This was the motto on the first postcard as the Career Center Team commenced its work on the Telegrafenberg in the middle of the Albert Einstein Science Park two and a half years ago. Advising postdocs at the GFZ on career development prospects is the main issue of the Career Center. The team designed a website that contains information on all aspects of career development. Regular GeoPostdocSessions are held on topics such as funding opportunities, mentoring or current developments of the geoscientific job market. In addition, the Career Center has conducted nearly 300 individual counseling sessions so far. It also arranges tailored contacts with GFZ alumni. An external panel evaluated the Career Center very positively in May and confirmed the funding for another two years.

The experience of the Career Center team so far shows that most postdocs are very happy to work at the GFZ and would prefer to stay there for longer-term. The fixed-term situation in the science system remains the sore point.

In addition, our postdocs and their leaders have a great need for information on the geoscientific job market, especially outside academia. The Career Center Team hold many discusions with alumni who have worked at the GFZ and are now also very happy with their further career path outside academia. These experiences form the basis for a new series on career paths outside academia focussing on GFZ alumni and their professional development paths. The Career Center is pleased to have a growing network on LinkedIn and invites everyone to become a part of it and follow its activities there.