How To Find a Job as a Software Developer In Germany? (A Step-By-Step Guide)

Content of the guide

• How difficult is it to find a job as a Software Developer in Germany?

  • Work experience and technologies

  • For German / EU citizens

  • For people from other countries

  • Language skills

• Step-by-step process to finding a job as an EU citizen

  • Apply to companies while still living in your country

  • Job interviews

  • Moving to Germany

• Checklist of things to do after moving to Germany

  • Important formalities after arriving

  • Cost of living and taxes in Germany

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1. How difficult is it to find a job as a Software Developer in Germany?

This is a very common question!

Germany is one of the best countries in Europe to work in as a Software Engineer.

The salaries might not be as high as in neighboring Switzerland, but still higher than in most other EU countries, and you get a high standard of living with quality public services: education, healthcare, and transportation.

The country has a vibrant tech job market with over 30.000 tech job openings and startup hubs like Berlin, Hamburg, or Munich.

At the same time, there are over 800.000 Software Engineers in Germany, so the competition is stiff. The following factors might work in your favor or against you:

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Work experience and technologies 

- while getting a job in Germany is not easy, it is even harder as a Junior Software Engineer, especially if you are a foreigner. Most of the companies are looking for Developers with 2+ years of experience.

Having said that, it is possible to find a job even as a Junior, but you should be rather looking at internship or trainee offers (Praktikum in German).

Do you need a degree?

I wouldn't say you need it, but yes - without any work experience it will be your main bargaining chip. If you are experienced though (2+ years), then most companies will turn a blind eye to the lack of a degree.

The 2nd part is the technology that you specialize in. If you search through openings on GermanTechJobs you can see that there are many offers for Java, JavaScript, and Mobile Developers but not as many for Ruby, C# .NET, or C++.

Being a German or EU / EEA citizen

- if you are a citizen of one of the EU / EEA (European Economic Area) countries it will be pretty easy for you to migrate to Germany - it is a matter of filling the papers after you get the job.

When you find a job and move to Germany, after arrival you just have to visit the Residence Registration Office (Einwohnermeldeamt) or Immigration Office (Ausländerbehörde) and get registered.

That's why most of the time German companies prefer EU / EEA citizens when searching for new employees.

For people from other countries

- there are 2 administrative categories:

a) If you are a citizen of the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, South Korea, or Israel, you can move to Germany to find a job, and after that apply for a residence permit from the Ausländerbehörde.

b) If you come from any other country, for example, India, Brazil, Ukraine, etc. - then you have to either get a Job-Seeker Visa or find an employee that helps you with a work visa. For more details please refer to the official government website.

Language skills

- the only official language in Germany is, well… German :)

Speaking German fluently is definitely an advantage and many companies simply require it. However, you can still pretty easily find a job in English only, especially in startups or in big corporations.

Nevertheless, if you have the time and possibility - start learning German. Even if you speak it on a basic level (A2 / B1), it will vastly increase your chances on the job market.

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2. Step-by-step process for finding a job as an EU citizen:

Step 1. Apply to companies while staying in your country:

It has 2 big advantages: first, you don’t have to bear the high costs of living in Germany and second, you can focus on the important things - interviews.

In this step, you need to find the job offers. For that, you can use GermanTechJobs.de or any other job board. Alternatively, you might want to get in touch with a headhunter to help you.

We recommend that you apply to as many job openings as possible (even 100+) because it is not easy to actually get an interview, especially with less than 5 years of experience.

If you want to get informed about new job postings in real-time and apply as one of the first candidates, check our Job Alert.

It is good to mention in your CV and motivation letter that you are committed to moving to Germany (if you have a family there, bring it up too!). This makes the companies see you as a safe bet and not someone that might run away after a few months.

From our experiences, it is really worth working with headhunters if you are on the Junior level (0-2 years of experience) because German companies tend to be quite reluctant to hire graduate developers from abroad.

A headhunter might easily help you to get some interviews. You have to be cautious though - headhunters often work only with specific companies, and sometimes will not present you the whole picture (you will not have access to the entire job market). If you are working with a proven professional, you should be fine.

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Step 2. Job interviews:

Normally the job interview process consists of 2 - 4 steps.

It starts with an introduction call or/and a coding task where you will be asked some basic technical questions.

As the 2nd step, if you are not located in Germany, there might be a video call with live coding.

The last round will be an onsite interview where you visit the company's office in Germany.

The practice of reimbursing travel and accommodation costs is not widely spread, though some companies may offer it, especially the big ones. Therefore, it’s best to try to schedule a couple of onsite interviews on subsequent days, so you won't have to fly back and forth.

After the last interview, you should get a "yes" or "no" answer in the following days, max. 2 weeks.

If you have multiple offers, you might want to negotiate with the companies. Be careful though! Do not give the impression that you only care about the money, because it's still a taboo topic in Germany.

Step 3. Moving to Germany:

Congratulations - you have found your dream job in Germany! After the hard part, there are only formalities left. :)

After signing the contract, you need to prepare to move. If the company doesn’t offer any relocation package/assistance, you have to save about 2.000-4.000 EUR for this purpose.

When you arrive in Germany and want to find a place to live, there are 2 options:

1) Rent a flat or house - this is probably your choice if you are relocating together with your family.

