by James | 16 May 2020 | Finding a Job
Whether you’re looking for part time work, or full time employmnet, virtual job boards are the best place to start your job search.
Traditional outlets such as newspaper ads, or postings on corporate websites’ career pages, are dwindling in popularity due to scarcity of talent and the war to hire the best candidates.
Having their ad seen everywhere is key, both for internal HR managers and specialist recruitment firms alike.
Here are the top 10 job portals in Germany (based on monthly traffic) from Crosswater Job Guide’s statistics:
1. Indeed
2. StepStone
3. Arbeitsagentur
4. LinkedIn
5. Meinestadt.de
6. Jobrapido.de
7. Kimeta
8. Xing Stellenmarkt
9. Monster Deutschland
10. Stellenanzeigen.de
We go into each of these sites in more detail below, to give you a more focused strategy of where to look, how they differ from one another and which ones are the best for some of the specifics you may need.
If you’re looking for specific advice on job searches in Berlin or Munich, then check out the articles below.
Finding an English speaking job in Munich
Finding an English speaking job in Berlin
We’ve also covered more generic tips around searching for English speaking jobs in Germany too.
The Top 10 Job Portals in Germany (based on search traffic)
According to Crosswater Job Guide, there are over 1,200 active job search websites in Germany. You could easily become overwhelmed quickly without knowing where you’re likely to get the most value from your search.
One thing that you’ll need to do BEFORE you start applying for jobs in Germany is to ensure you have optimised your CV and cover letter according to the German format. If you haven’t optimised your resume, then your application will almost certainly land straight in the trash.
1. Indeed
Indeed has grown exponentially over the past 10 years or so to become one of the most important jobs portals in Germany. Back in 2009, when I was looking to change my employer in Germany, Indeed was barely on the radar. Now, they get the most monthly search traffic in Germany.
The look and feel of Indeed is pretty basic. Honestly, I prefer the UX on most of the competitor sites, but Indeed also has some additional useful functions.
Indeed has also created a very useful crowdsourced database of employees’ ratings of their employers. If you’re considering applying for a position, even if it’s not advertised on Indeed, it’s definitely worth checking out this function just based on the sheer number of reviews on here.
Other than filtering by job title and location, you’re also able to sort based on relevance of the position (based on the keywords you searched for) and date the position was advertised. There’s no option unfortunately to search by language of the job ad.
You can also upload your CV and store this inside the platform if you register, to save uploading each time you apply for a new job.
As a Mainz supporter, we’ll overlook the fact that Indeed is the shirt sponsor of local rivals Eintracht Frankfurt…
2. StepStone
Almost since looking for jobs on the internet became a thing, StepStone has seemingly been the front runner for job portals in Germany.
While Indeed may have pipped them when it comes to monthly visitors, I suspect you’ll end up spending more time on StepStone’s site simply because the experience is way more pleasant and there are some really neat features on here.
It’s the only top job search portal that allows you to filter out job ads in English, without having to look at the more niche search engines which scrape English speaking jobs from other portals and job boards on the internet.
Furthermore, it also has a pretty detailed salary comparison tool, helping you get an idea of what the average salaries are for the roles you’re interested in. If you take the personalised survey, you’ll get an output which takes into consideration the location of the job, your relevant work experience and the seniority of the position.
Otherwise, the basic salary search by job title will give you a lower and upper range.
Just like on Indeed, you can register and upload your CV directly onto the StepStone platform.
3. Arbeitsagentur
The Federal Agency for Employment (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) makes it into the top 3 with their own database of unfilled vacancies.
This one is the odd-man-out of the top 10 job portals in Germany: these are jobs which are actively posted by the job centre, based on companies who have informed them of their open vacancies.
As a government department, there is no active commercial model in play here. Consequently, the BfA’s search portal also contains every conceivable job you could think of, from temporary, unskilled work right the way through to top managerial positions.
The site and portal itself has some English language functionality. You can navigate through the JOBBÖRSE in English. You can also search for open positions by entering English job titles, which will be automatically translated into German. Search results will then appear in German, too.
To submit online applications through the platform, you’ll need to be registered in the Arbeitsagentur’s system. Smaller companies who may not be able to afford paying for job ads on the bigger recruiting sites are the diamonds in the rough who you’ll likely find through here.
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I’ve spoken about this before in our main article on how to find English speaking jobs, as well as the individual articles I put together for Berlin and Munich.
LinkedIn is GOLD for job seekers. It’s like your online CV and personal record of achievement. LinkedIn may not be as popular in Germany as many other countries due to its domestic rival, Xing, but nonetheless it offers a huge opportunity to reach approx. 9 million active users in Germany.
What’s more, because of Xing’s presence and previous dominance within German-speaking Europe, I really see this as an advantage if you’re an avid LinkedIn user. The content published tends to be a lot more English language driven as a result.
