Improve your German in Germany and earn money at the same time – that's what the employment program for international students during holidays offers.
As reported by Deutsche Welle, the holiday employment program (Ferienbeschäftigung) for international students is carried out with the participation of the Central Placement Office for Foreign Employment (ZAV) of the Federal Employment Agency. Full-time university students with a German language level above intermediate can participate. Vacancies are mainly offered in the service sector in resort towns and recreation areas, as well as in agriculture and industry. Up to 10,000 people from around the world, including Eastern European countries, are employed in such positions each year.
According to Beate Raabe, press secretary of ZAV, Russians, for example, submit about 400 applications per year. Between 80 and 150 of them receive a work contract. "A rejection may be due to weak language skills," the employee explains in an interview with Deutsche Welle. "In addition, sometimes applicants insist on a position that we cannot offer at the moment, or they do not meet the deadlines set by the employer."
The maximum duration of a part-time job is three months per year, but there is no minimum period: it all depends on the terms of the contract and the student's possibilities. There is even a chance to find work in winter. However, often during the Christmas holidays, an employer needs an assistant for only 10 days, and the earnings for such a short period may not cover all the student's expenses for paperwork, flights, and accommodation.
Iryna took advantage of the chance to go to Germany twice, visiting Bavaria and the Baltic Sea. Among the advantages of the program, she cites its low cost, the opportunity to earn money and get to know not only the specifics of German culture but also the traditions of other countries. There are more than enough international students in Germany in the summer. Knowing several languages has helped the girl more than once.
"Once in a restaurant, visitors could not explain to me what they wanted to order. They tried in English, but it was at a low level; they tried in Italian – I don't speak that language. They didn't know German," Iryna recalls. "Suddenly, they started speaking Ukrainian among themselves! It turned out they were my compatriots who now live in Italy."
A typical work week lasts six days. The salary does not differ from that of Germans in similar positions. "According to the contract, I was supposed to work 6-8 hours a day, but sometimes I had to stay a little longer. All overtime hours were paid without any problems," says Iryna. In her free time, she traveled and met interesting people. Among the vivid impressions Germany left her were visiting thermal springs and swimming in Alpine lakes.
"If there are representatives of our service's partner network in the candidate's country, the student should contact them directly," emphasizes Beate Raabe. A list of partner organizations can be found in the information brochure. For Ukraine, such a representative is the public organization MultiKultiUA. For Russia, the list contains information that is no longer relevant: the Federal Migration Service has been abolished. In response to a request, ZAV promised to correct the error soon and explained that Russian students can still participate in the program. Applications should be sent directly to ZAV by filling out a form on the agency's website.
Program participants advise those wishing to spend summer holidays in Germany to discuss issues of salary, job duties, and housing provision with the employer in advance to avoid unpleasant surprises. It should be kept in mind that the offer received may not necessarily be a contract with a dream company. Many students go to work at McDonald's or to pick fruits and berries. Nevertheless, the first practical experience gained abroad can play an important role in the development of a specialist.
For summer employment, documents must be ready as early as winter. This year, for program participants whose countries have no partner organizations, the final deadline for applications is January 31. In other cases, the deadlines for submitting documents are determined by ZAV's partner organizations.
The application includes:
• a completed form with a photo; • a certificate of German language proficiency; • a copy of a driver's license (if available); • a standard certificate confirming student status, issued by the university. Experts recommend preparing several copies in case the employer needs one.
Only original documents without corrections in German or English, as well as certified translations, are accepted for review. The necessary forms and sample certificates are posted on the ZAV website or on the websites of partner organizations.