Germany

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Farrah Thompson
Farrah Thompson
"At one of the InterNations events here in Beijing I eventually met my French boyfriend, who is an expat just like me."
Ole Jacobsen
Ole Jacobsen
"Beijing has so much to offer for expats. InterNations helped me explore the international community and many close friends."

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Jobs & Business in Germany

We all know the stereotypes about Germans and their work ethic. And how it supposedly comes at the price of nearly complete humorlessness. While surely every stereotype is rooted in reality to some extent, memorizing stereotypes should not be your only preparation for Germany’s business world.

If you are not in the lucky, almost privileged position to have been referred to Germany by your employer in your home country, there is much work to do. Finding a job in Germany from abroad takes quite a bit of preparation. Getting a good overview of the general state of the German job market and the options it offers for expats should always be the first thing to tackle after you have made your decision of becoming an expat in Germany. You should also find out where best to look for employment – not only geographically, but also in regard to resources. Different job portals and newspaper ads cater to different audiences, and you might waste your time if you do not pick the right medium from the start.

Articles about Jobs & Business

  • Looking for Jobs in Germany

    Looking for Jobs in Germany

    Jobs in Germany, particularly for citizens of a non-EU member state, can be rather difficult to find. Focus your job search on the service sector, where about 75% of Germany’s working population is employed: Expat jobs in manufacturing are rare, unless you are a qualified engineer.
  • Job Applications in Germany

    Job Applications in Germany

    Employers in Germany put great emphasis on written and formal job applications. HR managers in Germany often regard applications as an opportunity for the prospective employee to summarize their qualifications, skills, and work experience and to present themselves in a favorable manner.
  • Getting a Work Permit for Germany

    Getting a Work Permit for Germany

    Unfortunately, obtaining a work permit for Germany is not always easy. Your success in the application process depends on various factors: your nationality, your occupation, even your annual salary. Our expatriate guide to Germany introduces the key aspects that you have to keep in mind.
  • German Business Culture

    German Business Culture

    International business relationships and starting a job abroad are two of the biggest expat challenges. Before entering German business culture, many may expect certain clichés: rude and arrogant or bureaucratic and dull. In fact, Germany’s business world is far more appealing. Navigate it safely with our tips!
  • Self-Employed Work in Germany

    Self-Employed Work in Germany

    Do you want to start a business in Germany or be self-employed? Please note that your country of origin determines if you need a special residence permit for self-employed immigrants. Also, local law distinguishes between self-employed trades (Gewerbetreibende) and liberal professions (Freiberufler).

Applications

If you have found a job you’d like to apply for, you are ready to make your first foray into German business culture, a step you might find easy to deal with, confusing, or overwhelming, depending on your level of preparation and the business practices in your country of origin. German employers and their HR departments can be very particular when it comes to applications – our article on the topic should get you up to speed. One advice that seems to always help when preparing expats for the German business world: when in doubt, go for the more formal option. This will not only help you with your applications.

German Business Culture

German business etiquette is also rather formal, given you are not employed with a young startup company or in the IT industry; the atmosphere there is rather casual by design. Any environment with rather strict rules and rituals is obviously a breeding ground for social and professional faux pas. This includes everyday communication at the workplace, table manners and etiquette at business lunches, and even socializing with colleagues. However, with a little guidance in the form of our article on German business culture, close observation of your coworkers and their behavior, and adopting your findings to your own routine, you should be doing just fine in a matter of days within starting your job in Germany, if not sooner.
Farrah Thompson
Farrah Thompson
"At one of the InterNations events here in Beijing I eventually met my French boyfriend, who is an expat just like me."
Ole Jacobsen
Ole Jacobsen
"Beijing has so much to offer for expats. InterNations helped me explore the international community and many close friends."

Our Global Partners

Germany Guide Topics

Visa & Administration
Transport & Driving
Social Security & Taxation
Health & Insurance
Family, Children & Education
Economy & Finance
Housing & Accommodation
Jobs & Business
Safety & Security
Media & Communication
Culture, Shopping & Recreation