Working in Germany - Copy & Paste Test

Learn the key features

According to Germany's own Federal Employment Agency, the country needs over 400,000 skilled migrants to arrive every year in order to feed its demand for labor. There are a number of reasons for this demand, including an ageing population, but the most important driver of employment opportunities is Germany's robust economy. 

How productive is Germany?

Germany is usually seen as one of the world's most productive economies - meaning that it has a very high level of output per individual worker. Statistics vary, but to illustrate the point, most experts believe that UK workers achieve in five days what Germans achieve in four. And that's true in almost all German industries.

This strong economy rests on various sectors, including aerospace and automobile manufacturing, information technology, life sciences and pharmaceuticals, logistics, healthcare, agriculture, sustainable energy, and digital marketing. This diversity means that a wide range of skills are needed, and companies seek to recruit all over the world.

How can I get a job in Germany?

The job market includes direct appointments, as well as apprenticeships and graduate schemes, which include on-the-job training. This kind of arrangement is common in German companies, which seek to ensure that all staff have the required skills. Companies also tend to appreciate employees who are familiar with Germany's business culture, with its stress on formality, punctuality and respect for rules.

If you're wondering how long it takes to get a job, the answer is: it varies. If you use notice boards and online portals, and work with advisors to organize your search, a couple of months is a realistic time frame to find work in Germany for foreigners.

How different is the working schedule from your home country?

In Germany, working life tends to be quite uniform between sectors (although working practices have started to change in some newer areas such as software development and marketing). In general, staff can expect to work for between 36-40 hours per week, or seven to eight hours per day. That's usually seen as a suitable working week, and deviations from that norm are fairly rare.

These hours aren't arbitrary. They are linked to a law called the Arbeitszeitgesetz (Working Time Act), which lays down a maximum working week of 48 hours. There's some flexibility about how the limit is applied, but don't expect to find many Germans working 70 hour weeks, as can be the case in other dynamic economies.

German workers are expected to break up their working day with regularly placed breaks, and every worker is entitled to a 30 minute break by law. Part-time work is common. By law, a part-time job is one which involves less than 30 hours per week, and entails different employment rights and tax arrangements. So-called "mini jobs" are also widespread, and are often used by students or low-waged workers to supplement their income.

Check out vital information

So you've decided to make the move to Germany, and you have the qualifications required to impress employers. The only question now is how to get a job in Germany. Fortunately, there's a clear pathway to find work in Germany for foreigners. Still, there is a number of obstacles that applicants need to take care of before they can start earning. So it's useful to run through the process to explain how it works.

Requirements for finding work in Germany

Before they can take up work in Germany, new arrivals will need to secure a Job Seeker Visa. This document is issued by the German state via consulates or embassies abroad, and grants foreigners permission to find work in Germany itself. There are some exemptions, but as a rule, those arriving from outside the EU will probably need to apply.

This visa allows newcomers six months in which they can settle into German life and start contacting potential employers. We'll look at how to obtain one in more detail in just a moment, but it's important to be aware that the visa application exists.

Alongside this, it is vital for all German residents to obtain health insurance. There are numerous providers offering different levels of cover. At Expatrio, we can help decipher the type of coverage that you need.

Can I get a job in Germany without speaking German?

In addition to the Job Seeker Visa, job applicants will probably need to improve their German language skills. Most high-level appointments in Germany will require an interview, and almost all employers will insist on fluent spoken and written German.

In some cases, you may find online jobs in Germany for English speakers*. German companies need to communicate with English speakers, and the digital sector, in particular, operates globally. But expect to require strong German skills, whatever kind of job you find.

There may also be a need to obtain further professional qualifications prior to securing employment, which could entail applying for student courses. In that case, arrivals may need to start a blocked bank account. In any case, they will also need to take out health insurance, whether further courses are needed or not.