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IMMIGRATION

Schavan pledges foreign credentials review

Education Minister Annette Schavan on Monday promised a new law enabling better recognition of foreign credentials would provide 300,000 highly qualified workers for the booming German economy.

Published: 18 October 2010 08:31 CEST
Schavan pledges foreign credentials review
Annette Schavan at press conference. Photo: DPA

“Our economy can look forward to 300,000 new specialists,” the member of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative Christian Democrats told daily Financial Times Deutschland.

The number is the minister’s estimate of how many potential immigrants Germany is excluding from the job market with its current system of credentials assessment, she said, adding that the new draft law would attract mainly scientists, engineers and medical workers.

According to the law, every person who had qualifications from abroad would be entitled to have them assessed by German officials within three months.

In comments that mirrored those of her party’s leader Merkel over the weekend, Schavan called her proposal a signal for more educated immigrants.

“This law is a symbol that qualified skilled workers are welcome in this country,” she said.

The initiative comes after Chancellor Merkel positioned herself closely to controversial comments by Bavarian state premier Horst Seehofer over the weekend at meeting of the youth wing of her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in Potsdam, saying the concept of multiculturalism had failed utterly.

From now on, only skilled immigrants who understand the German language and legal system would be welcome in Germany, Merkel said, warning against “immigration that weighs down on our social system.”

Over the weekend Education Minister Schavan had seemed to contradict Merkel and Seehofer when she said: “It is not immigration that should agitate us, rather emigration out of Germany. If we don’t do anything against that, the lack of experts here will develop into a brake on economic growth.”

On Monday Economy Minister Rainer Brüderle echoed her concerns, telling broadcaster ZDF that the country should work to get German workers back from abroad.

“In the last few years we’ve lost many skilled workers and scientists who have left Germany,” he said, adding that better conditions must be created so they return.

“We’re obviously not so attractive when it comes to bureaucratic processing and net income,” he said.

DAPD/ka

Know someone who’s had problems getting their qualifications recognized in Germany? Email us at: [email protected]

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WORKING IN GERMANY

Which Bavaria-based companies regularly hire English speakers?

Bavaria is no doubt a beautiful state with a strong economy, but can be a hard place for non-German speakers to integrate. The Local takes a look at job opportunities in Germany’s southeastern 'Free State.'

Published: 7 February 2024 10:54 CET
Updated: 10 February 2024 08:20 CET
Which Bavaria-based companies regularly hire English speakers?

Munich ranks third in German cities with the highest total GDP, behind Berlin and Hamburg, but in terms of GDP per capita, it’s higher than both of them.

It also consistently ranks high, often highest, in terms of average household income.

As of 2023, nine of the 40 companies listed on DAX, Germany’s stock index, were based in Bavaria. Seven of those are based specifically in Munich.

While Frankfurt is commonly known to be Germany’s business capital, Munich can claim the title of Germany’s insurance capital, which is saying something, as Germany is home to some of the largest insurance firms in the world, like Allianz.

Beyond the state’s capital city, a number of international companies are based elsewhere in Bavaria, particularly in the Franken region, near Nuremberg.

Which companies actively hire English speakers?

Bavaria, and Munich in particular, is home to a number of companies at the forefront of international business. But the state is known for its traditional, sometimes conservative, culture, which affects its business culture as well.

Whereas companies embracing English as their primary business language are easy to find in Berlin, the practice is less common in the south. That said, there are some notable exceptions. 

Sportswear giants, Adidas and Puma, both have their headquarters near Nuremberg in Herzogenaurach, and regularly recruit English speaking international talent.

“As an international company, our teams reflect the rich diversity of our consumers and communities,” Jon Greenhalgh, Senior Manager Media Relations for Adidas told The Local. “Fostering a culture of inclusion where we value and leverage differences, ensures that we can authentically engage with our employees and truly connect with our consumers.”

He added that around 40 per cent of Adidas’ Germany-based employees are foreign nationals, from over 100 different countries.

Siemens and BMW rank among Bavaria’s top employers, and are also known to hire their fair share of foreigners.

“In Germany, we recently had around 2,000 open positions,” Konstanze Somborn told The Local on behalf of Siemens AG.

He added that Siemens operates in 190 countries. “That is why we value international teams very much…English as a common language is very usual.”

READ ALSO: ‘Which German companies want to hire foreigners?’

Similarly, BMW hires workers from a variety of backgrounds. 

“Every year, we hire lots of internationals and welcome them to the BMW Group,” Dr. Hans-Peter Ketterl, a press spokesman for BMW Group told The Local. 

But not all of these positions are available to non-German speakers.

Ketterl added that BMW’s working language is German in the country, even though, “English is an indispensable entry requirement as the second corporate language in many areas of the company.”

Check job boards and follow best practices

If it’s your first time applying for jobs in Germany, make sure to change your resume to the German format, even for English positions.

While Germany is home to its own job boards, like Xing, LinkedIn is probably the best place to start. In addition to searching for positions based in your preferred location, you can check relevant groups, like Munich Startups, to broaden your horizons.

The English Jobs in Germany website is also a good resource to start with. 

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