2) Rent only a single room - it might be a good option if you plan to arrive alone (in Germany it’s called a Wohngemeinschaft - living together with other random people or friends).

Finding an apartment in some parts of Germany (especially in Berlin) is quite challenging! You will often end up competing with 20-30 other people that also hunt for the same flat!

The landlords are quite picky, and you will need to make a good impression, show them your job contract and documents proving that you don’t have unpaid debts (from an organization called SCHUFA).

A good option might be to find a short-term rental (for example with Airbnb or Couchsurfing) and patiently search for a long-term place when you are already there.

Be aware that, more often than not, you will have to deposit the amount that equals about 3 monthly rents.
At 1.500 EUR / month it means a single payment of 4.500 EUR! Therefore, if you are on a tight budget it might be a bit tough till you receive your first salary. You will get the deposit back when you're done renting an apartment.

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3. Checklist of things to do after moving to Germany

Important formalities after arriving:

After you arrive and get comfortable in your new place, you need to take care of the following:

• Register your stay - If you are a citizen of the EU (or Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland), you don’t need any work permit. You will only need to register your stay at a local Residence Registration Office (Einwohnermeldeamt) or Immigration Office (Ausländerbehörde).

• Open a bank account - There are a few types of banks in Germany:

  • Branch Banks (Filialbanks) are traditional banks with a country-wide network, but often higher fees, examples: Postbank, Commerzbank

  • Local banks in specific regions called Sparkasse, Volksbank, or Landesbank

  • Pure online/mobile / FinTech banks with almost free accounts, like Fidor, N26, or Kontist.

• Choose health insurance (Krankenkasse) - In Germany, you can choose between public and private health insurance, but only if you earn more than 64,350 EUR per year (as of 2021). If you earn less you are forced to use the public one, but you can still pick a provider. Health insurance in Germany amounts to around 14,6% of your salary and is deducted automatically (Source).

• Other important things - if you plan to use public transport then it might make sense to buy a long-term ticket. Otherwise, bikes or electric scooters are also good choices.

• Integrate and have fun - find local groups related to your hobbies and interests. In bigger cities, you may be able to connect with your own ethnic group, as there are some big diasporas living in Germany, like: Turkish, Romanian, Polish or Italian.

How much does life in Germany cost and how high are the taxes?

Germany is quite expensive compared to other EU countries, but not CRAZY expensive like Switzerland. It is worth mentioning that there are big differences in rent prices between the various cities, for example, Munich is quite costly, whereas in Berlin you should be able to find a place with lower rents.

Your first month or two might be a bit tough, but after receiving the salary you will quickly realize that the things are actually quite affordable.

Below you can find a breakdown of income and costs for someone earning 60.000 EUR and living in Berlin:

60.000 EUR annually (according to this calculator) gets you 3.049,25 EUR net per month. This is assuming that you are single and not a church member because there is an extra tax (around 9% of your income tax) if you belong to one. It assumes that you are single and don't have children (Germany offers a generous tax reduction if you have kids).

Income tax in Germany is a complex topic. The taxation is progressive, which means you pay a bigger percentage the more you earn. There are also six tax classes in Germany - the rates are based on your civil status (being single or married, having children, etc.). We recommend checking the gov resources for more information.

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To simplify, let’s assume 3.000 EUR to spend per month.

Now let’s move to the costs:

• Apartment: 800-1.500 EUR (with 1.5k you can get a pretty, but not the biggest flat in the center) or a single room in a flat: 500-900 EUR

• Food: 150-700 EUR (150 if you always cook for yourself, 700 if you are a foodie and eat out every 2nd day)

• Entertainment: 200–500 EUR (a beer in a pub costs ~5 EUR, monthly gym subscription 40 EUR. Again, it all depends on you, but you can have a lot of fun without spending much)

• Other: 150-300 EUR (phone, clothes, public transport, a car, etc.)

To sum up: if you are single and opt for the "live cool and don't care about expenses" style, then an average developer salary will be enough (it might be harder if you have a family to feed).

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On the other hand, if you choose to go the student-like route (living in Wohngemeinschaft and not eating out too much), you can easily manage with just 1.200-1.500 EUR per month, and save the majority of your salary.

As you can see, both options are doable!

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About the Author

Gregory Tomasik is the co-founder of GermanTechJobs.de & SwissDevJobs.ch. As a Software Engineer who worked in different European countries, he co-created a job portal dedicated to Developers & IT talents.

He puts transparency as the main value and that's why each offer on these sites includes: salary brackets, dev methodologies, and a detailed tech stack.

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Looking for a new job in Germany?

Check the current job openings here

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2. Why Studying In Germany May Be Your Fastest Way To Finding Work?

3. Increasing Your Employability In Germany In The Times Of The COVID19

4. Why Study In Germany?

GMAT Preparation Best Practices (By Students For Students)

MBA salaries are on average 40000 $ more than the median starting salary for bachelor's graduates. How to get into the best MBA? Take the GMAT. Here is how. Scroll down to access the full version.

MBAs specializing in strategy top the list, having an average early career salary of 96200 $ per year. It is 43000 $ more than the median starting salary for bachelor's graduates. Job prospects are also continually growing for MBA grads. How to get into the best MBA? Correct, through the GMAT.

