Transfer and Translate

Pivoting from the UK to Germany

Have you ever lived in another country? It’s common practice for researchers to move around either on a short-term or long-term basis. It’s almost embedded into the research culture.

However, until you’ve done it yourself, you don’t ever really appreciate the challenges associated with transferring and translating everything from your own country, culture and language into a new one.

When I moved to Germany (over 5 years ago now), it was a daunting prospect. Not only had I never lived in another country, I knew nothing of Germany or its language. When I was at school (many years ago), we’d had the choice of learning two languages – I chose French and Latin. As it happens Latin has been more useful to me than French or even English in learning German, what with its complex cases such as the accusative and dative, and the preference for placing verbs at the end of many sentences!

And it wasn’t just the language. Coming from the UK, I had to learn to drive on the ‘wrong’ side of the road. Again, a daunting prospect that I put off for about four months, until cabin fever took over and I finally took the leap and got into the driver’s seat. Actually, it wasn’t so bad after all (although I still avoid motorways as much as I can). Even my language skills have now improved to the point that I managed to pass my B1 German exam (equivalent to half an A-level) last year.

Very interesting, I hear you say, but what’s this got to do with careers?

Well, the point I’m trying to get across is that if you can do something in one setting, the likelihood is you can do it in another. OK, you may need time to settle in and get used to your new environment and you may need to get some extra training, but basically if you can learn something in one setting, you can usually learn it in another.

Everyone’s heard of transferable skills, but you also need to consider translating those skills into the language of your new employer. Just as you have to adapt to the culture and ways of a new country, so you will need to adjust to your new work environment and the people within it.

But before you even get to experience a new work culture, you need to get the job in the first place! Usually this is by applying with a CV and covering letter, which, if successful, will take you to an interview. Of course, as many researchers, who have successfully secured jobs in industry and business, will tell you; researching the career sector, companies and employees is crucial to help you to capitalise on your transferable skills and to translate your academic terminology into your targeted employer’s language. Take a look at LinkedIn and you’ll find lots of posts and advice about this (e.g. Matteo Tardelli and Ashley Ruba).

Here’s two example CVs (below) to show how a researcher specialising in biofilm research has translated her academic CV (top) into one that’s targeted to a biofilm position in industry (she got the job by the way!).

You’ll see how the content, language and even the layout changes to align with the employer’s job description (not shown here). Words such as, “delivering scientific content”, “preparing project progress reports” and “analysing large data sets to convert into deliverable results” have replaced the usual academic descriptions of these activities.

It’s not a perfect CV (no CV is), but I hope it gives you a flavour of how to transfer and translate your skills, experiences and achievements into a new language that is understood by your potential new employer. It shows that not only have you understood the job requirements and matched yourself to them, you are instilling confidence that you will also be able to adapt yourself to your new work environment and culture.

So, the next time you see a non-academic job of interest to you, underline the key words in the job description, take a look at the company website and see what types of words and phrases they are using. If you connect with the organisation on social media, you’ll see what’s important to them, as well as their latest news, and you can even link with employees and ask for an informational interview. That way, you’ll be fully armed to make a successful application, as well as assessing if this new ‘land’ is right for you.

Related blogs:

Think ‘Skill’ not ‘DPhil’
Put your skills to work
Skills and Thrills – what motivates you?

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