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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

Reader Question: Can I have a freelance side gig as an employee in Germany?

Going freelance in Germany - or even starting a side hustle - can be a rewarding and exciting challenge. But it can come with its own bureaucratic challenges. What are the rules around having a freelance gig if you already have a job?

Published: 30 April 2024 10:06 CEST
Updated: 30 April 2024 15:52 CEST
Reader Question: Can I have a freelance side gig as an employee in Germany?

Whether it’s to try out freelancing or simply to earn a bit of extra money, many people in Germany may have thought about trying out a side gig – or a nebenberufliche Tätigkeit – while they still have a job. It might be an especially attractive option for part-time workers looking to try out a new project as well.

Germany generally allows this, provided that your employment contract doesn’t prohibit it explicitly.

That’s why the first thing you should do if you’re thinking about starting a side hustle is to read your employment contract.

At first, you’re looking to see if side gigs are explicitly prohibited. If there’s no explicit mention of it being prohibited, the next thing to look for is whether you need to seek the company’s permission – possibly through their HR department – to take up your side gig. If you do, this will be explicitly spelled out in your contract.

Once you do that, you need to check and see whether your side gig falls under the Trade Act (Gewerbeordnung). If it does, you will have to apply for the corresponding business license. If it doesn’t, you can be classed as a Freiberufler – or freelancer – and won’t need a special licence to start your business.

You’ll need to do some homework on what kind of business you are – and you’ll need to register with the tax office. Photo: picture alliance/dpa/dpa-tmn | Benjamin Nolte

However in both cases, you will still have to register with your local tax office (Finanzamt). 

In Germany, some professions will require you to have a Befähigungsnachweis – “certificate of competence” – proving you have expertise in your area and are appropriately accredited. These include regulated trades like working as a financial advisor or real estate agent.

Other trades, like marketing services and hospitality, won’t need such a certificate, but you might still be classed as a Gewerbe – which brings some different rules with it. Those who belong to the so-called “new self-employed”, such as artists, writers and journalists, are Freiberufler and don’t need a trade licence.

READ ALSO: Everything you need to know about becoming a freelancer in Germany

Do I need extra insurance?

For your job as an employee, you already will have the necessary health, care and pension insurance – with your contributions from your income there getting taken off your payslip.

If you have a side gig, you remain insured through your main job and don’t need to take out additional insurance. Your contributions – based on the income from your main job – will remain the same.

This changes if your side hustle becomes your main hustle – measured by your working hours. As long as the number of working hours you spend on your side hustle amount to less than your main job, you don’t need extra insurance.

In most cases, having a side hustle in Germany won’t impact your health insurance eligibility or contributions. Photo: thirdman /Pexels

The exception to this is if you take on an employee who works more hours than a mini-jobber. Hiring a mini-jobber is still fine.

If your side hustle does become your main hustle and you’re publicly insured, you need to advise your Krankenkasse.

KSK: How creative freelancers can pay less for German health insurance

What income tax do I have to pay?

First up, Germany has a tax class basically designed for second jobs. It’s called Tax Class 6 and it exists alongside your other tax class. That means that the income from your main job will be taxed according to the rules of one of five different tax classes. Which one you belong to in this case depends on family variables like your marital status or whether you’re a single parent.

Tax class 6, however, doesn’t take any of these variables into account and exists only for your side income. As such, your main employment income will never be taxed according to tax class 6 and your side income won’t receive the breaks and credits that your main income will if you normally belong to a tax class that gives you any advantages.

Tax class 6 will apply to any income you earn on your side hustle above €538 a month. Anything you earn up to this amount though is exempt from additional tax.

It’s important to note that if you do earn more than the monthly €538 minimum on your side hustle and thus have income subject to Tax class 6, you’ll need to file a tax return.

EXPLAINED: What German tax class are you in?

Do I have to charge VAT?

If your side hustle is earning you €22,000 a year or less, you can class yourself as a “small firm” or Kleinunternehmer – and you don’t need to charge VAT on your invoices. This is also the case if you earn above this amount but your income is earned abroad or from foreign clients. 

If you earn above that amount and work with German clients, then you will need to charge VAT and submit VAT returns to the Finanzamt. There can be advantages in doing this though, as it’s through these returns that you can get VAT back that you spend on legitimate business expenses.

EXPLAINED: What are the best bank accounts in Germany for freelancers?

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