1. You hear a lot about the GMAT test but you are unaware of what it is?

2. Are you serious about the Business School application?

3. Do you want to study at a top-notch institution graduate program in your country or abroad?

If you answer yes to any of the questions, take the GMAT and start here to ace your GMAT. Let me help out. Taking on a new challenge, in our case, study abroad experience at a highly ranked Business School is a very rewarding experience. Some schools require you to take a GMAT test in order to secure a place in the program. Some schools will consider you for a scholarship on the basis of your GMAT result. Some schools will ask the GMAT test to compensate for your GPA.

Here you will find the list of Business Schools I work with. Have you already taken the GMAT? Apply to a university of your choice here for me to check your profile, GMAT requirement and chances to join high ranked institutions.

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If you take the GMAT test, you simply help the Business School understand that you:

• Can demonstrate your commitment, motivation, and ability to succeed at the M.A., MSc or MBA program

• Have what it takes to excel at the critical thinking & reasoning – two important factors of successful businessmen / businesswomen

• Qualify for the selected top-notch program

• Are willing to work hard to guarantee yourself a better earning potential and the world of opportunities

A good GMAT score (just like Made In Germany) is a seal of quality.

For more than 60 years, the GMAT exam has been the most widely used exam for MBA admissions.

200.000 candidates take the test annually from 110+ countries at 650 testing centers. 2300 Business Schools and Universities set the GMAT test to be mandatory for 7000 programs worldwide.

The GMAT Basics

The GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is the standardized test most used by Business Schools across the world and it's in some instances an inevitable part to be granted admission. It tests general academic aptitude since verbal and written communication are just as important in the business world. It is held in the English language. The GMAT is heavy on math and has an inclination towards business studies.

The GMAT consists of 3 parts: verbal, mathematical and written parts, alike the SAT, ACT and GRE. What the other tests don’t have is data sufficiency questions. They are tricky, foreign tasks and they require practice. All you need is self-discipline, dedication, and the right materials. It is not impossible to pass this test. It is only a matter of practice and time invested in it.

The GMAT is administered year-round and you can check for the nearest GMAT testing center next to you here. You can take the GMAT once every 16 days, up to five times within any continuous rolling 12-month period (365 days) and up to eight total times. The test costs 250 $. It’s important that you choose the right time to take the GMAT not to pay the fee more than once. If you reschedule the test you must pay 50$ for reschedulling it. Do not hurry to schedule the test, because there are many dates available.

You can score from 200 to 800 points on the test. The top 10 Business Schools in the world require 700 points onwards. (Stanford University Business School requires an average of 737 points). The score is valid for 5 years. In this article, we will learn how to score 600 points because this is what study materials can help you with. What comes from 600 to 700 points is the practice and thinking outside of the box. First of all, I would like to say that you don’t necessarily need to join a professional coaching institute to prepare for the GMAT.

On the GMAT, you will actually receive additional scores:

• A total score, ranging from 200-800

• A math sub-score, ranging from 0-60

• A verbal sub-score, ranging from 0-60

• A score for your Analytical Writing Assessment, ranging from 0-6

• An Integrated Reasoning sub-score, ranging from 1-8

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 Be in the 10% of all test takers

TOTAL SCORE: 710 – 800

QUANTITATIVE SUB-SCORE: 51+

VERBAL SUB-SCORE: 40+

INTEGRATED REASONING: 8

ESSAY: 6

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Be in the 25% of all test takers

TOTAL SCORE: 650 – 700

QUANTITATIVE SUB-SCORE: 48-50

VERBAL SUB-SCORE: 35-39

INTEGRATED REASONING: 7

ESSAY: 5.5

Be in the 50% of all test takers

TOTAL SCORE: 550 – 640

QUANTITATIVE SUB-SCORE: 38-47

VERBAL SUB-SCORE: 28-34

INTEGRATED REASONING: 5-6

ESSAY: 4.5-5

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You have 3.5 hours to complete it:

1. Analytical writing has only 30 minutes allocated to each of the separate essays (1 issue analysis and 1 argument analysis).

2. The Quantitative part has 31 multiple-choice questions regarding data sufficiency and problem-solving. You have 62 minutes of your time allocated to this part, hence approximately 2 minutes per question.

3. The Verbal section has 65 minutes for 36 questions on critical reasoning, sentence correction and a reading comprehension.

The GMAT Best Practices

How do I know if I am ready for the GMAT?

Take the test right now and see where you stand. This will help you see the current situation and set the goals for the future.

I advise you to take the trial test (mock test) as soon as possible to know the level of your current knowledge, this will help you set your pace and to break it down in the weeks of practice how to tackle your weaknesses in the indicated time frame.

The majority of the math tasks are coming from high school. The earlier you take the test itself, the easier it is for you. Algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and statistics you had in school. Do not get rid of the old tests, 1 week prior to the official test, practice the old ones again where you made mistakes and to make sure you have 100% correct result. Your memory will help you if you are facing similar questions on the test.

From today onwards, start taking mock tests every 2 weeks, later on, every week and the closer to the test date, every 3 days.

How do I set a desired GMAT score?

