As a child, when we were asked "What do you want to be when you grow up?" we surely had some answers ready. Later, this question is often not so easy to answer. There are many different professions, and not many are able to choose a specific vocational training or university degree without having to face hurdles. That's why the Employment Agency has put together lots of informational contents and developed various tools to help you choose a career path.
If you have no idea which profession you want to learn and practice, you can get some ideas by doing a test on the website of the Employment Agency. The so-called "career self-examination tool" ("Ekundungstool" or CHECK-U) help you find out which vocational training or degree programs might suit you. The test is designed to identify your talents and interests and then proposes fitting occupations accordingly. Keep in mind that to take the test you need sufficient German language skills.
You can take the test in the Vocational Information Center (BIZ) in your area. You can go to the BIZ without prior registration and do both tests at their computer workstations free of charge.
At planet-berufe.de, you can find out your strengths and interests and find suitable vocational training programmes and professions (in German).
Match Talent offers multilingual advice on professions and careers in Germany. With their help, you can find out which job suits you best. You can also take part in Match Talent workshops and events to learn more about different sorts of career in Germany.
If you already have work experience in your home country but do not have a (recognised) professional qualification, there is a test you can take on myskills.de to find out what professions in the German job market fit your skills and knowledge. You can ask the staff at the Jobcentre or Employment Agency for more information about myskills. Your test results can help to find a suitable job offer and they may translate to further qualifications for you. You can make an initial test at home in advance under www.meine-berufserfahrung.de. The tests are available in 12 different languages (German, English, Arabic, Russian, Turkish, Farsi, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Bulgarian and Romanian).
Once you've narrowed down your search to a few professional fields or specific occupations, you can find out more about the steps you need to take and the prospects you can expect in these jobs at the local Vocational Information Center (BIZ) or online. The BIZ has informative leaflets and brochures covering all professions. If you have any further question, you can refer to the BIZ staff.
Furthermore, you can find general information on various occupational fields as well as specific detailed information about all professions on planet-beruf.de and berufenet.arbeitsagentur.de.
If you need further professional qualifications, you can take part in further training programmes funded by the Jobcenter or Employment Agency. Match Talent can also provide you with advice and support in your search for the right further training program.
On berufe.tv you will find many introductory videos about different jobs. In these videos, trainees talk about their work and their everyday experiences as trainees. You can find the professions you are interested in directly through the A-Z search or watch all the films available on your field of interest. Through these stories, you get an accurate impression about the job in which you are interested and find out what you can expect during vocational training.
You can find out how to look for a vocational training position in our chapter "dual vocational training" and "school-based vocational training".
If you need help finding a training place or applying for a spot, the Vocational Information Center (BIZ) can provide you with assistance. At the computer workstations there, you can search for a place in a vocational training programme and also create applications. You can scan your certificates, seek help from staff for searching or writing applications, and print your documents there. In the BIZ, you can also regularly participate in workshops or use coaching on how to write a proper job application. On the website of the Employment Agency, you can search for a BIZ branch nearby.
You can also use the app "AzubiWelt" to search for a training place.
If you have decided to study at university, visit our chapter "University Application" and "University System" for more information. In addition, you can visit the portal "abi" to learn more about different fields of study and university education.
If you need assistance in finding the right job or require information about the prerequisites or usual tasks a profession entails, you can also contact the Vocational counselling at your local Employment Agency. The staff there are knowledgeable about the job market and know what jobs are in high demand. They can also help you to find a training place.
The Vocational counselling staff can also support you if you are not yet ready for to start a vocational training programme because, for instance, your German is not good enough yet or you do not have a school leaving certificate. If these cases apply to you, you can continue your education through a so-called pre-vocational training program ("berufsvorbereitende Bildungsmaßnahme") and make up for the lack of qualification. If you actually meet the requirements but still find no training spot, the so-called introductory training ("Einsiegsqualifizierung") may be beneficial for you. Introductory training entails of a six-month internship in a company during which, you not only get an initial insight into your dream job but also gain some experience and increase your chances of finding a training place. On www.einfachzukunft.de you can learn about the experiences of former participants of introductory training programmes in different languages (German, English, French, Arabic, Farsi, Tigrinya). If you are interested in a pre-vocational training or introductory training, talk to the vocational counselling staff at the jobcentre or Employment Agency.
You can make an appointment at the Employment Agency's website, via phone under 0800-4555500 or in person at the Employment Agency in your area.
If you are looking for professional orientation and further training in Germany, you can get multilingual support from Match Talent. In addition to workshops and events on the topic of careers in Germany, Match Talent offers free personal career advice. There you can find out which profession suits you best. If you need further professional qualifications, you can take part in further training programmes funded by the Jobcenter or Employment Agency. The Match Talent staff will help you find the right further training programme.
For refugees, there are special programs in different cities to help them find a job or vocational training position. You can find out more in our chapter "Who helps me find a vocational training position?".
Dual Vocational Training
If you want to find a job in Germany, a good alternative to studying at university is taking part in a vocational training programme. There are approximately 330 different jobs you can qualify for with vocational training. These training programmes usually last between one and three-and-a-half years. They are either school-based and take place solely in a classroom (“schulische Ausbildung”) or combine classes with practical training in an establishment or company (“Duale Ausbildung”). In this chapter, you can read about the dual vocational training. For more information about the school-based vocational training programs, please refer to the chapter “School-based Vocational Training”.
