EDITORIAL TEAM | TU Career Center
STAY GROUNDED
You are studying in a time when many things are moving at once.
Technologies change. Expectations too. Plans certainly do.
Uncertainty is no longer an exception. It is part of everyday life.
Questions are everywhere. About your studies. About life. About what comes next.
So what helps you stay grounded when everything around you is in motion?
The future is here, and you are ready for it
If the future feels overwhelming right now, you are not alone. Exams, job applications, AI, global crises and career decisions. The good news is that you can learn how to deal with uncertainty. In this issue, you will learn how to stay grounded, face future challenges with confidence, and discover how crises also create new opportunities. In uncertain times, you may feel that a lot of things are outside of your control. We tend to focus on external things. You have more influence than you might think. By focusing on yourself, your thoughts and behaviour, you can learn to navigate a fast-changing world with confidence.
Staying grounded: more than just taking a break
Staying grounded means differentiating between taking breaks and actual rest. Charging our physical, emotional and mental batteries is necessary to stay healthy and productive in the long run. In addition, you can take ownership of your actions through self-leadership. By managing your thoughts, emotions and behaviour, you positively influence your performance. It starts with self-reflection.
ASK YOURSELF THREE WEEKLY QUESTIONS.
Name one small win:
What went well this week?
Be honest to yourself:
Where did you struggle?
Reset your focus on one goal:
What can you do differently?
Why crises create new opportunities
Crises often create new opportunities. Facing global crises, the working world will need to undergo a transformation to stay competitive. This can have positive consequences for you as a young professional. Future-fit companies will need to invest in employee well-being and resilience management. Training and development in businesses will enable personalised learning paths. AI requires a focus on compliance and risk management, creating new roles and ensuring data-based information while humans still make important decisions. These are opportunities for you to develop your individual interests, strengths and goals. As Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Peter Ertl, Vice Rector for Research, Innovation and International Affairs at TU Wien, puts it: "The view towards the horizon and reaching goals step by step is what creates direction and progress."
What this means for your studies and career
This transformation in the working world leads to a shift towards skill-based hiring. Professions and roles are changing, but skilled workers are still needed. A focus on competences rather than linear career paths also creates higher diversity. What companies will be looking for is potential: the ability to solve future problems. Your studies at TU Wien provide a structured, analytical framework for dealing with complexity, uncertainty and future challenges.
Associate Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn. Albana llo highlights the technical dimension of staying grounded: "Being grounded means having self-confidence based on solid technical knowledge and an awareness of society's critical infrastructure. It helps us focus on solutions that are efficient, affordable and technically mature." "There is often a feeling that everything has to be decided at once. Focusing on what I can influence right now helps me stay calm and see the next steps more clearly," states a Student at TU Wien. The career coaches at TU Career Center recommend: "During your studies, you are already building the skills you will need in the future. Take time to recharge, notice your progress and approach the next steps with clarity." - Tanja Elgendy and Tina Landreau, TU Career Center. Staying grounded is not about slowing down. It is about knowing where you stand before you move on.
Statistical Data
Based on the most recently published data from Statistics Austria, more than 400,000 people are currently studying at higher education institutions in Austria. At TU Wien, this academic community comprises around 26,000 students. The figures below are based on responses from participants of the TU.know Survey 2025, conducted by the TU Career Center among students at TU Wien: 48.78% of bachelor's students and 51.22% of master's and PhD students state that thoughts about their professional future are stressful or burdensome.
Regarding activities and motivations during their studies, 57.20% of students indicate gaining professional experience as a reason for working during their studies, 35.17% state applying theory in practice, and 25.42% mention developing soft skills. When asked which factors influence their entry into working life, 50.85% of students state their own research and preparation, while 47.46% refer to experiences gained during their studies, such as internships or student jobs. With regard to their current orientation, 41.40% of students state that they already have a rough idea of their next steps, 25.00% indicate that they are weighing different options, and 23.73% state that they are currently keeping their options open. Taken together, these figures reflect the questions many students are facing as they prepare for what comes next
Sources Wintersemester 2023/24:
Statistics Austria, Higher Education Statistics (most recently published study year).
TU.know Survey 2025, TU Career Center, Generation Z students at TU Wien.
