Associations, clubs and organizations

• Business, professional or scientific associations
• Non-statutory welfare organizations (e.g. Diakonie, Caritas, German Red Cross)
• Transport and sports associations
• Trade unions
• Political parties

The activities and tasks at associations, societies and organizations are very diverse. As a result, the potential job opportunities also vary.

Positions can be related to expert knowledge (e.g. officer for, expert for...), focus on projects (project manager/coordinator/assistant) or simply be based in a particular area or department (public relations, marketing, sales).

Get first-hand experience
Entry is often through being an active member membership, it can be volunteer work, leisure activities as well as unskilled part-time jobs. Try to professionalize those activities during your studies (further training, attending conferences, internships, taking on responsibility in committees or groups).

Good to have

• It is important that you share the values of the association/society/organization you are applying for. This concerns both the personal proximity with the goals of the associations, societies and organizations, as well as the special technical knowledge for the advertised position.
• Languages skills also play a role. Only-english positions are limited, thus it is advisable to have at least a working-level German proficiency.
• Of course, practical experience in project management is required, which goes hand in hand with practical activities in organizations.

Varies - from academia with a very strong technical focus to private sector in fields such as...

• Business, professional or scientific associations
• Non-statutory welfare/welfare organizations (e.g. Diakonie, Caritas, German Red Cross, Workers' Welfare)
• Transport and sports associations
• Trade unions
• Political parties

The activities and tasks at associations, clubs and organizations are very diverse. This means that the potential job opportunities also vary. The positions can have close professional references (e.g. consultant for ... issues/representative for ... /specialist consultant). They can also focus on a self-contained whole (project manager, project coordinator) or simply be located in a specific area or department (public relations, marketing, sales).

Work as/in
You often start out by belonging to a group for many years; this can be based on voluntary work, leisure activities or unskilled part-time jobs. Try to professionalize this during your studies (further training, attending conferences, internships, taking on responsibility in committees or groups).

Requirements for starting a career
The applicant's biography must provide points of contact. This applies both to personal affinity with the objectives of the associations, clubs and organizations as well as the specific specialist knowledge for the advertised position. Of course, practical experience in project management is required, which goes hand in hand with practical activities in organizations.

Varying - from science with a very strong technical focus to the private sector with a focus on fields that almost every institution/company has, such as human resources and public relations.