How can I find a job in Germany?

There are many ways to find a job in Germany. Find out what steps you need to take, where you can find vacancies and how to write an application for a job.

Find jobs online

Make sure that you are dealing with reputable job offers.  There are, among other things, official job exchanges that are specifically aimed at applicants from abroad.

Make it in Germany

The job exchange on the official portal of the German Federal Government for skilled workers from abroad:

Make it in Germany: Job listings

EURES

The job exchange of the European Union:

EURES: Find a Job

Federal Employment Agency

The job search of the Federal Employment Agency:

Job search (only in German)

Placement through the Federal Employment Agency

The Federal Employment Agency is an official body that will help you find a job.

Getting support from the Federal Employment Agency has many advantages:

  • positiv:We are well connected throughout Germany and are in touch with employers from many sectors.
  • positiv:We will help you find a job that matches your professional qualifications.
  • positiv:We will tell you what requirements you need to meet to work in Germany.
  • positiv:We will check your documents for your job applications and tell you if anything is missing.

Our advice and support are free of charge.

Contact

How do I apply for a job?

For an application to be successful in Germany, it is often not enough to simply translate your curriculum vitae into German. There are formal standards that should be taken into consideration.

In Germany, companies indicate in the job advertisements which documents they require for the application.

You send the application directly to the company. The most common ways to do this are by e-mail or via the company's website.

What documents do I need?

Tipp:Tip: You can create a curriculum vitae and a cover letter free of charge on the following website: Europass Tools

In a cover letter you explain …

  • why you are interested in the position and the company,
  • why you are suitable for the position.

Your curriculum vitae provides an overview of your personal background and professional career. Structure your CV in tabular form. It should not be longer than 2 pages. Sort the entries chronologically. The most recent entries should be at the beginning.

The following points are important:

  • Your previous jobs and the companies you have worked for
  • Vocational training or studies
  • Further training
  • Internships that are relevant to the position
  • Language skills (More Information: How well do I need to know German?)

Prove your qualifications with certificates or certifications.

In certain cases, your professional qualifications must be officially recognised. More information: How can my professional qualification be recognised?

What happens after the application?

If the company is interested, another selection process follows. There are various procedures in Germany. Which one applies in your case depends, for example, on the industry or the size of the company.

The most common procedures are the following:

  • Interview: An appointment for you and the company to get to know each other. The interview can initially be arranged online or directly on site.
  • Assessment centre: A structured selection process with various exercises and tests. These include, for example, tasks that are solved in a group and the creation of presentations. This way, the companies test the applicant’s suitability for a specific position.

For more information, visit the website Make it in Germany: Applying for a job.

Answers to frequently asked questions

Keep the following in mind:

  • positiv:Do not accept an employment contract if your personal suitability has not been checked beforehand or if you have not yet had an interview.
  • positiv:Check the specified contacts. You can find these on the company's website, for example.
  • positiv:Do not provide any personal data if you are not sure who you are in contact with.

This will increase your chances:

  1. Find out exactly what the requirements of the job are.
  2. Familiarise yourself with the company.
  3. In your cover letter, explain why you are a good fit for the company and meet the requirements of the position.
  4. Do not use the same cover letter for several applications. You should tailor the content to the respective job offer and company.
  5. Apply for several job offers at the same time.

Tipp:Tip: The Federal Employment Agency offers free web tutorials on topics such as job applications and job interviews. For more information and to register, visit the website WebTutorials.

There is no set duration for the application process. Some time may pass between your application, an interview and the acceptance or refusal. This depends on the size of the company, among other things.

Tipp:Tip: You increase your chances if you apply for several jobs at the same time.

Once you have received a job offer, you should check whether any other requirements apply to you. Even before applying for a job you should check whether you ...

  • require a visa,
  • need to have your professional qualifications officially recognised,
  • have sufficient knowledge of German.

More information:

People from other countries can also start their own business in Germany.

For more information, visit the website Make it in Germany: Setting up a business.

In Germany, the working conditions are precisely regulated. These include, for example:

  • Holiday entitlement
  • Regulated working hours
  • Certain rights in the event of termination

These regulations apply both to German and foreign nationals.

For the most important regulations, visit the website Make it in Germany: Working environment.

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