Nick, 1,000+ interviews conducted
Career Coaching in Heidelberg
World-famous university city with a strong academic job market. The coaching itself happens online via video call, no commute needed, whether you're in Heidelberg or the surrounding area. For the Career Kick-off of the 1:1 coaching we're also happy to meet in person at a café in Heidelberg.
Hi, I'm Nick.
Over seven years in HR, as HR Manager and Head of People, more than 1,000 interviews conducted, over 100 people hired. I share that knowledge now, honestly and without detours: what recruiters actually see, what counts, and what's holding you back right now.
Free CV ChecklistPDF, straight to your inbox. No appointment needed.
The job market in Heidelberg
Heidelberg is home to Germany's oldest university and, with the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), is one of the country's most important science hubs. Many PhD holders and researchers working here eventually face the move from academia into business, and often come across to hiring managers as overqualified rather than compelling. Communicating that transition correctly, in the CV and on LinkedIn, is one of the situations where I can help the most.
Career Quick Check
The honest feedback companies won't give you, in English. 30 minutes on a video call, a clear read on your situation in the German job market, one concrete next step.
30 minutes, free. Slots: Monday to Friday, 11:30 AM to 8 PM.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a PhD title help or hurt when applying in the private sector?
Both are possible, it comes down to how it's presented. Without the right framing, a PhD can quickly read as overqualification. Framed correctly, it's a clear signal of depth and persistence. That translation work is a recurring topic in my coaching.
Does the coaching happen in person in Heidelberg?
The coaching runs online via video call, which works just as well as meeting in person and fits flexibly around research or clinical schedules. For the Career Kick-off of the 1:1 coaching, we're happy to meet in person at a café in Heidelberg too.
Who is the coaching in Heidelberg especially suited for?
Mainly for PhD holders and researchers from the university, DKFZ, and EMBL who are planning the move from academia into business and often come across as overqualified rather than compelling.
I've only ever worked in academia. Do you understand that background?
Yes, the move from research and academia into the private sector is a recurring theme in my coaching, especially because hiring managers often read academic CVs differently than they were intended.
What does the first step cost in Heidelberg?
Nothing. The CV checklist as a PDF and the 30-minute Career Quick Check are completely free. Only after that do you decide whether a digital product or 1:1 career coaching makes sense for you.
I'm not actively job hunting in Heidelberg right now. Is this still useful?
Yes. The best time to get your CV and LinkedIn profile in shape is before you need them, so you're ready the moment something changes.
How does the first contact work?
Most people start with the free CV checklist or go straight for the 30-minute Career Quick Check. After that, we figure out together, with no obligation, what makes sense next.
Are you a certified career coach?
No, and that's deliberate. I'm not a trained coach, I'm someone who has personally sat on the hiring side of over 1,000 interviews and made real hiring decisions. That's practice, not theory about how applications are supposed to work.
Career coaching also available for Frankfurt am Main, Offenbach, Darmstadt, Mainz, Wiesbaden, Gießen, Mannheim, Aschaffenburg.