Working in Germany

Working in Germany, one of the world’s largest, most stable and flourishing economies, is an enticing prospect for many expats. Immigration policies have tried to curb unskilled immigrants entering the country to protect local labour, but there are nonetheless opportunities for qualified expats in industries with skills shortages.

If you are moving to Germany from outside the EU, you must ensure that you are eligible for a work permit for Germany.

Job market in Germany

The German IT and tech industries are enormous and in desperate need of skilled employees, and policy is shaped to attract qualified personnel. There are also opportunities for those working in biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, and high-tech science fields.

Salaries in Germany are some of the highest in the world. You can expect to earn well if you have a degree in sought-after fields.

When negotiating your employment packages, you’ll be discussing your salary as a gross amount. Taxes in Germany are high and depending on your salary, you may have as much as 50 percent deducted from your monthly earnings.

Many employers will lure expats by offering incentives such as performance bonuses, salary reviews and contributions towards private health insurance policies.

The German labour market is highly regulated, and, as a result, employees have many protections and benefits. All workers in Germany are entitled to holidays, paid sick days, maternity/paternity leave and the option of working part-time.

Finding a job in Germany

Most expats who move to Germany are transferred from the overseas offices of international companies.

If you are looking to move to Germany without a job in hand, you will need to get to grips with some nuances of the German job market. When applying for a job in Germany, you must provide a comprehensive CV (Lebenslauf) that documents your entire education and professional career in reverse chronological order.

You’ll also have to attach written recommendations from previous employers and copies of degrees and awards. It’s best to include these with the original application rather than waiting for them to be requested, as may be the case elsewhere.

German employers want a complete picture of prospective employees, and omitting any important details could negatively impact your chances of success, especially if the other applicants are German.

Many expats enlist a recruitment agency when looking for a job in Germany. They can help them find jobs in specific fields and advise candidates on which documents to include for a particular application. They’re also well-equipped to advise expats about what they should expect in terms of salaries and benefits.

Online job portals are also a good source of information. Once in Munich, you can consult the job listings in local newspapers for information on vacancies. Company websites also regularly list vacancies.

Useful links

• Stepstone
• Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs – Job Board
• JobMESH

Work culture in Germany

Business culture in Germany, in general, is formal, and efficiency in the workplace is paramount. Time is money – so being punctual is critical. Once the meeting begins, Germans get straight to business, and there’s little room for small talk.

Punctuality and appearance are important, so you should dress well and arrive at meetings fully prepared and on time. It’s best to avoid humour, especially at first, as it can be misconstrued. You should expect to be asked detailed questions and have facts and figures on hand to back up what is being presented.

Although most Germans speak English well, many prefer to speak their own language during business negotiations. If you don’t speak German, you should consider hiring a translator for key meetings. Newcomers to Munich will find that Germans are generally private, and many locals maintain a separation between their work and home life, so it may take some time to forge more personal relationships with some colleagues.