Questionnaire
General questions
What is your gender?
o Male
o Female
What year were you born?
o 1940 - 2000
o Prefer not to answer
What is your current relationship status?
o Married or in a registered partnership
o I am living with a partner, but I am NOT married or in a registered partnership
o I have a partner, but we are not living together
o Single
o Divorced
o Widowed
o Prefer not to answer
Do you have any children?
o No
o Yes
o Prefer not to answer
At which faculty is your current research taking place?
o Archeology
o Humanities
o Law
o Science
o Social and Behavioral Sciences
o Other: ______
From which country is your (dominant) nationality?
o Prefer not to answer
o Afghanistan (2) - Zimbabwe (194 answer possibilities)
o Other
Career trajectory
For how many months in total have you been working as a postdoc?
(Please fill in the number of months)
______(0 – 999)
For how many months have you been working as a postdoc at your current university? (Please fill in the number of months)
______(0 – 999)
Have you been promised a permanent job contract when satisfactory fulfilling your job?
o No
o Yes, via a probation period
o Yes, via a tenure track
Satisfaction
To what extent are you satisfied with the following aspects of your current postdoctoral position?
Very dissatisfied (1) / Dissatisfied (2) / Somewhat Dissatisfied (3) / Neutral (4) / Somewhat Satisfied (5) / Satisfied (6) / Very Satisfied (7)Contact with colleagues / o / o / o / o / o / o / o
Guidance by your immediate superior / o / o / o / o / o / o / o
Guidance received from university / o / o / o / o / o / o / o
Current employment conditions / o / o / o / o / o / o / o
Career-perspective / o / o / o / o / o / o / o
Combine your postdoc position with private life / o / o / o / o / o / o / o
Selecting a postdoctoral position as career path / o / o / o / o / o / o / o
Selecting a career in science / o / o / o / o / o / o / o
Your life in general / o / o / o / o / o / o / o
Would you please provide a brief explanation of your answers to the previous question?
______
Career features
Did you obtain your PhD through a PhD programme?
o No
o Yes
Did you receive a master’s degree or PhD with distinction?
o No
o Yes, a master’s degree with distinction
o Yes, a PhD with distinction
o Yes, a master's degree AND a PhD with distinction
Do you have experience (as a PhD student or postdoctoral researcher) in an university/research institute abroad?
o No
o Yes
Did you receive an external personal grant during your PhD? And if so, which one?
o No (0)
o Yes, namely: (1) ______
Career Preparation
What kind of training/courses did you follow during your postdoc period with regard to your own development? (or still following now)
(multiple answers possible)
q I did not follow any course or training regarding my own development
q Postdoc Career Development Initiative courses. Like Postdoc retreat, Talent Cafe, Postdoc - PI dialogues
q Project management course(s)
q Language course(s)
q Personal effectiveness course(s)
q Verbal communication course(s)
q Written communication course(s)
q Scientific development course(s)
q Entrepreneurship course(s)
q Teaching course(s)
q Other career development course(s):______
Mentorhip
Do you have a supervisor or manager?
o No. Why not ______
o Yes, I have a manager
o Yes, I have a supervisor
To what extent does your postdoc supervisor/manager encourage you to receive or discourage you from receiving training?
o Strongly discourages
o Somewhat discourages
o Neither encourages nor discourages
o Somewhat encourages
o Strongly encourages
o I don't know
What is the importance of networking (networks) to pursue an academic career?
o Not at all important
o Unimportant
o Neither important nor unimportant
o Important
o Extremely important
Would you please provide a brief explanation of your answers to the previous question?
______
Career perspective
How much do you prefer to work in the following sector after your postdoc position?
Not at all preferable (1) / Mostly not preferable (2) / Neutral (3) / Mostly preferable (4) / Completely preferable (5)A University / o / o / o / o / o
A research institute / o / o / o / o / o
Educational institution other than University (for example undergraduate schools) / o / o / o / o / o
Government / o / o / o / o / o
A not-for-profit organization / o / o / o / o / o
Industry / A private business / o / o / o / o / o
Entrepreneurship / o / o / o / o / o
No job / o / o / o / o / o
Other / o / o / o / o / o
Would you please provide a brief explanation of your answers to the previous question?
______
What is the chance/possibility that you will acquire a job in the sector of your first choice?
o Very small
o Small
o Neither small nor large
o Large
o Very Large
Why do you think so?(according to your previous answer)
(multiple answers possible)
q Because of my own qualities and skills
q Because of the available positions
q Because of my age
q Because of the uncertain conditions around postdocs
q Because of the high demand for scientists from the industry / private business
q Because of something other than mentioned before: ______
To what extent are you already working on preparations to achieve the desired position on the labor market?
(multiple answers possible)
q I focus on my research
q I voluntary attend courses or training in the context of my research project
q I voluntary follow attend or training outside of my research project
q I network actively (inside and/or outside the university)
q I am active in councils and/or boards
q I am developing my transferable skills
q Other: ______
How do you rate the following aspects of your job?
Very poor (1) / Poor (2) / Fair (3) / Good (4) / Excellent (5)The long-term perspective / o / o / o / o / o
Your own personal influence on your current career / o / o / o / o / o
The ability to get a permanent contract / o / o / o / o / o
Your chances of another job in science / o / o / o / o / o
Would you please provide a brief explanation of your answers to the previous two questions?
______