You cannot fail or pass the GMAT test, rather you are assigned a certain score. Different Business Schools across the globe require the minimum score to be able to be considered for admission. Make sure to check the entry requirements of the institution you want to apply for.

Set yourself a target, as this way you can track your progress. Aim even higher. You have a safety blanket and you can use the extra points on the score in the negotiation for the admission to your selected list of schools.

When choosing the Business Schools, look for the best fit in terms of country, career goals, ranking, reputation, employability and your goals with dreams. If you need assistance, let me know. Check the minimum GMAT score required at the programs you are considering. The minimum of the top school is not your aim. Your aim is 30 points above.

Setting a target in the GMAT test is an important part of passing the GMAT.

Book your official test when you are scoring 30 points on trial tests below your desired score.

When and how do I start the GMAT preparation?

Start looking and testing the waters of the GMAT exam process at least six months before your test results are due. Most candidates report a minimum of eight-week study timeline required to succeed at the GMAT test. You know your own strengths and weaknesses and can judge about how much time you need to prepare.

There is no single right or wrong way to study, the approaches differ and so do the learning styles of the Master and MBA applicants. On average, the students spend around 100 hours preparing for the test. Some take more, some take less.

Forget about procrastination. The GMAT Is the center of your life now.

Sport, friends, family, job? Decide how you fit the GMAT in your planning. The preparation duration might take longer than you think.

When studying for GMAT or taking the trial tests, you need to disconnect from the real world: unplugging from TV, movies, social media, it is all for your own good.

Set SMART goals.

SMART goals are:

Specific: Well defined, clear, and unambiguous

Measurable: With specific criteria that measure your progress towards the accomplishment of the goal

Achievable: Attainable and not impossible to achieve

Realistic: Within reach, realistic, and relevant to your life purpose

Timely: With a clearly defined timeline, including a starting date and a target date. The purpose is to create urgency.

Build a solid & routine study plan

This will help you reduce your stress and risk of scoring low if you use a strategy for your studies. Understand your learning pattern and adjust your schedule accordingly. Choose an approximate date before the university deadline when you must have a GMAT result and count backward to today in terms of structuring your preparation plan. Include breaks and days off in your planning, because you need rest and distraction as well. Approach the preparation with a calm and positive attitude and optimistic outlook.

Passing GMAT is about knowledge and consistency of your preparation technique week to week. Assign weeks designated to certain subject or mock tests or weak points polishing. Do not hurry after someone else, determine your own self-paced environment with the end goal and target points throughout the time frame. Set targets and congratulate yourself on the way when achieving them.

What is peculiar about the GMAT format and how do I prepare?

The GMAT will confuse you. You have to understand that scoring doesn’t correlate with anything you have learnt at school. The GMAT tests your fundamental skills in math, grammar, and reading comprehension. It is time to be back to school! It is difficult and requires persistence in learning, but nothing is impossible.

Learn the format

Just like in the IELTS test it is very important to understand the structure, the timing of the test to be aware of what is coming your way. Do not underestimate the format of the test. The top math students are struggling with the quant section because the skills are tested differently and often time-restricted. Learn to work in stress, with the rhythm, timing, and pace.

Practice on adaptive tests

Practice on real GMAT questions. Practice makes perfect. There is a lot of free material available online. Take mock tests and previous years’ test templates. You will need to fill in the gap of knowledge for the test. Imagine that your mock test is not a trial but an actual exam day. This will get you in the habit of focusing on time. Practice taking the adaptive tests often.

Focus on the weakest points

When you have practiced enough, you will understand your strengths – concentrate on what is legging behind to be successful. Do not repeat the same error patterns and give yourself an aim: every trial test will be better than the previous one. What is it that you need to work on? Choose the materials that target the weakest points in your skills and target them during preparation.

Do not get demotivated from the errors, learn from them.

In the test, if you are answering perfectly, the tasks will become adaptively more difficult. The test will challenge you, hence you must be confident and comfortable on the test day. Review your mistakes.

If you take a test and you are not successful this time, take it again in a few weeks after having learnt from your mistakes. The majority of the top Business Schools in Germany, have admission 2 times a year: September and January.

Manage your time.

Set a timer for your answers because controlling time is as important as answering correctly. Try to answer 20 questions in 20 minutes, then 20 questions in 17 minutes and keep decreasing the time until perfection for your speed.

Do I have to focus on math when learning for the GMAT test?

Practice mental math.

GMAT is all about the timing. When you are practicing at home and you are reaching for a calculator, learn to fully calculate in your head instead of using help. Approximate. The GMAT reliably uses a set of simple numbers. When it doesn't, you can usually approximate.

Become comfortable with graphs, practice the visuals. Refresh your high school math to become familiar with efficiently analyzing charts, tables, and imaginary symbols

Do I have to thoroughly read the tasks in GMAT?

Practice reading and attentivity.

Reading the complicated English literature (business newspapers) will help you feel comfortable with the text and vocabulary and to practice your concentration on the topic. The majority of the careless mistakes result from missing important details or failing to read the question in its entirety. Do not skim through the exercises. The texts in full have all the necessary information to answer the tasks hence you might miss out on something if you skip it.

You are not reading to learn the content by heart. Details are important only if they are related to the author’s purpose. Pay attention to the tone and opinion of the author. Do not skip, rather skim through putting down the words which might be keywords for you.

