Plan your career early on

Scientific careers require mobility, which usually involves temporary positions. For that reason, we recommend that you plan your career early on. Take ownership of your career path and plan with a view to the next steps so that you can keep all options open. Don't let yourself get caught off guard by obstacles such as reaching the maximum employment period, residency permits or language requirements.

You should discuss your career path and development every year with the person in charge of your doctorate.

Progress report and Annual status conversation (student portal)

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Postdocs, Established Researchers and other scientific employees are employed on a temporary basis at ETH Zurich. These temporary positions allow you to sharpen your research profile. You need to consider early on how you want to use your remaining time at the university. Once you start your position ETH, you should make longer-term plans. Discuss your plans every year in the Dialog appraisal interview.

For Established Researchers (Oberassistierende), it is mandatory to have a career planning meeting once you reach your fourth year of employment. This career interview will cover the maximum allowed length of employment as well as options for a continued career path at ETH Zurich.

Supervisors: All information about the career interview

Key questions for your career planning

When will the maximum employment period be reached?
Are there any career possibilities within the university and if so, what are the requirements?
What competencies will be needed for the next step in your career?
How can your remaining time at ETH already be used for preparing for the next step in your career?
What career opportunities might there be both inside and outside of academia?
Are there any next steps that can be worked on together?
How can you further develop your personal network, and are there any mentors who can provide additional assistance?

Possible topics for improving your profile

Leading projects or platforms
Research findings and publications
Taking on responsibility for teaching duties and lectures
Mentoring students and doctoral students
Acquiring funding from third parties
Participation in conferences or other forms of knowledge sharing
Contributing to national or international specialist bodies
Working together with academic and business partners
Perspectives inside and outside of academia
Mobility
Language skills, work permit

Download Form with key questions and topics for improving your profile (DOCX, 77 KB)

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Regular interviews

Senior scientists and Executive Scientific Collaborators with permanent positions must conduct a Dialog appraisal interview with their supervisor every year.

On top of that, every three years it is mandatory to conduct a performance interview in the presence of the department head.

Right-click on the link Download Performance and progress interview (PDF, 628 KB).
Select ‘Save target / link as...’.
Open the saved form with Adobe Acrobat and fill it out.

Key questions for your career planning

Are there any planned development measures in your current job profile/possible changes of focus?
Are there any development measures that are necessary because of organisational changes, (for example, the responsible professor going into retirement)?
What perspectives are open for the future (changing one’s functional level, setting a certain focus, obtaining a non-planned professorship)?

Additional helpful materials and offerings

Learn more: Scientific positions at ETH Zurich

The Scientific positions at ETH Zurich website outlines the principles for scientific career advancement and development and provides an overview of the numerous scientific positions offered by the university.