How to find job in Germany?

Germany has the largest economy in Europe and is obviously an attractive option for those who want to work overseas. Germany has a lot of job opportunities and is also facing a skills shortage as per recent reports. By 2030 Germany is expected to have a skills shortage of at least 3 million workers. Research studies suggest that the increase in aging population and a decrease in the birth rate are the main reasons.

There will be job opportunities in the STEM and health-related occupations. These include engineers belonging to the engineering, mechanical, electrical and IT fields. The healthcare sector will also see more demand, especially for nurses and caregivers, owing to the increase in the aging population in the country. And most job openings will be in Southern and Eastern Germany.

These factors do sound favorable if you are considering an overseas career in Germany. But what about your knowledge of the German language? The German government and employers do make a distinction when the job applicants have proficiency in the German language.  Those who know German have an edge and are given preference over those who do not know the language. This is not to say that you will not find a job if you do not know German. There are a lot of job opportunities if you have specialized skills.

However, if you have a degree or vocational qualification, relevant work experience and know-how to speak basic German, then you have better chances of finding a job here. Our suggestion would be to try and get a B2 or C1 level of proficiency in German to improve your chances. However, you will have to learn the language sooner or later to live in the country.

Knowledge of German for landing a job in Germany:

Type of job: Knowledge of German not required- IT jobs, technical jobs, software engineers, scientific research fields. Knowledge of German required-Finance, sales and business-related jobs or customer-facing jobs in retail or healthcare. Level of German you should know for different job categories: C level- Customer-facing jobs in retail or healthcare, sales jobs, HR etc. B level- Jobs that require interaction with more than one department in the organization such as operations or supply chain. A level- If your job requires interaction with customers in the same department such as IT, product design, etc. The more specialized your job is the less you need to have knowledge of German.

Visa options for working in Germany:

1. Work visa for EU residents:

If you are seeking a job as a resident of the European Union (EU), you need not apply for a visa or a work permit to work in Germany. However, citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, require a valid passport or identity card to live and work in Germany.

2. Work visa for non-EU residents:

If you are a citizen of a non-EU nation, you must apply for a work visa and a residence permit before you move into Germany for work.

3. Jobseeker visa:

With this visa, you can go to Germany and search for a job there. The jobseeker visa was introduced by the German government earlier this year to solve the problem of skill shortage. This visa is valid for six months. To get this visa you should have at least five years of work experience relevant to your field of study. You are eligible for this visa if you have proof of funds for a six-month stay in Germany and you have arranged your accommodation for this period.

Get the help of an immigration consultant to know the nitty-gritty of visa requirements for finding a job in Germany. Better still if the immigration consultant offers job search services.