Working in Germany, the most developed country in Europe in all respects, is desirable for many people. The flagships of this country's industry are known throughout the world: Volkswagen, Mercedes, Audi. State enterprises are always in need of new employees and are ready to attract personnel from abroad. First of all, we need highly qualified specialists: IT developers, web designers, managers of all levels, engineers, scientists, teachers. Also required are blue-collar workers: CNC machine operators, masons, carpenters, welders, plumbers, drivers of all categories. There is a shortage of nurses and junior medical staff in the social sector.
Immigrants from the CIS countries can apply for work in the above professions. Citizens of Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus are known as excellent workers who are fully responsible for their work. It is important to correctly highlight your abilities and present them to the employer in the best possible way.
How to find a job in Germany: main ways
There are several ways to get a job. You can find work in the country on your own or with the help of intermediaries - firms that search for personnel based on requests from employers.
Work in Germany without intermediaries
To find a job without intermediaries, you need to create a standard resume. This document will indicate:
- First and last name, full home address and contact details (telephone, email) of the employee;
- Applicant qualifications;
- Experience;
- Language skills;
- Extra skills.
You can create your own resume. People who do not know German can contact a translation agency and order a translation of their resume. The rules for drawing up this document are easy to find on the Internet. It is also worth preparing:
- Eschreibung (covering letter);
- Lebenslauf (biography);
- Arbeitsbeschreibung (description of a person's work experience and achievements);
- Diplom (diploma of education with translation into German).
To see a list of vacancies, persons who do not speak German should go to the website of the Federal Labor Office. This online resource has a simple and understandable Russian version. Job descriptions on it are given in German, but a simple translation can be done through online translators. The rest of the labor exchanges only have a German interface. The most popular of them:
- www.job.de;
- www.stepstone.de;
- www.jobscout24.de;
- www.monster.de.
All documents must be sent to the offices of companies and organizations by mail. You need to expect a response from 3 to 6 months. In general, finding a job can take up to one year.
Finding work through agencies
The easiest way to get a job in Germany is to contact a recruiting agency. Specialists from such an organization will interview the applicant about all the skills and abilities, help prepare a resume and other necessary documents, translate them into German, and select a company where the person wants to work. Representatives of the organization will meet the employee at the airport and help with finding housing.
The main disadvantages of working with agencies are:
- The need to pay a considerable amount for searching and selecting a vacancy (from 200 to 1000 euros);
- The risk is to find an agency that does not issue real documents for work, but simply sends people, like tourists, to places where no one is waiting for them.
To identify unscrupulous organizations, you need to immediately ask company representatives about the possibility of obtaining a blue card and the original employer’s invitation. These documents are prepared in any case.
§ Online labor exchanges and job search sites
There are many specialized websites on the German Internet where companies post their job offers. Below you will find a list of the most famous sites, the so-called online labor exchanges:
Table 1: Online labor exchanges in Germany
| Title, website link | Short description |
| Stepstone | One of the largest online labor exchanges in Germany, search, subscription, profile creation capabilities |
| Offer of jobs in Germany in Russian | |
| Monster | International largest online labor exchange, search ability, creating a profile for job search |
| Meinestadt | Online job exchange with many job offers throughout Germany |
| Jobware | Labor exchange for specialists and executives |
| Heise Medien – IT Stellenmarkt | Labor exchange for IT specialists |
| gigajob | Job offer and job search announcements |
| Jobkurier | Offer of jobs in all professions |
| CareerBuilder Jobs | International system for searching and offering jobs |
| Stellenanzeigen | Job offers from renowned German companies |
| Stellenmarkt | Offer full-time and part-time jobs, create a profile |
| Labor exchange of the famous social network Xing |
Many labor exchanges provide users with the opportunity to create their own personal profile to search for work . Some sites allow you to create anonymous profiles that can be viewed by everyone, and only registered employers can receive your contact information. These profiles are searched by companies in search of suitable employees. Opening your profile on one or more job exchanges can help in your job search.