LinkedIn (perhaps unsurprisingly, given its parent company is Microsoft) is much better in my opinion than some competitor sites when it comes to search using relevant keywords.
Where LinkedIn really comes into its own though is through being able to find recruiters and headhunters in the industry you’re seeking a job in. If a couple of them like your CV and experience, they’ll do your work for you. They’ll put you in touch with recruiting managers, help you with introductions to hiring companies and generally be like a virtual assistant for your job search.
Remember though, this will only happen if you’re of some commercial value to them though…they’re in it for the commission!
5. Meinestadt.de
This is the only one of the top 10 jobs websites in Germany (based on website traffic) which focuses primarily on jobs for non-graduates. If getting ANY job as a means to intensively learn German is your strategy, and you’re focused on a specific location, Meinestadt.de could offer you some unique opportunities not found on the other sites.
It’s also worth noting that Meinestadt isn’t JUST a jobs portal (the clue is in the name), nor is it their primary focus. It’s essentially a directory and a portal for your local area. As such, they also offer pages with property for rent, a dating portal and cars for sale.
Think of it as kind of a Craigslist or Gumtree equivalent in German.
6. Jobrapido.de
The highest traffic jobs search engine, Jobrapido is definitely worth a look because it’s not just a me-too version of the job marketplaces listed higher up in the rankings.
What’s the difference between a jobs board / jobs marketplace and a jobs search engine site? Well, jobs marketplaces are typically responsible for their own content. Hiring companies or agencies pay them to post jobs, or the different jobs marketplaces syndicate each other’s content.
Job search engines work a bit differently. They scrape the internet for job ads, and as such, they often feature different open positions than the job marketplaces. Their crawling technology has the ability to scrape job ads from companies’ own web pages, so if a hiring company is not posting on one of the major job marketplaces, then you may spot some unique content on sites such as this.
7. Kimeta
Similar offering to Jobrapido above, Kimeta is also a jobs search engine and has a very similar feel and UX. This and Jobrapido are the only search engines among the top 10 job websites in Germany.
8. Xing Stellenmarkt
Xing is a native German competitor to LinkedIn and, up until recently, was only available in German. I suspect because they’re under intense pressure from their huge American competitor, also in the German-speaking market, they have recently raised their game. Not only do they have their site completely in English as well as German, they have also made some significant improvements and invested heavily in their job search function.
The result is that it gets over 2 million page views and easily makes the top 10.
9. Monster Deutschland
When I first moved to Germany, this was one of the major players. Since then, Monster has fallen from the lofty heights it once enjoyed and these days is offering nothing special or unique. Chances are, if you’ve used StepStone or Indeed, you’re unlikely to need to search for very long on Monster.
10. Stellenanzeigen.de
Another one worth a look, but again, unlikely to offer a hugely unique offering versus the major players. One cool feature with Stellenanzeigen.de, however, is their option to filter by popular companies. Great if you’ve specifically got your eye on a particular company who you’d love to work for.
BONUS SECTION
Experteer
Even though this isn’t one of the top job portals in Germany by traffic or job postings, it deserves a special mention because German job ads typically don’t indicate the expected salary range. This is especially annoying because you could risk wasting time applying for something below your expectations.
The advantage ofExperteeris that it only advertises roles which pay above €60,000 per year. The downside is that it’s a premium site costing €11.90 per month. But then if you’re targeting a salary of over €60k a year, then stop being a tight arse and get your credit card out!
Because Experteer tends to play at the higher end of the market, there also tends to be more job descriptions in English.
Others
Two others worth a mention are Neuvoo and ZipRecruiter. Even though these don’t make it into the top 10 based on monthly website traffic alone, they are both pretty big fish internationally. Therefore definitely worth a look, especially if you’re seeking a job with an international company.
Looking for helpful content on another topic?
FINDING A JOB
RESIDENCE PERMITS
"HOW TO" GUIDES
LIFE IN GERMANY
HEALTHCARE
FAQs
What is the best way to find a job in Germany? ›
Job Board (Stellensuche) of the Federal Employment Agency
The BA's Stellensuche (job board) is Germany's largest online portal for jobs. You can look for jobs and enter your personal applicant profile so that German companies are able to see it and can therefore contact you directly if they are interested.
1. Indeed. Indeed has grown exponentially over the past 10 years or so to become one of the most important jobs portals in Germany.
Is it easy to find a job in Germany? ›1- Is it easy to get a job in Germany? With a huge range of professional opportunities and roles throughout Germany, securing a job isn't as hard as it may be in other countries around the world.
Is Germany looking for workers? ›As per the new immigration rule, Germany is mulling offering dual citizenship and also special citizenship status for 3 to 5 years to skilled workers on fulfilling certain conditions.
How can I get a job in Germany without speaking German? ›- Look for jobs in the right place. ...
