How to: Get an IT job in Germany (as a foreigner)
If you’re hunting for an IT job in Germany, here’s a guide on where to look for jobs, German work permits, plus additional information on the current job market, and a bonus paragraph on finding a long-term housing. Enjoy reading!
The job market in Germany
Home to a host of startup hubs, angel investors and seasoned tech companies, Germany’s tech scene has grown considerably over the last few years to become one of the most prominent in Europe. Germany is an increasingly attractive destination for IT-job seekers because it has the best IT industry in the world. There’s a shortage of skilled workers in IT-sector. In actual fact, the demand for junior tech talent in Germany doubled in 2018 and it’s believed that there are approximately 26 job openings per available junior tech worker. Three out of five German companies fear that they will not find enough engineers and IT–specialists in the future.
So, if you are already working in IT-sector, Germany may be the right country for you.
Before we jump into the local job search websites lets clarify the one important thing. There are usually two groups of foreigners looking for IT jobs in Germany: EU citizens and non EU citizens. For the first group, it’s relatively simple. If you’re from EU, EEA or Switzerland, you don’t need a permit to work in Germany as long as you have a valid passport or ID card.
If you are a non EU citizen you need to apply for a work visa or Blue Card first. We have already covered this topic in our previous publication, but nevertheless, let us once again dwell on some important aspects of this.
Company To-Dos
Company has to apply for the candidate’s work permit in Germany
- Send the original signed contract to the candidate. He/she will need it for the embassy appointment.
- Send the candidate a screenshot of his/her degree found in the Anabin database: is a database listing foreign higher education qualifications and academic degrees in relation to German diplomas and degrees. If the candidate brings the Anabin database screenshot to the embassy, it may speed up the process. If it’s not in the database, the Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen (ZAB) will be in charge of certifying the degree (the candidate will have to cover a 200 EUR service fee) — if this is necessary, both sides will be informed.
- Fill out the following necessary forms:
- the Erlaubnis einer Beschäftigung form, a formal letter stating why the company wants to hire this specific candidate.
- the Stellenbeschreibung form (which has to be very detailed, if the developer doesn’t get the Blue Card salary). Blue Card is an approved EU-wide work permit, valid up to 4 years, giving its holders a series of rights (eg. family reunification). Salaries vary depending on the candidate’s educational background: qualified employment with min. €50,080 gross p.a. or, in occupations with shortages, a gross salary of €39,624.
- a proper job description
4. Submit the application to the Arbeitsagentur together with a scanned copy of the candidate’s passport and diploma (should be already translated), the candidate’s CV (also translated to German), and a copy of the contract.
5. In the meantime the candidate is applying for a German residence permit from their home country.
6. Wait until the granted work permit is sent to the embassy in the candidate’s home country/or country of application and also to the company. The candidate should now pick up his/her residence permit. In the meantime, make an appointment at the local Ausländerbehörde (for the candidate’s registration in Germany and to pick up his/her Visa), as the waiting time can oftentimes be several weeks.
7. The candidate arrives to Germany!
Candidate To-Dos
- The candidate applies for their residence permit in the German embassy.
- Receive original contract from the company: this is necessary for the appointment at the Germany embassy.
- Book an appointment at the German embassy: you will need to bring the application form, passport, original contract, translated diploma. Make sure to check for available time slots as soon as possible as waiting times can be long. The embassy appointment is just to see you in person, deliver documents, and maybe have a small talk — nothing major to prepare for.
- Bring the printed screenshot of your degree from the Anabin database (the company sends this to you) to the appointment. The embassy is in charge of verifying your education. If the degree is not in the database, it will be certified by Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen (ZAB). The cost amounts is 200 EUR and it’d need to be covered by you.
- Pick up your permit: once the work permit is granted in Germany, it will be sent to the embassy and usually also to the company. You will be informed accordingly. Pick up the documents and a passport “stamp” at the embassy.
- Time to go to Germany! The process continues here, requiring registration in Berlin (Bürgerämt) and a visit to the Ausländerbehörde with all the necessary documents. From now on your company’s HR will lead you through the upcoming steps, but our instruction might be of help too.
Useful Links:
Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen (ZAB): The ZAB is the Central Office for Foreign Education. The ZAB issues the Statement of Comparability for Foreign Higher Education Qualifications, which facilitates access to the German labour market for holders of foreign higher education qualifications.
Anabin: The Anabin database lists and classifies accepted foreign education certificates.
General Job Search Engines
Below you will find a selection of resources for searching for employment opportunities in IT sector in Germany as a foreigner.
Monster
The German version of a well-known job search site Monster.com
Indeed
The German version of the big U.S. job search site Indeed.com
Honeypot
Germany’s largest developer job platform. Get offers from Europe’s top tech companies with salaries starting from 40k up to 130k euro
4scotty
4scotty brings software developers and IT experts into great jobs at the best companies — quickly and easily
Jobooh
Jobs in startups
German IT Job
Hand-picked selection of companies willing to hire global talents. English-speaking jobs only
Germany Startup Jobs
Germany Startup Jobs’s aim is to connect the Germany’s innovative startup companies to the top talents. A platform with hassle-free and single step process to match the requirements of both employer and job seeker
Experteer
This website boasts more than 250,000 jobs offers of IT-related jobs to start a career in the heart of Europe
Taledo
Taledo connects talented professionals with market-leading companies for digital, creative and tech roles
Tech salaries 2018 in Germany
With the huge amount of tech companies on the prowl for tech talent, it’s fair to say the demand for developers in Germany is higher than ever before, but what does that mean for tech salaries in Germany? Here is a detailed infographics to answer all your questions.
Bonus paragraph of Finding housing
Once all the prep work is out of the way, the next thing to check off your list is locating housing near your new place of employment.
Some employers offer temporary housing while you search for a long-term housing solution. Otherwise, Airbnb and Wimdu are your best bet.
Below is a short list of sites for long-term property rentals:
Apartments across Germany
Berlin
Hamburg
Munich
Frankfurt
A nontrivial option to maintain an IT job in Germnay being a foreigner is to contact recruitment agency. We are Spice IT Recruitment — a niche IT recruitment agency aimed at connecting companies with great tech talents from around the world. We’ve been helping German companies to recruit and relocate extremely skilled and passionate talents for 10 years by now. Your cv will never be lost in a crowd. Contact us today to discover more either you a candidate or an employer.