Work Visa and Blue Card
To apply for a German visa, you need to receive an official invitation from your employer. Based on this document, the country’s consulate issues a Blue Card (Blaue Karte), which allows you to work in the state for 3 years, or a work visa, which gives a work permit valid for 1 year.
Immediately after arriving in the country (no more than 10 days after crossing the border), you need to rent housing and conclude an official rental agreement. Next, you need to register with the Office for Foreigners. Only after completing these procedures does the employee have the right to begin working.
How and where to look for work
For those who don’t know where to start looking for work abroad, we recommend the following options:
- Register with the Federal Labor Exchange, where vacancies are available, including for foreign specialists. At the same time, German citizens are always given priority. Foreigners can count on getting a job only if there are no local residents willing to fill a particular vacancy.
- Find a job in Germany on websites with advertisements on the Internet.
- Contact the HR department of the specific organization/company/firm you are interested in (HR department contacts can often be found on the official websites of companies).
- Contact a recruiting agency near your place of residence.
- Look for advertisements from direct employers in local newspapers and on various stands/bulletin boards.
What do you need to get a job?
In order to find work in Germany, foreigners first need to obtain a work permit. This document is drawn up at the Federal Labor Agency, but you won’t be able to get it yourself - to do this, you first need to find an employer and conclude an employment contract with him.
It is the employer who must submit an application for employment of a foreign worker to the Federal Labor Agency and prove that there are no applicants for this vacancy among local residents, and also that hiring a foreign employee will not harm the labor market in Germany.
Once the issue of obtaining a work permit has been resolved, you can begin applying for a visa. To obtain a German work visa you need the following documents:
- 2 application forms for a work (national) visa;
- 3 photographs of good quality in color, size – 3.5 x 4.5 cm;
- international passport;
- internal passport;
- 2 signed explanations (documents provided to the German Embassy and confirming that you are familiar with the possible consequences if you provide false information in the application form and documents submitted for a visa);
- a document confirming the provision of a workplace in Germany - an invitation from the employer or an employment contract;
- Diploma of Higher Education. Your specialization must correspond to the job vacancy. For university graduates outside Germany, there is a requirement to check the recognition of their diplomas in Germany on the website;
- insurance;
- biography in table format: it is necessary to indicate in chronological order and without gaps where the applicant worked before;
- work book (if any).
You can go to work in Germany without an invitation only if you apply for a special visa to look for work. In this case, instead of an official invitation from the employer or an employment contract, it is necessary to prepare a letter of motivation.
It should describe your plans in Germany in as much detail as possible, indicate the companies you would like to work for and the areas of activity you are considering for employment.
In addition, when applying for a visa to look for work, you must confirm that you have finances for the planned period of stay in Germany. For each month of expected stay in Germany, the applicant must have at least 720 euros.
German language level
There are not many options for Russian citizens to get a job in Germany without knowing German, but they still exist. You can find vacancies for Russian speakers, for example, in logistics or warehouses. However, knowledge of German is desirable at least at a minimum level.
So, to work in agriculture (picking fruits, vegetables and berries, working in greenhouses), it is enough to speak German at level A1. To work in the hotel and restaurant industry or marketing, you will need a B1 level. Doctors and specialists applying for a Blue Card must speak German at level B2 or higher.
If your level of German is not enough to get the job you want, you can take language courses in advance in your home country or upon arrival in Germany.
Language courses and schools operate at all German universities, and there are also independent organizations. Upon completion of the language school, having passed the TestDAF or DSH exams, you will receive a certificate indicating your level of language proficiency.
Useful resources, companies and employment agencies in Germany
To find a job in Germany, you can use the services of the following trusted companies and online resources:
- – Federal Labor Exchange. On the site you can find a lot of useful information on employment in the country, nostrification of foreign diplomas and German language courses. Information is provided in German, as well as in French and English.
- – Federal Employment Agency in Germany. First you need to select your place of residence, and then you will be offered employment centers in your region. Agency employees also provide employment to people with disabilities.
