Bootcamp
for late stage PHD students
FINISH YOUR PHD,
FIGURE OUT WHAT COMES NEXT
November 28-30, 2025 (Fri-Sun)
Early bird ends in:
Day(s)
:
Hour(s)
:
Minute(s)
:
Second(s)
Stuck in the final stretch?
You’re months away from submitting – but stuck in the same loop: unfinished chapters, job pressure, and zero time for career planning. The end is near, but it doesn’t feel like it.
This is where the bootcamp comes in:
Finish on time – without unnecessary stress & detours.
Make a conscious choice about your future.
And get the tools & strategies to make it happen.
Your Takeaways from the Bootcamp
Realistic Roadmap
A foolproof plan to complete your PhD that aligns with your goals and gets you over the finish line
Skills
Profile
A solid profile that showcases your transferrable skills and strengths from your PhD and beyond
Career
Clarity
Strategies to decide what the best next steps are on your career path and confidence about your decision
Job
Toolkit
Knowledge on how to navigate the job market and a toolkit to help you understand what employers are really looking for
Stress
resistance
Resilience for the final phase of your PhD and the job search that follows
Is This Bootcamp Right for You?
It’s a great fit if you …
… are in the final stretch of your PhD and want to finish in the next 3–12 months without burning out.
… you want to get both your PhD endgame and your postdoc career path on track – in one focused, supportive weekend with expert guidance.
… you’re ready to stop wasting time going in circles and want expert input instead of trial and error.
It’s not what you need if you …
… you just started your PhD and finishing is still years away.
… you already have a solid plan for your final PhD phase and complete clarity about your next career steps – and how to get there.
… the dates don’t work for you at all and you’re not able to attend the live, in-person weekend.
Bootcamp Schedule
FRIDAY
Nov. 28 2025
14:00 | Arrival and Registration
14:30 | Getting Started with Getting Finished*
15:30 | Coffee Break
16:00 | Understanding Your PhD Story*
18:00 | Wrapping Up
18:30 | Get Connected: Bootcamp Welcome Dinner
*Workshop
SATURDAY
Nov. 29 2025
09:00 | Telling your Career Story: Skills, Knowledge, Experience*
10:30 | Coffee Break
11:00 | The Job Market and Me: What am I qualified for?*
12:30 | Lunch Break
13:30 | Walk and Talk: Careers
14:00 | From Chaos to Completion: Success in the Final Phase*
15:30 | Coffee Break
16:00 | From Chaos to Completion: Creating a Realistic Roadmap*
17:30 | Day Two End
*Workshop
SUNDAY
Nov. 30 2025
09:00 | Making It Through the End Without Drama*
10:30 | Coffee Break
11:00 | How to Find a Job Without Going Crazy: Step-by-Step*
12:30 | Lunch Break
13:30 | Walk and Talk: Resilience
14:00 | Where am I going next? Career Orientation with Confidence*
15:30 | Coffee Break
16:00 | Questions and Answers
17:00 | Day Three End
*Workshop
The Cost of Staying Stuck
Many PhD candidates start without a clear idea of what comes after.
You hope clarity will come along the way – but suddenly the end is near, and you’re still unsure. At the same time, submission dates keep getting pushed back.
You thought you’d be done by now – but there’s still so much left, and it’s taking far longer than expected.
That’s Why the Bootcamp is a Smart Investment in Your Future
This bootcamp helps you break that cycle. You’ll leave with a concrete career direction, so you don’t end up in the first job that happens to fit your CV – only to feel out of place, unfulfilled, and immediately ready to apply again. After years of hard work on your doctorate, you deserve better than that.
You’ll develop a focused, realistic plan to finish efficiently – so you stop wasting time, money, and energy in limbo. The longer your PhD drags on, the more it costs you: lost income, burnout, missed opportunities. Finishing while unemployed might seem manageable – but it often means earning even less and staying stuck even longer. We’re here to help you avoid exactly that!
By investing in this bootcamp, you invest in finishing strong, moving forward with clarity, and making your next professional step count. That saves you not only frustration, but also real money – and valuable life time.
It’s 2025:
Why the Heck Should I Attend an On-Side Event?
Real focus, no distractions.
No emails. No laundry. No meetings. Just you, your goals – and a weekend that moves you forward.
Clarity through conversation.
Sometimes one sentence from a coach or peer is all it takes to unlock a stuck thought you’ve had for weeks.
You’ll actually do the work.
No passive scrolling, no “I’ll do that later.” You’ll leave with a real plan and real decisions – not a to-do list for someday.
You’re not alone in this.