Are some GMAT tasks of more value than the others?

Focus on the first 10 questions but keep focusing further. The greatest fluctuations in your score depend on the start questions, because the computer will adapt to your pace. They carry the main weight on the test and you must dedicate yourself to these questions. However, prioritize your time correctly, without leaving any answers blank – you cannot lose the points.

The last 10 questions are as important as the first. You don’t only have to give a correct answer, rather you have to give a correct answer in the allocated time frame. It is crucial to your score.

Start preparation with GMAT Quant Topics and then advance to Verbal Prep but only after you have aced around 80% of the question types. You can come back to this later, as you need to distract yourself.

Verbal section test assumes you know English very well (IELTS 6.5 and above, ideally 7 or 7.5). If you haven’t taken the test yet, in the majority of the cases it is a mandatory prerequisite for the Business Schools. Here is how you can take the test and score at least 7.

Aim for accuracy of 90% on both the quant and the verbal sections and move on to further preparation.

How do I mentally prepare for the GMAT test the last few days before the exam?

The day before the exam: sleep and prepare all documents needed for the exam beforehand. Solve a few questions but not a lot not to get anxious. Listen to music, watch a movie to prevent yourself from being nervous. Understand that you have learnt enough up to the point and you cannot control everything.

On the exam day: don’t forget to breathe. When you arrive at your test center, you have the flexibility to choose from three options for your exam's section order. Select it according to your preferences. You are ready for the test and you have put a lot of work and effort – this is the thought you must have on your mind. Keep repeating it to yourself.

Here is your choice:

1. Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative, Verbal

2. Verbal, Quantitative, Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment

3. Quantitative, Verbal, Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment

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 Best of luck! I am sure you will do good!

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The GMAT experience by students for students

Preparation courses are designed to appeal to a wide range of students. You are not one of many, you want to aim higher! That means to think outside of the box and not to solely rely on the preparation materials.

Two of my students, Harman and Debapratim share their experiences with you. They have been successful with their GMAT tests and are currently in the middle of their MBA applications to the Top Tier Universities in Germany. Let’s wish them the best of luck. Read tips & tricks from these MBA students about their test-taking strategies, including time management, practice tips and more. 

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 Debapratim

“Quants and Verbal scores are only taken into consideration in GMAT overall score. Being an engineering graduate, Quants section was manageable for me. My biggest challenge was in Verbal section. I would highly recommend the following points in the two sections: 

Verbal Section

1. Maintain an error log book for each mistake. This definitely helps

2. Strategic Time management is important. It’s best to write down the time range for every 5 questions beforehand so that Time does not fly away

3. Materials are very important. Only GMAT OFFICIAL GUIDE will not do.

   I will highly recommend reading MANHATTAN Sentence Correction book and Powerscore for Critical Reasoning, and regular reading Gaurdian newspaper for reading stamina

4. Develop a reading habit. Every day try to read 3 hours at a stretch without break that will enhance the required concentration level

5. Make sure all your Sentence Correction questions are right in the final mock test to score high.

 Quants Section

1. There is a saying in GMAT that ‘If you are doing it long, then you are doing it wrong’. Time is the key. For every question take 5 secs and decide your approach. This strategy will definitely increase your accuracy and decrease your time invested.

2. Upon revising all the concepts and formulas, I will suggest MANHATTAN ADVANCED LEVEL quants book for those who want to score high. This book will teach your best approaches and logical guessing in case of time constraint.

3. Don't allow yourself to get attached to a problem, if 3 mins have passed, then its best to guess and move forward. Time is a very important parameter.

4. And last but not the least, MOCK TESTS!! The most important of all, give regular mock tests to get accustomed to GMAT structure. Don’t skip any section in preparation. It will prepare you for the D-Day i.e. final exam.”

Harman

“Overall tips:

1. Remember, GMAT will test your time management skills rather than your knowledge. So, plan your paper wisely

2. Divide your exam and time in 3-4 parts and work according to it.

   Example: divide your exam in parts of 12 questions and assign equal time to each part as this will give you exact time for each part. If you have some time left in one part then you can attempt next part without any time pressure. This way, the during the whole exam you will have less pressure

3. If you lack time, then instead of guessing the last question in a row, you should skip some questions at different positions as this will not hurt your score by many points. GMAT always cuts more marks for wrong answers in sequences

4. For verbal part - always try to find wrong options rather than finding the right one because there are many right things in every option and you will not be able to eliminate the options easily.

   So, try to prove every option wrong and the one you cannot prove wrong will be the right one

5. Do not overthink and assume anything from yourself especially in CR questions. Make your choice according to what is given to you and do not choose the answers according to your knowledge

6. For quant part - do not spend too much time on solving one question just fix your time slot for each question and if you are not in commanding position to solve the question then go ahead by guessing it as there will be more questions ahead waiting for you to give you better scores and you will not face any time pressure for upcoming questions.”

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Related Articles:

1. 18 IELTS Tips And Tricks To Get Band 7 Or Higher

2. How To Study In Germany: 6 Short Steps From Idea To Admission

3. The Ultimate Guide To Finding Accommodation In Germany For International Students

4. Why Study In Germany?

How To Find Work In Germany Without Speaking German

Like a total boss 😎 - full expat guide including visa tips may be found here. Jobseeker visa, EU Blue Card, Study and Work In Germany! Scroll down to access the full version.