Upon completion of a vocational training programme, you become a skilled employee (“qualifizeierte Fachkraft”). Skilled employees are in demand in Germany and earn more money for their work compared to unskilled workers. So, completing a vocational training programme may constitute an important step towards building a career in Germany.
School-based Vocational training
If you want to find a job in Germany, a good alternative to studying at university is taking part in a vocational training programme. These training programmes usually last between one and three-and-a-half years. They are either school-based and take place solely in a classroom (“schulische Ausbildung”) or combine classes with practical training in an establishment or company (“Duale Ausbildung”). This chapter provides you with detailed information and useful links on school-based vocational training. To find out more about dual vocational training programmes, check our chapter “Dual Vocational Training”.
Upon completion of a vocational training programme, you become a skilled worker (“qualifizeierte Fachkraft”). Skilled worker are in demand in Germany and earn more money for their work compared to unskilled workers. So, completing a vocational training programme may constitute an important step towards building a career in Germany.
German Basic Law
*** May 23, 2024, marks the 75th anniversary of the German Basic Law, that is, the German constitution, which is the basis of our coexistence in a free and democratic constitutional state. The Basic Law was promulgated in 1949. In the aftermath of the atrocious crimes committed during National Socialist tyranny, the creators of the Basic Law decided that human dignity should be paramount in the new law; so that nothing like the Nazi era ever happens again in Germany. You can learn more about the Basic Law in our video series: „Was wäre wenn?“ ***
The Basic Law or "Grundgesetz" is the constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany. It includes the most fundamental rights that determine the way society is organised in Germany. No other law may contradict the Basic Law. For instance, the Asylum Act or the Criminal Law may not contain any ordinances which conflict with the Basic Law. The Basic Law is the most prominent body of law in Germany, hence stands above all others.
The Basic Law consists of 146 sections, i.e. "articles". The first 19 articles of the Basic Law contain the so-called "fundamental rights", i.e. the most significant human rights vis-à-vis the state, designed to protect the individual from despotism, injustice and violence from the state. Some of these fundamental rights, also referred to as "human rights", apply to everyone in Germany, regardless of residence status. The Basic Law also includes a set of other rights, referred to as "civil rights", which only apply to people who have German citizenship.
Established in West Germany in 1949, The Basic Law has been applying to all of Germany since the reunification of 1990. Many of the principles included are consequences of violations of human rights during the National Socialist dictatorship between 1933 and 1945. Fundamental rights have been given a central position in the Basic Law to ensure the atrocities of Nazi times cannot happen again.
The Federal Constitutional Court is in charge of monitoring and assuring compliance with the Basic Law. The government cannot simply amend it.
Job Hunting and Application
The job market in Germany has numerous rules and regulations. In addition, you must meet some requirements to get a job. Many employers choose their employees mainly based on their certificates or degrees in the desired field. But even without the relevant certificates, you still have a chance to find a job.
Here you will learn about the steps you need to take to start your first job in Germany and the ways you can increase your chances of finding your dream job.
Here are two essential points you need to consider in advance:
- German is spoken in most companies in Germany. In some cases, English will do; but for most jobs, you need to be able to communicate in German. There are many ways to learn German or to improve your proficiency. Find out more in our chapters on "Language".
- You need a work permit before you can start to work in Germany. For migrants, the work permit is directly linked to the residence permit. You can find out more about this in our chapter "Migration to Germany". If you have fled to Germany, whether you can work or not depends on your current residence status. You can find out more in our chapter "Work Permit for Refugees".
Support for Jobseekers
Finding a job or vocational training programme in a new country is far from easy. However, you can benefit from various support offers from the Jobcenter and Employment Agency during your search in the German job market. These programmes can, for instance, help you search for a job, prepare your job application or provide you with a voucher for a preparatory training course to improve your chances in the job market.
In this chapter, you will learn about the types of support available and how you can seek help.
Higher Education
As a member state of the European Union, the German higher education system was aligned with other European countries in the course of the 2000s. This is called the “Bologna Process”. The new bachelor’s and master’s degrees have now practically replaced the diploma (“Diplom”) and former master’s degree (“Magister Artium”). However, you might still come across them because not all universities have completed the Bologna Process yet. "Diplom" and "Magister Artium"both are equivalent to the new master’s degree.
Recognition of foreign certificates
If you have obtained your school or vocational qualification outside Germany, you can have it recognised here. Unlike vocational qualifications, your university/school qualifications may already be recognised: you can check the official portal Anabin to see whether your school, university, and degree are listed as recognised. You can read more about this in ‘How can I find out whether my qualification is categorically recognised?‘
In the recognition process, your degree is compared with a similar German degree. When your qualification is verified as an equivalent to the corresponding German degree, your diploma is "recognised", and you will have better chances in the job market.
All people with foreign qualifications have the right to this recognition process- it does not matter what residence status or nationality you have.
Please note: People who are still abroad sometimes have to provide relevant documents (e.g., training place, job offer) to prove that they intend to pursue vocational training or employment in Germany. If that is the case, you can also have your professional qualifications recognised in Germany.
*This information page has been updated with the support of the IQ Network NRW.
Here you can find all about the jobs which require vocational training to practice in Germany.
hr integrate supports job-seeking Refugees by connecting them to Human Resources Managers in different organisations.
Find a spot in a vocational training programme on "AzubiWelt" app.
Match Talent bietet kostenfreie Karriere-Beratung und findet die richtige Weiterbildung für Sie.