Finding a Job
This page contains a list of popular job websites and tips on how to find a job.
General Advice
Job Advice
- Mind that certain companies might advertise new jobs via their internal system, rather than an agency or an external website. That means you should visit (and set up automatic alerts) both for job sites (see below) as well as potential employers’ websites.
- You can also check your local newspaper for jobs.
- It is also possible to just send applications speculatively; it cannot really harm to do that. The HR department of the company might even store the application and call you back at a later time when a suitable position is open.
- Reformat your CV to conform to the expectations of German employers. You can use the search engine of your choice to find templates and advice (example from Monster.de), but broadly: don’t make it longer than two pages, add a photo, don’t spend too much time on “personal interests”, and write it in German if possible (unless the company specifically requests an English CV).
Internship Advice
There are two kinds of internships. Paid internships and unpaid internships, both with legal definitions behind them.
- Unpaid internships: To clarify, unpaid internships, often called “Praktikum”, still allow for you to be paid money, although the amount will not be big. Unpaid internships are for people who are required to take an internship as part of their Undergraduate degree or Graduate degree. Depending on your degree and its requirements, you have to take practical work in your field via an internship. Some Graduate degree require having an internship under your belt in order to qualify for the graduate program, however this is different for every school as well as program. A qualified internship can give you an extra 30 ETCS points towards your requirements to qualify for a masters program. These internships state that they require the intern to be a full time student. This is due to the fact Germany has implemented a minimum wage and having this requirement gives a company a way to pay the intern not as much or anything at all. Also to complete a masters degree, you might be required to complete an Internship, and this would be the type of internship you would probably receive.
- Paid Internships: Paid internships are internships that you go for when you have a degree in hand and hope to get a foot in the door and land a decent job. The employer has to pay at least 8.50€ per hour if the internship lasts longer than 3 months. That being said, you can still go after an “Unpaid” internship, the caveat being the employer has to pay you. So while it won’t hurt to file an application, especially if it is with a company where you have a profile with your CV, and other things on it already, the may not want to hire you because they are required to pay you minimum wage and is probably less likely to lead to a full time job.
Job Websites
| Link | Description |
|---|---|
| Bundesagentur für Arbeit | This is the offical site of the German Federal Employment Agency. |
| Monster | One of the largest job sites in Germany. |
| Stepstone | Yet another large job site. |
| Indeed | Same. |
| Kimeta | Same. |
| Jobscout24 | Same. |
| Jobomat | Same. |
| Jobpilot | Same. |
| Randstad | The second-largest personnel service provider. |
| Career Vault | Remote jobs. Many German companies are hiring remotely on this website. Based in Berlin. |
| gulp | For engineering / IT jobs. Freelancers are welcome as well. |
| stackoverflow | For IT jobs. |
| SATZ | For IT jobs. Based in Munich, run by an English guy. |
| Academics.de | Job website for “academic” professions hosted by the Die Zeit newspaper. |
| Ebay Kleinanzeigen | Ebay also has a small notice board for jobs. |
| Networking website. Good to advertise yourself and / or to get in touch with headhunters. | |
| Like LinkedIn, but more popular in Germany. Good to advertise yourself and / or to get in touch with headhunters. | |
| The Local Germany | The Local also has a small section for English-language jobs. |
| Jobs in Berlin | English-language site for jobs in Berlin. |
| StartupJobs | Startup jobs in Berlin. |
| WorkValues | Startup jobs in Germany matched to your skills, work culture and growth interests. |
| Toplanguagejobs | Website offering jobs in any foreign language (mainly English) in Germany. |
| Europe Language Jobs | Website offering jobs for multilinguals. |
| ZIW | Temporary employment agency |
| Medizinerkarriere | Medical jobs |
| Ärzte-Vermittlung | Medical job agency |
| DocToLet | Medical job agency |
| Graupner Medical Group | Medical job agency |
| VLK | Medical job agency |
| Medconet | Medical job agency |
| Kununu | Good for looking up companies in a certain field. |
| Berlin Top Jobs | Cool platform for jobs in English in Berlin |
| GermanTechJobs.de | The first German IT job board built with Software Engineers in mind |
Guides & Tools about Tax
Salary/income tax calculator in English
Salary Calculator in English - Also available in German