Live Work Germany has prepared this guest post for you to make your job-search less daunting!

For non-EU/EEA nationals, before commencing your job search, you need to understand the visa requirements to stay in Germany for work or career reasons.

If you study in Germany, have a degree from a German university and can speak German to B2 level, you will stand a very good chance of finding work. Indeed, if you graduate from a German university, you’re allowed to stay and seek work after graduation for up to 18 months. More on that later….

Finding a Job and Working in Germany

With various generous options to obtain residency, it's not a complicated process if you tick the right boxes. Germany is addressing a clear need with its visa requirements specifically seeking to attract professional and qualified migrants who can provide the skills necessary to contribute to an advanced, industrial society. 

Consequently, to be successful you will need to: 

• be educated to degree level OR possess a formal vocational training in a recognised trade.

• ideally speak German to a higher intermediate (B2) level (Although this is not strictly a must-have, it will 10x your chances of finding a job).

  Or:

• be able to convincingly prove that you can run and sustain your own small business or gain sufficient revenue through selling your services as a freelancer.

Let’s take a closer look at the different possibilities the German government offers for those seeking to live and work in Germany.

EU Blue Card

The Blue Card, aimed at highly qualified professionals, offers a fast track route to permanent residency for those who tick the necessary boxes.

In Germany, the visa requirements for the EU Blue Card are as follows:

• Be qualified to degree level (minimum bachelors).

• Have either a job offer or a signed employment contract in your field of study, conditional upon being granted a work permit.

• A salary of at least €53,600 (in 2019).

  • This is relaxed to a minimum of €41,808 (in 2019) for professions where there are recognised worker shortages, such as IT professionals, scientists, doctors, mathematicians and engineers.

However, this requires prior approval by the German Federal Employment Agency before a Blue Card is granted under these circumstances.

The benefit of a Blue Card is that after 33 months you are granted permanent residency (subject to a number of additional criteria being met). This shortens to 21 months if you can prove that you speak German to B1 level. Don‘t confuse this with citizenship, which carries a whole different set of criteria and typically can only be applied for after 8 years (with some exceptions). 

If you don’t meet these pretty stringent requirements, don’t worry. There are other options available to you, as we explain below.

Standard Residence Permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis)

If you don’t fulfil the criteria necessary for a Blue Card, you can still obtain a residence visa which allows you to work in Germany. The standard conditions will then apply, as they would for any third country national applying for residence in Germany for employment reasons.

Different qualifying criteria apply for this permit compared to the Blue Card, depending on the job you will be doing and the varying scarcity of eligible workers to fill the role.

Typically, if you have a university degree, then the first route available would be the Blue Card. But what if the job you’re being offered doesn’t meet the salary requirements necessary to qualify? For these cases, the process below is the route you would follow. Where the Blue Card is not an option, the employer must in the majority of cases attempt to hire a German or EU/EEA citizen.

However, not all professions are treated equally. Twice a year, the German Federal Agency for Employment (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) publishes their Whitelist of occupations in which there are severe worker shortages.

Employers seeking to hire qualified third country national applicants for these occupations do not have to first show that they have attempted to hire an EU national. Instead, the employer can offer the position to a non-EU national without having the Federal Agency for Employment checking the application. This means the whole end-to-end process is somewhat faster because it eliminates this step.

Job Offer as a Prerequisite?

For both the EU Blue Card and the Standard Residence Permit, you need to have a job offer before you can apply for and be granted these permits. So, how do you find a job, you’re probably asking? A good place to start is the jobs page, where you can search directly through the Live Work Germany website.

We’ll get to some of the other great places to look further down the article. Before you do though, let’s have a look at how realistic your chances are of finding work in Germany. We created a short quiz which you can download for FREE to give you some honest feedback on how attractive you are to potential German employers. 

Freelancer / Self Employment Visa

Perhaps you’re not so keen on finding a job in the regular German economy and instead you’d like to work as a freelancer or start your own business? To obtain a residence visa (Aufenthaltstitel) by this means, you normally have to apply from your home country. However, if you’re legally resident in Germany on a student visa then you can apply from within Germany. 

You are typically required to supply the following documents as part of your residence application to be self-employed or a freelancer:

• Business plan

• Proof of income already gained in this capacity

• Client references

• Portfolio of work

• Evidence of prior experience

• Proof of funds to independently support yourself

• Letters of intent from German companies who express an interest in contracting your services

For a more detailed explanation, and interactive coaching on exactly which bases you’ll need to cover in the documentation you submit, you can apply for an online course. 

But I don’t have a job offer and I’m not self-employed…

Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce…

The Job Seeker Visa

Unlike the EU Blue Card or a Standard Residence Permit, which are both issued on the condition of you being offered employment, the Job Seeker Visa allows a candidate to enter and reside in Germany for 6 months without a job secured, for the very purpose of looking for work. 

To apply for a Job Seeker Visa, the candidate must present evidence of the following as part of their application:

• Valid passport and biometric photos

• Necessary funds to cover their 6 month stay in Germany

• Work experience in their field of study (standard is 5 years but this can vary).

