else,” affirms her companion Erik Endres. The 29-year-old has a clear goal: to talk to representatives from Boehringer Ingelheim, as a family member already works there.

28-year-old Alexandra Sink has already looked at specific job advertisements from companies in advance and wants to form her own opinion on the day of the trade fair. All three agree that the workshop day is helpful, but the networking trade fair is definitely the focus.

The day of the trade fair The Frankfurt job exchange is today, November 2nd, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Riedberg campus. Admission is free, registration is not necessary.