Category: November2025

On November 17th, 2025, international students of the university of Siegen had the chance to visit Heinrich Georg GmbH Maschinenfabrik, a globally recognized company specializing in special-purpose machinery and plant engineering, located in Kreuztal. Despite the rainy weather, the bus ride provided a great opportunity for students to network and discuss expectations for the visit.

The afternoon began with a warm welcome by the public relations staff, who introduced the company and its values. The group was then treated to a presentation about the history and evolution of Heinrich Georg, from its founding in the 1940s to its current position as a leader in digitalization within industrial engineering.

Highlights of the visit included:

• A detailed company presentation on Heinrich Georg’s 70+ years of innovation in machinery and plant engineering

• A guided tour of the state-of-the-art production facilities, showcasing how the company integrates traditional engineering with modern digital solutions

• A chance to connect with multinational employees, including one who shared his personal experiences working at Heinrich Georg, speaking to students in Hindi and offering valuable insights into the company’s diverse, international team

• Refreshments, including food, coffee, and tea, providing an opportunity for informal networking and further discussions with company staff and fellow students

• A Q&A session, allowing students to ask questions about the company’s operations, culture, and career opportunities in the high-tech machinery industry

The visit provided students with valuable insights into the innovative world of industrial engineering and career opportunities at a leading global company.

Bonus: This event counted for 1 point in the Career & Networking category of the Employability Pass!

A big thank you to Heinrich Georg GmbH for their warm hospitality and to all the students who made this visit such a successful and enriching experience!

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On November 25th, 2025, international students came together for a vibrant evening of Speed Friending, designed to make new connections in a fun and engaging way. Held in the F-S Building, the event offered a relaxed atmosphere where students from all over the world could meet, share stories, and create lasting friendships.

Event Highlights:

• Clustering Game: The evening kicked off with a lively icebreaker, where participants grouped themselves based on categories such as country of origin, number of siblings, field of study, favorite pet animal, and personality type (introvert, extrovert, or ambivert).

• Speed Friending Rounds: Students engaged in quick, structured conversations, helping them meet many new people and build connections in a short amount of time.

• Silent Quiz: Teams collaborated silently via their phones to answer trivia questions. The top three teams with the highest scores received fun prizes, adding a competitive twist to the evening.

• Social Atmosphere: Students enjoyed a variety of food and beverages throughout the event, creating a lively and casual environment that encouraged ongoing conversation and mingling.

• Cultural Exchange: With participants from different countries, the event fostered a rich exchange of cultural experiences and perspectives.

Throughout the evening, the atmosphere remained lively, and attendees praised the event for being both enjoyable and meaningful. Many left with new friends and a deeper connection to the Siegen student community.

Overall, Speed Friending was a fantastic opportunity for international students to expand their social circles, meet new people, and get a better sense of the local student culture in Siegen.

This event counted for 1 point in the Well-Being & Social Integration category of the Employability Pass!

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On November 7th, students came together for the IHK(Chamber of Commerce and Industry) Company Meet and Greet event to connect with local employers and explore exciting career opportunities in the Siegen region. This networking session, organized in collaboration with IHK Siegen, provided an excellent platform for international students to get a firsthand look at the local job market and meet representatives from various companies.

Event Highlights:

• Networking opportunities: Students had the chance to speak directly with company representatives in a relaxed, informal setting.

• Insight into company cultures: Employers shared valuable information on the work environment, the skills and qualifications they look for in international candidates, and the hiring process in Germany.

• Practical advice on job applications: Students received tips on how to tailor their CVs for the German job market, approach interviews, and highlight relevant soft skills.

• Q&A session: Students could ask questions and receive personalized guidance on making a strong impression during job applications.

As the event wrapped up, students left feeling more confident about their job prospects and better equipped to navigate the German job market.

Overall, the IHK Company Meet and Greet offered an invaluable opportunity for students to build their professional networks and gain insights into what local employers expect from international talent. The event not only helped students make new connections but also gave them a clearer understanding of how to succeed in their career pursuits in Germany.

This event counted for 1 point in the category Career & Networking of the Employability Pass!

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On November 29, 2025, participants took part in an interactive full-day workshop focused on understanding and navigating intercultural communication in the German academic and professional context.