• Bachelor’s degree certificate (or greater)

• CV

• Cover letter outlining your reasons for applying for the visa

• Evidence of travel health insurance which covers an extended 6 month stay in Germany (apply for the best German Insurance here)

Job Seeking for Graduates of German Universities

For graduates of German universities, you’re allowed to extend your residence in Germany for a period of up to 18 months after graduation, for the purpose of seeking employment.

The process is relatively straightforward:

• The work you’re seeking must be relevant to your studies (which I guess in most cases it will be)

• You must have the available funds to support yourself during this time, or have somebody who can act as a guarantor.

• Along with your passport, you will need to show:

  • your degree certificate (or a document from your faculty office stating you have successfully completed your studies, if your degree certificate hasn’t been issued yet)

  • proof of ongoing health insurance cover to convert your student visa into a residence permit for seeking employment. (apply for the best German Insurance here)

Unlike the Job Seeker Visa, on this residence permit you’re also permitted to work in any job you wish in order to support yourself, while you seek relevant employment to your field of study.

Finding English Speaking Jobs

The good news is that YES, it IS POSSIBLE to find English speaking jobs in Germany.

The not-so-good-news is that your chances of finding an English-speaking position are highly dependent on a number of critical factors. It’s important you understand your realistic chances of finding work, before you spend valuable time and energy chasing after a unicorn.

Germany isn’t Dubai or Singapore…

My best advice would be to approach this pragmatically and evaluate your present situation based on the factors and tips below. This will enable you to look at what other areas may be worth exploring to improve your chances of success.

There is certainly no shortage of English-speaking HR Managers, or Digital Marketing Executives, or Sales Professionals. However, look towards the STEM-related professions (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), and the situation is very different.

Here, German language fluency is often less important and these professions are also where there tend to be more worker shortages of suitably qualified candidates. Looking for opportunities “off the beaten track” is also more likely to net you success than applying to well-known companies which openly have a policy of hiring in English.

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Don’t chase what everyone else is chasing.

(For the guys remember what it was like trying to catch the attention of the most popular girl at school!)

You need to be more creative, strategic and cunning to bag that perfect job in a competitive market. So think about it:

What do you bring to the table?

How are you unique?

Why should an employer hire you?

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Your Employment Depends on…

1. The Seniority Of The Position

   This is arguably the most critical factor. The rule of thumb is: The more senior the role, the less important it is to be fluent in German, especially in multinational, foreign-owned companies. 

2. The Role And The Industry

   Some industries and job types are by nature less dependent upon language skills. You’re less likely to need fluent German if you work as a programmer or software engineer than if you work in a client or customer-facing role such as Sales & Marketing or Project Management, dealing primarily with German-speaking clients.

   It goes without saying that any position requiring communication skills or interaction with clients, customers, and external suppliers is going to be trickier if you don’t speak the native language.

3. The Size Of The Company

   Larger multinationals are more likely to adopt English as the international language of business. This not only applies to foreign corporations but also some larger German firms too.

   Medium sized, family owned businesses are much less likely to offer jobs in English, although ironically, these are the very companies that are most struggling with a skills gap for essential vacancies.

4. Your Experience

   Perhaps I’m stating the obvious here, but it’s going to be easier for an experienced candidate to bag an English speaking job than a fresh university graduate.

   There are way more candidates than there are well paid English speaking roles. English speaking jobs in Germany are in high demand because there are plenty of well-educated international jobseekers seeking work in Germany who don’t (yet) speak fluent German.

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Your Network is your Net Worth. Everyone has a valuable network of contacts, even if they don’t realise it.

Look further than your “obvious” contacts - Who else do you know who could help you?

Maybe they know someone who knows someone who can hook you up.

Your former university professor or tutor, Fellow alumni who may have contacts in Germany

Friends / relatives of your partner

Any German friends or followers you may have on social media, Your German language tandem partner

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I can’t stress this enough. Your network is your NET WORTH. The LinkedIn search function is your friend here. Use it to identify headhunters in your profession or i ndustry. Spend 30 minutes or so typing in different keywords into the search, for example “pharmaceutical jobs Frankfurt”. You will soon get an idea of who is in the game and which positions are advertised in English.

Spend time each day on LinkedIn to grow your professional network. Look at new contacts’ profiles and contacts to see if anyone there is also worth reaching out to. It takes time and effort but it pays off. Not all open job positions are advertised.

Finding A Job in Germany – Useful Sites for Expats

So we’ve explained the “how?”, and now we’re going to explore “where exactly?”!

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a useful tool in Germany because it also has a strong, domestic competitor called Xing.

What this means, in practical terms for the non-German speaking job seeker, is that LinkedIn jobs tend to be more scaled towards larger, international companies (although this is by no means a hard and fast rule), whereas Xing is more geared towards medium-sized, German speaking companies.

LinkedIn is at its most powerful as a tool for connecting with headhunters, some of whom will be recruiting for English speaking jobs in Germany. You just have to build up a presence and increase your number of connections to link in with them (see what I did there?).

Treat your presence on LinkedIn a bit like building up a following on any other social media platform. If you want to build influence, invest time into regularly updating your profile, having a professional photo, writing blog posts on LinkedIn on topics relevant to your professional career, and cultivating your network.

