Abstract Context: In recent years, there has been an increasing focus on the promotion of emerging researchers. Due to the growing number of PhD students and the decrease in post-doctoral positions, the preparation of PhD students for careers outside academia has become more and more important. This study addresses the career aspirations of doctoral researchers in the field of vocational education and training, considering the pandemic-related influences on their career development and the support offered within the doctoral programme. Approach: Six doctoral researchers from three different European countries (Germany, England, Sweden) were interviewed online in semi-structured interviews. The countries were chosen because of their different VET systems. In addition, the interview partners conduct their doctorate under different organizational conditions: structured programmes vs. individual doctoral education. The data was analysed using the method of focused analysis of qualitative interviews. Findings: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the framework conditions of the doctorate have changed, and many challenges have arisen for doctoral researchers, independent of the structure of the doctoral programme or the VET system. Nevertheless, the structured doctoral programme in Sweden, a country with a science-oriented VET system, tends to prepare students more strongly for a career within academia than the doctoral programmes in the other countries. With regard to the career aspirations of the doctoral students surveyed, on the other hand, a strong tendency toward career aspirations outside academia can be observed. Conclusion: The pandemic-related circumstances have not allowed the doctoral researchers to network within the scientific community and beyond as they had hoped. The result - regardless of the doctoral programme or country - is that the interviewees are facing an uncertain future with regard to the end of their doctorate.