Led by intercultural business communication trainer and coach Gertrud Goudswaard, the session combined expert input, hands-on exercises, and guided reflection to help students build confidence in working across cultures.

Highlights included:

✅ Understanding how cultural values influence communication, teamwork, and leadership

✅ Exploring eight key dimensions that shape collaboration in international business environments

✅ Reflecting on one’s own cultural background and broadening intercultural awareness

✅ Learning strategies to prevent and resolve misunderstandings in diverse settings

✅ Practicing how to adapt communication styles in writing, meetings, and negotiations

✅ Discussing personal questions and real-life challenges related to working in Germany

Participants actively applied their new insights — from analyzing cultural differences to experimenting with communication approaches tailored to the German work environment. By the end of the workshop, students left with greater cultural awareness, practical communication strategies, and more confidence in navigating intercultural situations.

🎓 As part of the Employability Pass, this workshop contributed 2 points in the category Soft Skills & Employability.

 

On November 21, 2025, participants attended an interactive seminar designed to help them understand and navigate the German job market — beyond simply searching for job ads.

Through a mix of practical input, guided exercises, and group discussion, participants explored what makes the German job market unique and how to prepare strong, targeted applications. They gained insights into employer expectations, reflected on their own competencies, and learned how to present their skills convincingly in application documents.

Highlights included:

✅ Understanding the structure and characteristics of the German job market

✅ Learning how to read and analyze job advertisements to tailor applications effectively

✅ Exploring professional networking strategies and the potential of speculative applications

✅ Reflecting on personal strengths and experiences to build a convincing applicant profile

✅ Understanding how to structure a strong CV for the German job market

✅ Learning about additional documents often required in Germany and how digital recruiting tools (e.g., ATS systems) influence applications

Participants left the workshop with a clearer understanding of how to approach their job search in Germany, along with practical strategies for researching employers, building networks, and creating professional, targeted application documents.

🎓 As part of the Employability Pass, this workshop contributed 2 points in the category Soft Skills & Employability.

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On 15 November 2025, students participated in a hands-on, in-person Job Hunt Boot Camp designed to boost their employability skills through practical challenges and peer interaction. The workshop combined brief expert inputs, self-reflection, peer feedback, and group activities to build strong foundations in key professional competencies.

Facilitators guided participants through realistic scenarios such as job interviews and workplace challenges, helping them develop self-leadership, critical thinking, and goal-setting strategies.

Highlights included:
✅ Practical advice on writing a CV and building a personal brand
✅ Role-play exercises for interviews and presentations
✅ Group work to strengthen communication and teamwork skills
✅ Personalized feedback on participants’ CVs
✅ Analysis of real job postings to tailor job applications effectively
✅ Developing self-leadership, critical thinking, and goal-setting skills

Participants were encouraged to bring job postings they were interested in, enabling them to analyze and discuss how to tailor their applications with their peers. Those who brought their CVs received individual feedback.

To help sustain the momentum and reinforce learning, students had the opportunity to take part in an online follow-up session where they could reflect on their application processes, share experiences, and receive further tailored feedback.

Points: As part of the Employability Pass, attending this workshop awarded participants 2 points in the Soft Skills & Employability category.

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On November 14, 2025, participants attended an interactive in-person workshop designed to help them assess and strengthen their personal employability profile.

Led by employability and personal development expert Manuel Löffler, the session offered a mix of expert input, guided reflection, and collaborative exercises to support students in understanding their strengths, competencies, and development needs.

Highlights included:
✅ Assessing one’s current employability profile and identifying relevant strengths and areas for improvement
✅ Reflecting on personal, interpersonal, and professional competencies
✅ Learning which skills and attributes are especially valued in different industries
✅ Understanding how to align one’s individual profile with career goals
✅ Defining practical steps to further develop key competencies and boost employability

Participants immediately put their insights into action — from evaluating their current skill set to identifying concrete development steps for their future careers. By the end of the workshop, students left with greater self-awareness, practical strategies, and renewed confidence to strengthen their employability profile and move forward in their professional journey.

As a follow-up, participants are invited to a feedback session to receive individualized input based on their self-assessments.

🎓 As part of the Employability Pass, this workshop contributed 2 points in the category Soft Skills & Employability.