- – the site has a convenient filtering system: first select the desired salary range, and then enter the position. You can also search by city.
- – job offers on the site are updated daily. The company cooperates with more than 137,000 companies without intermediaries. The site is available in German, French and English.
- – a great help in finding a job on this site is the function of viewing employer profiles in the form of presentations.
- – the agency is focused primarily on finding students working as freelancers and looking for temporary part-time jobs.
- – bulletin board for work in the field of IT technologies. This site may also be useful to those who are interested in remote work from home.
- – an agency engaged in the selection of domestic staff in Berlin, Hamburg, Dresden, Freiburg, Frankfurt am Main, Munich, Cologne and other major cities of Germany. Agency employees are looking for applicants for vacancies of nannies, caregivers, housekeepers, housekeepers, gardeners and others related to housework.
- – the website contains job advertisements for students for the summer, as well as throughout the year with part-time, full-time and remote employment.
- – the agency is engaged in the selection of specialists in the field of finance, economics, industry, mainly for office work. The agency's branches are open in 20 cities in Germany.
- – in order for the agency staff to add you to the client database, you need to submit an application on the website. The main cities where job applicants go are Hamburg and Munich.
- – the site presents more than 900,000 available vacancies from direct employers throughout Germany, including for foreigners.
Work without knowledge of German
Without knowledge of the German language, it is almost impossible to count on skilled work. The exception is people who know several other languages: English, French, Italian. When hiring for highly paid positions, ignorance of German is tolerated only in the IT field (with excellent command of English). Before traveling to Germany, it is advisable to take German language courses. Employees who speak German, on average, receive salaries 100-500 euros higher.
A person who does not speak German can count on the following positions:
- Parts assembler or packer;
- Driver;
- General worker in warehouses;
- Agricultural worker (picking berries or fruits).
Vacancies for students
Students in Germany can primarily count on participating in volunteer programs. But such sets of events are suitable for people who want to spend their summer holidays usefully. For helping German families or organizations, young people are given 250-400 euros a month “for pocket money.”
Volunteers may have different tasks. Some families hire helpers who must go to stores, clean homes, iron, do laundry, sweep yards, and do other simple work for no more than 4 hours a day. Large organizations recruit people to participate in large shows. Sometimes, under the guise of recruiting volunteers, farms hire employees for seasonal work in agriculture (picking berries, preparing feed for livestock).
Students who study in Germany can apply for a work permit no earlier than six months after the start of their studies. Until this period passes, it is believed that a person should be completely focused on the educational process.
Is it worth going to Germany to work?
From the above it follows that finding a job in Germany and further relocation is not an easy process at all. But if you are a highly qualified specialist, you have experience and ambitions, it’s worth a try. If you made a career in Russia or Ukraine, you will make it in another country. As a donation there will be a high salary, a high standard of living in a developed country, social security, the opportunity to travel, and learn a new culture.
If you are hardworking, you can earn more for your work without having any special knowledge. It is enough to prove your importance through experience. Therefore, check out the current vacancies on the website euro-rabota.com and go for it.
Drivers and truckers
In order to work as a driver you must have:
- International driving license;
- At least 3 years of experience driving a vehicle in the category specified on your license (preferably more than 5 years).
The salary of a driver who works in local transportation is 1700-2000 euros per month. A truck driver's earnings can reach up to 3,000 euros in 30 days. Almost all companies that hire drivers pay annual bonuses of 100-300 euros for accident-free driving.
But drivers who work on vehicles with a carrying capacity of up to 7 tons are at home every day and can have time to devote time to their families, while truckers go on trips lasting from 4 to 10 days.
A significant part of the vehicles used for transportation are no more than 7 years old. Carrier technical services monitor the condition of the vehicles and eliminate the slightest breakdowns.
