Working in Germany

Have you come to Germany in search of employment and now want to learn more about working in Germany? In this article, you will learn which professions currently have the most vacancies and what requirements you have to meet in order to be allowed to work in Germany. You will also find here important information about working conditions, salary, application and your job search.

As in many other countries, the shortage of skilled workers is also a major issue in Germany. This means that it is precisely these jobs for which you will find the most vacancies. These include the following jobs in the following fields:

• Social work and social pedagogy
• Childcare and education
• Care for the elderly
• Construction electrics
• Healthcare and nursing
• Sanitary, heating and air conditioning technology
• Computer science
• Physiotherapy
• Automotive technology
• Professional drivers

The Federal Employment Agency also describes employees in the following fields as being particularly sought-after:

• Sales
• Transport and logistics
• Metal production, processing and metal construction
• Corporate management and organisation
• Non-medical health professions, personal care, medical technology

If you want to work in Germany, you are probably wondering what the working conditions are like here. Compared to many other countries, much is regulated by law in Germany. Employees are very well protected.

You will typically work 40 hours a week and about eight hours a day in a full-time position. The law stipulates 20 days of holiday leave per year. However, most employers will grant you between 25 and 30 days of holiday. This is in addition to the public holidays in Germany, of which there are between 9 and 13 depending on the federal state. You will also continue to receive full salary if you are sick. There are no limitations on sick days in Germany. Most employers require you to present a medical certificate on the third day of illness. If you are sick for more than six weeks at a time or due to the same cause, you will only receive 60 percent of your salary.

It is important to know that there is a gross and a net salary in Germany. You will contractually negotiate your gross salary, which is also set out in your employment contract. Since Germany is a welfare state, insurance contributions are deducted from your gross salary that provide you with insurance cover: health insurance, long-term care insurance, pension insurance, accident insurance and unemployment insurance. After these deductions, you will receive a net salary, which you can calculate in advance using a gross-net calculator online. You can find out more about these insurances in our article “Living in Germany”.

In some professions, especially in health professions, collective agreements often apply. This means that you will be assigned to a salary group according to your qualifications, with your salary as well as salary increases precisely defined accordingly.

German law also provides for a minimum wage, which is regularly adjusted.

In Germany, your employment contract regulates the rights and obligations of the employer and employee, for example weekly hours, working hours, salary, vacation days, notice periods, probationary periods, etc. You are also often required to sign a confidentiality agreement that obliges you not to disclose any internal company information to third parties. Employees in Germany enjoy strong protection against dismissal. Employers must give good reasons for dismissal and often also take social factors into account. The statutory notice period is two weeks during the probationary period and four weeks after the probationary period.

Since the Corona pandemic, many employees have enjoyed more flexibility in the workplace. Working from home has become much more common in Germany, as have flexitime, part-time work and workation. These models are usually also regulated in the employment contract.

In order to be allowed to work in Germany, you must meet a number of requirements. These are:

• Work visa (for third countries)
  If you come from a third country, you must be able to present a visa when you enter the country. You must then have this converted into a residence permit as soon as you are in Germany. You can find out more in our article “Work visa Germany”.
• Evidence of language skills
  For your residence permit, you will need proof of your German language skills, even though you can survive perfectly well with English in some companies.
• Recognition of qualifications
  If you have obtained your qualification abroad, you may need recognition of your profession in Germany, depending on your profession and country of origin. You can find out more about this in our article “Recognition in Germany”.

Do you meet all the requirements and now want to start looking for a job? It has become very easy to look for work online in Germany. Job advertisements are often found in daily newspapers, but you will also find most online.

You can search for suitable jobs on these job portals:

• Linkedin
• Xing
• Stepstone
• Indeed
• Jobware
• Bundesagentur für Arbeit

It is best to create an appealing profile on Linkedin and Xing, look for companies that appeal to you and make contacts. You are sure to find jobs that might interest you through job postings on Linkedin and Xing.

Another option is to write an unsolicited application if there is a company which you are especially interested in but is currently not advertising any suitable positions for you. To do this, simply find a suitable contact person via the company website and describe in your application where your skills lie and why you absolutely want to work in this company.

Have you now found jobs you want to apply for? Then we have important information and tips for your application here. In most cases, you can easily send your application by email or directly via a form on the respective website. Your application should include the following documents.

• Curriculum vitae in tabular form
  You can make a good first impression with a curriculum vitae in tabular form. This should show the stages of your professional career and training in bullet points. Start with the newest and finish with the oldest. In addition, you should also state your skills, such as language and software skills. In addition, it is common in Germany to provide personal data such as name, address, telephone number and an email address. A photo is not essential.
• References and certificates
  Qualifications play an important role in Germany. So be sure to attach degree certificates and employment references to your application. It is also essential that you have certificates and references translated and certified to ensure that your application does not fail in the end due to the language barrier.
• Cover letter
  A letter of motivation is not always essential in Germany. However, a cover letter like this can help you stand out from the crowd because it shows that you have invested time in preparing your application. Explain what your greatest professional success was, what you consider milestones in your career. And briefly describe why you are particularly suitable for this position.

In general, it is important that your application is written in error-free German. To this end, it is best to have your application proofread by native speakers to ensure that you make a good impression on potential employers.