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How to get a job in Germany if you don’t fit all the criteria

Many people become dissuaded from applying for a job because they don't meet all of the requirements. Our German career columnists Chris Pyak explains why this shouldn't (necessarily) scare them away.

Published: 28 December 2019 11:00 CET
How to get a job in Germany if you don't fit all the criteria
You don't also have to be nervous if you don't fit the criteria for a job. Photo: Depositphotos/Vadymvdrobot

One question that I get asked regularly: How do I know if I can apply for a job, if I do not fit all criteria?

There are two ways to decide if a job offer fits you.

Requirements vs. reality

First, realize that most job descriptions belong into the fantasy aisle of the book store. HR will list all imaginable skills for the “perfect” candidate. But nothing in our world is perfect. If the HR department did a good job, the skills and requirements are in declining order of importance.

READ ALSO: Which German companies want to hire foreigners?

If you meet 2/3 of the requirements: Feel free to apply.

But be aware: The actual job requirements might be quite different from what you have read in the job description.

A while back I got a mail from one of my coaching clients: She sent me the link to a company that offered jobs in English. There were about 20 positions, from accounting to software development to sales. Every single job description was exactly the same…

Can you perform the job?

The second way. Ask yourself honestly: If I get hired, can I actually perform this job and deliver the results expected?

One engineer told me the story of his first job in Germany. In the interview process he said “yes” every single time when the employer asked him if he knew a software or had worked with a tool.

He got the job, but on his first day at work it became immediately obvious that he couldn't use any of the software mentioned. His colleagues made him cook coffee and copy documents.

You shouldn't just convince employers, but also yourself, that you're the right fit for a job, writes Chris Pyak. Photo: Depositphotos/VitalikRadko

Embarrassed, he quit after one week, and since then has been completely upfront about his skills and knowledge. (He has a very successful career in Germany now.)

So, the question you should answer yourself is: How will I actually perform my duties, even if I work in a German language environment, but speak only English?

Saying “I will figure it out” is nice attitude, but won't convince a German manager. You will need to actually be able to explain this in detail. Step by step. If you can do that: Apply for the job! (No matter if it's in English or German.)

READ ALSO: Why it's a myth you need to know German to get a job

As a matter of fact: Smart people will always find a way to overcome the language challenge. You use Google Translate, ask your colleagues or hire an intern who will translate for you during the first months.

And shouldn't that be the real objective for an employer? To hire smart people who find solutions?

SEE ALSO: Find a job in English in Germany

ABOUT CHRIS PYAK

Chris Pyak is the Author of “How To Win Jobs & Influence Germans“. The managing director of Immigrant Spirit GmbH has worked in four different cultures and lived in five different countries.

Chris returned to Germany in 2011. His mission: Bring the Immigrant Spirit to his home country. Chris introduces international professionals to employers in Germany.

On September 3rd at 7 pm, he will be offering a free webinar on how to find – and excel at – a job in Germany, and will be on hand to answer questions.

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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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