The Federal Employment Agency's job exchange is the largest in Germany
Applying for a job in a skilled trade
As Deutsche Welle notes, Germany takes job applications very seriously. There are certain requirements for its structure, which we have written about before. In short: the application consists of a cover letter, a CV, certificates and diplomas. And this standard is the same for everyone.
But while for highly qualified specialists the employer pays attention to writing style and grammar, companies looking for workers do not attach great importance to every misplaced comma. “They care much more about the content: what work the specialist performed, where they were employed, what they can do.
The requirements for the form of the application are not as high. It is not a problem if the cover letter is only three sentences long,” clarify the foreign recruitment service at the German Federal Employment Agency. But it is better not to skip certificates (e.g., copies of diplomas with German translations), language certificates, and letters of recommendation from previous jobs – German employers like such evidence of experience and knowledge.
If you do not see the vacancies you are interested in but would very much like to work for a specific company, you can try to apply on your own initiative. However, you should not get your hopes up too much: workers in Germany are most often sought by small and medium-sized enterprises with a limited number of employees. The Federal Employment Agency advises doing this for those who consider it important to find work in a specific region or city, and if small companies do not respond for a long time, not to give up.
Unlike large companies with HR departments, in small enterprises the boss often handles everything – including candidate selection – and some applications may simply be overlooked. It is better to ask again and generally inform the employer in advance by phone or email about your interest in the vacancy or the company and ask if you can submit an application.
Skilled trades: who has a chance in Germany
Germany has a virtual service center for specialists from abroad (Virtuelles Welcome Center). This year alone, more than 17,000 people without higher education have already contacted it. The center's staff provide advice on employment in the German labor market. Questions can be asked by email ([email protected]), by phone (+49 228 713 1313), or via chat. If you have specific intentions, they will suggest a plan of action, and if your chances are assessed as good, your documents will be forwarded to the foreign recruitment service.
When are chances good? “German language skills should be at least at level A2. In the crafts sector, most workers do not speak other languages. To communicate with colleagues and understand the boss's instructions, German is important,” explain the Internationaler Personalservice department of the Federal Employment Agency. With rare exceptions, English is also needed – in companies that serve clients from other countries.
For a successful job search, recognition of qualifications in Germany is inevitable. One requirement is having vocational training that lasted at least two years. This qualification is compared with German standards. If some training modules are missing but there is work experience or further training, all of this is taken into account. In the best case, a certificate of equivalent qualification is issued, with which you can obtain a visa. In the worst case, deficits may be identified.
Most often these are things specific to Germany, such as knowledge of DIN standards or data protection. With such a certificate, you can also apply for a job, but you will have to fill the gaps – take courses or vocational training at the company. For this, German language skills need to be better: at level B1 or even B2. And, of course, the employer must be willing to hire such an employee and provide the opportunity to improve qualifications alongside work.
The Federal Employment Agency advises applying for qualification recognition even before starting the job search. If only to find out what your profession is called correctly in Germany. For electronics specialists alone, there are several dozen designations. The Virtuelles Welcome Center will tell you where to go and what documents are needed.
Where to look for jobs in Germany
You can find out who is in demand in Germany today by looking at the list of shortage occupations with secondary vocational education compiled by the Federal Employment Agency. The agency explains that workers are needed primarily in the construction sector, while in metal processing there are currently few vacancies – due to the fact that many automotive industry companies have been affected by the coronavirus crisis.
Nurses and geriatric caregivers, cooks, truck and locomotive drivers, mechatronics technicians, educators – most professions on the list are still relevant.
Vacancies can be viewed on the Federal Employment Agency's job exchange – the largest job exchange in Germany. Job advertisements are also posted on the Make it in Germany portal. It is worth browsing large job sites: Monster.de, Stepstone.de, Indeed.de. There are also specialized job exchanges, for example, in construction – Bau-stellen.de or Bau.de, in the energy sector – Energiejobs.de. You can also search via Google by entering your profession in the search engine.
And if you have specific ideas about a city or employer, it is better to browse advertisements on local job exchanges or directly on company websites.