Doctors
To become a doctor in Germany, you need to have a good knowledge of the German language (at least level B2), and also obtain a Berufserlaubnis - a temporary work permit. This document is issued by employees of the health department of the state in which the medical institution is located. Berufserlaubnis allows a doctor from any country in the world to get used to the German healthcare system, work and prepare to pass the exam and receive the Approbation, which gives permission to work as a highly specialized doctor. It is received by people who have graduated from medical universities in Germany or by foreigners who have confirmed their diploma.
To obtain Berufserlaubnis, the doctor must submit the following documents to the state health office:
- Translation of a diploma of higher medical education;
- Translation of a certificate of completion of internship or residency;
- Translation of marriage certificate;
- Translation of work book;
- Resume written in German;
- Berufserlaubnis request form, which can be downloaded from the management website;
- A copy of all pages of the passport;
- Language certificate;
- A certificate of no criminal record translated into German, which was issued no more than 3 months before the doctor left for Germany;
- A “Certificate of good standing” certificate translated into German is a document that confirms that the applicant has not committed serious medical errors in his home country. This certificate is issued by the regional (territorial, republican) health department;
- “Amtliches Führungszeugnis – Belegart 0” is a document that indicates that the doctor has not previously worked in Germany. You can get it from your local government (town hall);
- A medical certificate of professional suitability, which can be obtained from any doctor for 30-200 euros;
- A copy of the work contract with the medical institution;
- Work visa or blue card.
The salary of a beginning doctor is 2,400 euros. After a few years of work, it can increase to 7,000 euros. The working hours of doctors in each hospital are different. The duration of a shift for emergency doctors in medical institutions can be 10-12 hours, and for highly specialized specialists - 8 hours.
What are the most popular jobs in Germany?
Specialists in the fields of construction, agriculture and hotel business are most in demand in Germany. The advantage is the absence of strict requirements for language knowledge and assistance in adaptation. Girls with basic German can easily get a job as a maid, cleaning service specialist, fruit and vegetable picker, and men can get a job as a laborer or warehouse assistant.
In 2021, jobs in nursing homes, home and hospital nannies, kitters and painters were popular among foreigners in Germany.
Certified specialists with experience in the following areas are also valued:
- medicine;
- IT;
- HR;
- engineering;
- transport transportation.
It is important to remember that when applying for employment in these vacancies, your diploma must be comparable to the local standard, and your level of knowledge of German must not be lower than level B1. Drivers may be required to complete additional refresher courses and present a valid driver's license.
Nurses
Working as a nurse requires special skills and a diploma from a medical school or college with a period of study of at least 3 years, as well as good knowledge of the German language. Proficiency in the latter can be improved through courses. German language classes lasting 4-6 months are organized by companies that recruit personnel for German clinics. After completing the courses, each nurse is required to pass exams confirming her qualifications and knowledge of the language (not lower than level B2).
German language classes, visa preparation and other procedures are usually free. But after completing the courses, the employee must work in a medical institution for at least 3 years without changing jobs.
While studying the language, nurses can work part-time in the clinic on a volunteer basis and receive 300-400 euros per month in pocket money. After taking up their main place of work, employees will receive 1800-2200 euros per month.
Each clinic's opening hours are different. It often happens that doctors work 1 time during the first shift, 1 time during the second shift, 1 time during the third shift, and after that they have 2 days off. The first shift usually starts at 6:00. The duration of each shift is 8 hours.
Nurses
As caregivers, German maid hiring agencies and individual families prefer to hire people who previously worked as teachers, nurses, doctors, and educators. At the same time, people without education, but with a great desire to work and care for sick or old people, can also get a job as a nurse.
German families are willing to pay 2300-2600 euros to employees with medical education, including housing and food. Nurses work 6 days a week with 1 day off on Sunday.