Being surrounded by others in the same phase is powerful. You’ll leave with input, encouragement – and people who just get it.
Secure Your Spot – Early Bird Ends Soon
Participation Fee 890,- €* 720,90,- € without VAT
Register before the 31th of July 2025
to take advantage of the Early Bird price: 690,00 € (558,90 € without VAT).
Fast action price: Only 610,30 € (530,00 € without VAT) for the first 5 people to sign up – even lower than the Early Bird offer.
*institutions/universities pay regular price (VAT exempt organisations should provide documentation at purchase)
Early bird ends in:
Day(s)
:
Hour(s)
:
Minute(s)
:
Second(s)
Your Fast-Track Bonus Package
Smart Extras for Real Progress
Bonus 1
Online Workshop
How to Get a Job Interview
(live) 12.12.2025
Turn your shiny new career profile into a great job application in this online workshop that builds on the bootcamp. We’ll learn a simple method to craft a perfect CV and cover letter that tell a cohesive career narrative and stand out to potential employers, highlighting your relevant skills and experience.
You’ll leave with a clear and easy-to-use approach for writing applications that recruiters and hiring managers will pay attention to. Can’t attend the live session? A recording of this workshop and self-guided resources will be available to all bootcamp participants.
Bonus 2
Online Meeting
Q&A Session
(live) TBA
Got follow-up questions? We’ve got you covered. In this live session, we’ll make sure you put your plans into action.
✅ Ask your questions – academic or career-related
✅ Tackle obstacles and get unstuck
✅ Keep the momentum going as you work toward finishing your PhD & landing your dream job
Your hosts
Dr. Marlies Klamt
Marlies knows how tough the final phase of a PhD can be – she’s been through it herself. Since then, she’s dedicated herself to helping other PhD candidates experience that phase with more clarity, structure, and confidence. Through 1:1 coaching, online programs, workshops, and her popular podcast, she supports them in finishing strong and walking confidently into their defense.
Amanda Wichert
Amanda has been working in higher education since 2004 and is a trainer and coach for academics and professionals who focuses on (cross-cultural) careers and well-being at work. She’s passionate about helping the researchers she works both in finding work that truly fits their motivations and needs and in feeling confident about their choices.
The location
Working Space
Our bootcamp takes place at a conference hotel close to Berlin (23 min from Berlin Hbf by train), right next to a beautiful lake — ideal for a refreshing stroll and a breath of fresh air.
Getting There
Accommodation
Accommodation is not included in the bootcamp fee, so you can choose where you’d like to stay — at home (if you’re local), with friends, or in other accommodation. However, we’ve reserved a limited number of rooms (including breakfast) for participants who’d like to stay on-site – you’ll find information in your booking confirmation.
Food & Drink
The fee includes a “get connected” dinner (buffet) on the first evening, lunch on both Saturday and Sunday, and coffee, drinks, and snacks throughout the bootcamp. Water is provided with meals; other beverages are available in the restaurant or at the bar at your own expense.
© Seminaris Hotels
Q & A
Who is the bootcamp for?
For late stage PhD candidates from all fields. If you’re not quite sure if the bootcamp is the right fit for you, feel free to reach out to us!
What if English isn’t my working language?
We encourage you to do the activities in your working language – whether that’s German or English – we’re offering this workshop in English to make sure that it’s accessible to as many PhD candidates as possible. We both speak English and German fluently and can answer questions in either language.
You don’t need to speak perfect English to participate – both Marlies and Amanda have lots of experience navigating the world in a foreign language and are just glad you’re able to join us!
How many people will be joining us?
What’s included in the price?
Do I have to attend the whole program? Can I just join for one day?
We’d love to see you to join the welcome dinner (included in the price) – it’s a great opportunity to connect with the other participants in a relaxed setting. That said, if you have other commitments, that’s totally fine – it’s your call. If you’re travelling from further away and need to leave early on Sunday, a good time to head out is around 15:30, just as the final coffee break begins.
What should I do if I need to cancel?
To keep things running smoothly for everyone involved, cancellations can only be made to a certain extent.
- Before the 15th of September, 2025: You can cancel, but there will be a fee of 25% of the retreat price.
- After the 15th of September, 2025: Unfortunately, no refunds can be given after this date due to the event location policy.
Worried about something coming up? Once you register, you can pass your spot on to another doctoral student at no additional cost to you if you can’t attend. We also suggest getting seminar insurance – for an example, see Seminarversicherung, but please note that we can’t guarantee that this is a valid insurance for you, so check with the provider first! For more information and our Terms and Conditions click here.