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Three questions for Deniz Bayrak - talent scout

© Christina Schulz​/​TU Dortmund

Why do the students need you as a talent scout? Before I joined the talent scouts, I was a lecturer in German Studies at TU Dortmund University. So I taught students. This sharpens your eye for hidden talents and you develop a feeling for the different subject cultures. This is useful for my work in talent scouting. In addition, I like to question a lot of things and meet everyone with an open mind. This is of course useful when I talk to talented people about their development opportunities. I can certainly help with study and career guidance.

How do you recognize talent? For me, enthusiasm is the most important indicator of talent. If pupils are particularly interested in a subject, they usually enjoy learning something new about it or questioning facts. However, this statement cannot be generalized. There is no grid that helps to identify talents. In most cases, it takes a sure instinct and many conversations for pupils to recognize and use their potential.

Talent found. What now? Ongoing advice and support are the be-all and end-all. Initially, I help the talents to clearly formulate their wishes for their future. We then look together at what is needed to turn their ideas into reality. I draw the talents' attention to suitable offers for study and career guidance and put them in touch with exciting contacts - with students or people who have already been working for a while. It is important to me that I am a reliable contact person for my talents in the long term, for example when they start their studies.