Future Careers

I graduated from the University of Bern with a Master's degree in German linguistics, English linguistics and Sociolinguistics. I then completed a PhD in German linguistics on the topic of long-term accommodation in the Swiss German variety of Romansh speakers. I am currently a postdoc at the University of Teacher Education in Grisons for Romansh and didactics in Romansh. My main task is to conduct research in Romansh (applied) linguistics. Furthermore, I am responsible for distributing the results of my research projects in presentations at scientific conferences, in acadmeic journals, in public outreach activities and also in lectures and seminars for future Romansh teachers. Another important part involves writing applications to get funding for scientific and development projects. I value the methodical skills - especially data collection and statistical analysis - as they have proven to be invaluable and therefore a door opener for collaboration in different projects.

After my Master's degree in English studies and German studies, I completed a PhD in Language and Communication.

As a User Experience writer, I work in web and software design. In simple terms, I’m responsible for writing the words people see when they interact with websites, apps, and other software. In practical terms, there is of course a lot more that goes into these words – much of my day-to-day work revolves around collaborating with colleagues from design, research and business in order to define what we want to say, why we want to say it, and how we should say it, so that people actually understand it.

I believe what’s most valuable is my understanding of how language and communication are situated in society, and how people use language to do things. Working in software design, I also draw a lot on what I learnt about multimodality, and how communication happens not just through (written) words but ultimately through the intersection of various modes.

I’ve been lucky in that my work and my studies have been closely intertwined from the beginning. I started working part-time as a content and communication specialist in a design agency in the first semester of my Bachelor studies, and I was able to grow in that job throughout my entire studies. I even did two seminar papers using data collected at/through my job. This gave me the idea to do research on the kind of work I was doing, and I was fortunate to get the chance to do a PhD on the language work of UX writers. Although I love academia, I decided to go back to industry work for more stability, which brought me to where I am now.

I have an MA in Sociolinguistics with a minor in Digital Humanities. My BA was in German Studies with minors in Criminology and French.

After my MA, I worked on a project on technology acceptance among editors and platform operators for the Open Access Team in the Open Science Department of the University Library of Bern. Since summer 2025 I work as a trademark expert at the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property.

The main task is to examine Swiss and international trademark registration applications in all four national languages and English. Whether a trademark can be protected is examined on the basis of various criteria: a trademark must not be descriptive, i.e. it must not contain any information about the nature, quality, type or place of manufacture, intended use or price of the goods. Nor may it violate applicable law, public order or morality.

Precise research, contextualization and interpretation of statements, efficient handling of large amounts of data, the ability to formulate coherent texts quickly and easily, and – as a basis for all of this – a good feel for linguistic subtleties are the most important skills I have gained from my studies.

I majored in Sociolinguistics with a minor in English linguistics.

After my MA, I completed an internship at SRF/3sat nano in scientific journalism, followed by a traineeship (Volontariat) in TV, radio, and online journalism at CH Media.

I’m a content manager and journalist, working fully remotely and freelancing part-time. The main tasks include managing and producing website content, including copywriting, proofreading, content migration, and English and German translations. I also write journalistic articles for a philanthropic publication.

My studies strengthened my research and analytical skills, particularly in interpreting data, evaluating arguments, and thinking critically, which I apply daily in my jobs. 

www.oliviashares.com

I graduated with a Master major in Sociolinguistics and a Master minor in Languages and Literatures in English from the University of Bern in 2019.

I currently work as an Account Director at an international media agency specialised in OOH (out of home) advertising. In this role I am responsible for relationship / client management, strategy planning and coordination, as well as ensuring the successful delivery of international multimarket OOH campaigns. Because of the international nature of my work, I interact with people from all over the world on a daily basis. To perform effectively, it is essential to understand regional differences, as well as cultural nuances. This is where my background in sociolinguistics becomes especially valuable as my studies taught me to pay attention to subtle social cues and to recognise how communication norms vary across cultures and countries. A significant part of my job involves bridging gaps between markets with very different norms (e.g. Europe vs. Asia). Understanding how different cultures perceive and address workplace challenges, for example, helps me navigate these situations more effectively. Additionally, the soft skill I gained during my studies such as multitasking across several projects, conducting desk research and market analysis, as well as being able to communicate clearly and with nuance to avoid cross-cultural misunderstandings, are skills I rely on daily.

The Alumni-Network offers opportunities for and promotes exchange between students, alumnae, alumni and other members of the University of Bern by organizing events, founding specialised associations and other networks.