Employment contract
If you enter into an employment contract with an employer in Berlin, its terms will be those that you established in preliminary negotiations. The employment contract is concluded in writing and contains the following clauses:
- name and address;
- start date (beginning of employment relationship);
- end date (optional);
- duration of the probationary period;
- place of work;
- description of work;
- remuneration (bonuses, bonuses, rules regarding taxes and fees);
- working hours (usually five days a week, 40 hours a week, eight hours a day plus an hour lunch break);
- notice periods;
- collective agreements and employment contracts (special rules should be checked with the employer);
- vacation days (minimum statutory vacation is 24 days).
Engineers
To get a job as an engineer in Germany, you need to take part in joint projects with German companies or do the following:
- Find a company that will hire an employee through an agency or the Internet;
- After arriving in Germany, submit a translation of the diploma to the local education department so that the authority can issue an opinion on the compliance of the diploma with educational documents issued by German universities;
- Get a blue card and work permit.
If desired, an engineer from the CIS countries can enroll in integration courses lasting 1 year, which are organized by the Federal Office of Labor, and only after them send out a resume. Engineers have an 8-hour working day, with a lunch break. Once a year, a specialist is granted a vacation of 30 days. The salary of an engineer in Germany is from 3,000 to 7,000 euros.
§ Job fairs (career fairs) (German Jobmessen)
In different cities of Germany, so-called career fairs (vacancies) are regularly held, which can also be a help in finding a job. They allow you to get in touch directly with employers and introduce yourself to them. Businesses usually use these fairs to establish contacts with graduates of educational institutions, universities in search of suitable employees, as well as professionals with extensive experience in a particular field. At these job fairs you can find offers for innovative jobs with pre-training.
First of all, find out where the next job fairs will be held. This can be found on the websites of the organizers of these events; below you will find a list of these organizers.
To find a job at a job fair, use the following strategy:
- Decide where and what career fairs you want to attend,
- on the organizer’s website you will find a list of companies that are taking part,
- select those companies that interest you as employers,
- prepare folders with resumes and other documents for searching for work in Germany, which you will give to these companies,
- When you come to a career fair, go to the stands of the companies you have chosen to find out their offers and submit your resume.
Table 3: Job fairs in Germany, list of organizers
| Title, website link | Short description |
| IT Jobtag | Job fairs in >= 10 German cities for IT specialists |
| Automotive TopCareer | Career fairs for students, entry-level workers and young professionals. Participants are mainly from the automotive industry |
| e-fellows.net GmbH | Organizer of events for students and those starting a working career |
| Bonding-studentinitiative e.V. | Job fairs for university graduates |
| MINT-Jobtag | Career fairs for professionals and executives |
| Online-Carrieretag | Online sphere: work, practice, combining work and study at a university |
| CAR-connects | German Automotive Career Fairs |
| Energy Recruiting Tag | Energy Industry Career Days |
| Agentur pe+a | Career fairs for those seeking study or work |
| jobmesse deutschland tour | Career fairs offering education and work opportunities for all ages |
| ORTEC Messe und Kongress GmbH | Career fairs for beginners and professionals |
| Einstieg Messen | Career fairs to support young people in choosing a place and direction of study |
| IQB Career Services GmbH | Career days for university graduates and young professionals |
| LET's CARE | Career fairs focused on social professions |
| Jobs for Future | Career fairs in Mannheim |
| Fit for JOB | Career fairs in Augsburg |
| jobvector career day | Career fairs for professionals in the fields of medicine, computer science, engineering and natural sciences |
| my job-OWL | Career fairs in Bad Salzuflen |
| T5 JobMessen | Career fairs for specialists and managers with and without professional experience. |
| IT-Karrieretag | Career days for IT specialists |
| kalaydo | Career days in German regions |
| JOBUNICATION | Online career fair |
| Connecticum | Career fairs for those starting out in the workforce |
| women & work | Career fairs for women |
| akademika - Die Job-Messe | Career fairs from leading German industries |
| job40plus | Career fairs for experienced professionals and executives |
| spring Messe Management GmbH | Career fairs |
| Connecti | German-French career fairs |
| herCAREER | Career fairs for women |
| ScienceCon | Biotechnology Career Fairs |
