“Arrived and happy” – PhD holders’ employability outside academia and university support structures

Although a significant proportion of doctoral graduates in Germany successfully choose career paths outside academia, this decision is often met with ambivalent reactions from the university and the labor market. University support structures can play a central role in the transition phase between doctoral studies and non-academic careers. In line with public discussions, the results of the present study provide insights into PhD holders’ employability, as well as various implications for indentifying support needs and framework conditions to reduce structural and personal hurdles along plannable career paths for doctoral graduates.