Generic German Job Search Sites

Now, while the offerings on these sites are overwhelmingly aimed at Germans, it is worth panning for gold here. Not everyone will bother to look on these sites, so you could gain an advantage over your fellow jobseekers.

Remember my advice from the previous post? True, only around 5% of the job advertisements posted here will be in English but it doesn’t take a great deal of effort to sift through the ones that aren’t, right?

The major job search sites in Germany are: 

• StepStone

• Monster 

• Kalaydo 

• Jobware

Generic German Job Post Aggregators

 Aggregator sites differ from the job search sites above, in that they apply an algorithm to find job adverts and bring them all together in one place. Some (but not all) of these also generate revenue through allowing companies to advertise their positions directly on their sites.

From most to least useful, in my opinion, the main sites are: 

• Indeed

• ZipRecruiter

• Kimeta

• Opportuno

 Because Indeed and ZipRecruiter are internationally active sites with a presence in several countries, you could check out their site in the UK or US to familiarise yourself with the general navigation of the site in English language before tackling the .de site. Think one step ahead.

Employer & International Candidate Matching Services

Developed out of necessity, these are a smart and innovative concept and potentially very useful to international job seekers looking for English speaking jobs in Germany. 

Employland, founded i n 2014, allows candidates to create profiles for free and have them matched together with potential employers. At the point of a successful conclusion of an employment contract, the employer pays a fee.

ImmigrantSpirit works in a similar manner. This is the project of Düsseldorf-based Life Coach and Headhunter, Chris Pyak. Chris works with numerous companies to connect them with potential candidates. Candidates can register on the site for free and submit their CV and covering letter and Immigrant Spirit will match them with potential employers.

Germany-USA Careers Service works along similar lines, but is based in the U.S. and aimed at Americans looking to work in Germany. GUCC aims foremost to place Americans with U.S. companies and government agencies which have a presence in Germany.

Experteer

Even though this one is a German l anguage site, it deserves a mention on its own because of a certain nuance of the German jobs market: Namely that job adverts by and large do not indicate the expected salary range.

Experteer bucks this trend as a portal for senior roles paying above €60,000 per year. Because it tends to play at the higher end of the market, there are also more job descriptions in English.

Sites Aimed at English Speakers / Expats

Europe Language Jobs

Europe Language Jobs is a portal especially for bi- and multi-lingual job candidates who are looking for international roles where they can utilise their language skills. Many positions on their site are with companies based in Germany.

EnglishJobs.de

A user-friendly site posting English speaking jobs in Germany, EnglishJobs.de allows you to search by major city or Bundesland. Most of the open postings on here are geared towards engineers, developers and programmers.

ExpatJobseeker.de

A fairly similar set-up to the previous site, however ExpatJobseeker.de seems to be much broader and less focussed on IT jobs.

The Local

Advertising itself as Germany’s news in English, The Local has an English jobs section, although this is a search-bot function which gathers job descriptions from other sites which are posted in English, rather than original content.

JobsIn

The JobsIn family of sites offer job postings in English for several German cities. Each one has its own unique URL. Here are the l inks for Munich, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Berlin and Leipzig.  

Germany StartUp Jobs

Germany StartUp Jobs is a fairly new site which also plays predominantly in the tech / IT field but has some other job categories too. There is a particularly strong focus on jobs in Berlin, which isn’t surprising given that it’s mainly jobs in tech industries which are listed.

National Newspapers

These are worth a look too, but mainly offer German language job ads. The 3 most relevant for you will be: 

• Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (or FAZ for short) 

• Süddeutsche Zeitung, published in Munich. 

• Berliner Morgenpost is also useful for Berlin and surrounding area.  

Facebook Groups 

Be warned that most of these are for fairly casual and entry-level jobs. The ones listed below are those with the most members and which appear to be the most active. 

• English speaking jobs in Berlin

• English speaking jobs in Munich

• English & International Jobs In Frankfurt

• English Jobs Düsseldorf

• English Jobs in Hamburg

The groups below are focussed on the start-up scene and may be good hunting ground for those of you in a more technical field. 

• Rhein-Main Startups (Frankfurt region)

• Berlin Startup Jobs

• Berlin Startup Jobs (yes, this has the same name but is a different group!)

• Berlin Startup and other Jobs – German skills not required

• Startup Berlin Jobs

• Leipzig Startup Jobs

• Munich Startup Jobs

• Start Up Jobs In Munich

I hope this has given you food for thought and has provided you with the necessary information and tools to go out there and take action. If I can help to ensure your CV and cover letter are adapted for the German job market and firing on all cylinders, I would love to coach you to success.

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About the Author

James Meads is the Founder of Live Work Germany, a website helping expats in Germany and highly skilled professionals planning to move.

He spent 12 happy years as an expat in Germany and during that time, had 3 different corporate jobs, bought 2 properties, sold one, got a mortgage, filed his own taxes, started his own business and, along the way actually experienced German culture and what makes the country tick.

Live Work Germany’s services consist of 1:1 virtual consulting for relocation and job coaching, as well as online courses providing a reliable, fast and affordable learning solution to get complete clarity on how to apply for jobs in Germany and successfully obtain various residence permits.

He likes dogs, Riesling and jamon iberico, in no particular order.

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