- Search for jobs at startups over big organizations. ...
- Choose bigger cities. ...
- Look for offers in the digital departments. ...
- Adapt your CV & Cover Letter to German standards. ...
- Bureaucratic visits. ...
- Sign up to services available in English.
Public German job sites
The Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit, BA ), the largest provider of labor market services in Germany, has a network of over 700 agencies and offices around the country. Its International Placement Service (ZAV) has information about work opportunities, including casual work.
To be allowed to live and work there legally, you must have a German work and residence permit. You don't have to apply for a German work permit separately from a residence permit; you get them both through a single application at the German Immigration Authority Office (Ausländerbehörde).
How much is salary in Germany? ›According to Statista, in 2021, the average gross annual salary in Germany was 47.700 euros a year, or 3.975 euros a month. The numbers above are for all of Germany. However, the average gross salary will depend greatly on your location, professional experience, education, size of the company, and gender.
What is the most common job in Germany? ›- Software developer and programmer.
- Electronics engineer, electrician.
- Healthcare worker and nurse.
- IT consultant, IT analyst.
- Economist, business administrator.
- Account manager, client consultant.
- Production assistant.
- Sales representative, sales assistant.
If you apply for a Blue Card, your salary must be at least 56,400€ per year (before taxes). If there is a shortage of skilled workers in your field, your salary must be at least 43,992€ per year. This list shows which fields have a shortage of skilled workers. If you can, find a job before you come to Germany.
Where Indeed is most used? ›
According to new Intelligence Group research, Indeed is still the consensus #1 job board across Western Europe. In Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, it continued its reign as the most-used job board among active job seekers in 2020.
How can students find jobs in Germany? ›- Use the Right Job Search Websites to Cast your Net Widely. ...
- Create a CV that Employers Won't Be Able to Ignore. ...
- Think About Working at Your University. ...
- Be Aware of German Regulations When Taking Student Work. ...
- Be Ready for Your Student Interviews.
According to Intelligence Group's 2022 survey, Indeed is the European market leader as most-named and preferred job board. “Indeed has a strong position in Western Europe, particularly in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, France, Sweden and Germany”, Geert-Jan Waasdorp, founder and CEO of Intelligence Group says.
How much does Germany pay per hour? ›| Date | Minimum wage (gross) |
|---|---|
| January 1 - June 30, 2021 | 9,50 euros per hour |
| July 1 - December 31, 2021 | 9,60 euros per hour |
| January 1 - June 30, 2022 | 9,82 euros per hour |
| July 1, 2022 onwards | 10,45 euros per hour |
A good annual average salary in Germany is between €64,000 to €81,000. This gross salary (salary before taxes or social contributions) depends on your profession, industry, and education.
Which profession is highest paid in Germany? ›- Pilots. ...
- College professors. ...
- Researchers in Biotechnology and Neuroscience. ...
- Surgeons and doctors. ...
- Judges. ...
- Bank managers. ...
- Director of Finance. ...
- Tourism and hospitality professionals.
- Software developers, architects, and programmers.
- Electronics engineers, electricians, and electrical fitters.
- Nurses.
- IT consultants and analysts.
- Economists and business management experts.
- Customer advisors and account managers.
According to this survey, skilled workers in the construction and skilled trades (349,275 jobs) and technical specialists (282,941 jobs) are currently the most in demand on the German labor market.
Can you work in Germany without speaking English? ›Employers are often keen on having native English speakers on staff, but if you can't speak German as well, it puts extra work on everyone else and there are many local people who speak English quite well. Buckle down and get your German to a B2 level, and you'll find the job options open up exponentially.
How much is a German work visa? ›The cost for a German work permit (employment visa) is 75 EUR (90 USD). You will need to complete Germany's work permit visa (or employment permit) application form, called Antrag auf Erlaubnis einer Beschäftigung, and get a residence permit or Antrag auf Erteilung eines Aufenthaltstitels.
Can I live in Germany without speaking German? ›
Can you live in Germany without knowing German? It is just about possible to live in Germany without knowing much German. But in order to find employment and to fully integrate into society, you will need to be able to speak and read German to a good standard, especially if you live outside the major cities.
What is the minimum wage in Germany 2022? ›The statutory minimum wage in Germany will increase to €12 per hour, effective October 1, 2022. On June 3, 2022, the German Bundestag approved legislation introduced by a coalition of parliamentary groups that will raise the national minimum wage from the current €9.82 per hour to €12.00 per hour by October 1, 2022.
Can I get a job in Germany without a degree? ›The German work permit provides the same working rights as a Blue Card without the requirement of a university degree. As a developer, if your salary is within the average range for your role and your employer can justify their choice to hire you over a local applicant, you are likely eligible for this working visa.
How much bank balance is required for Germany work visa? ›Proof of Funds: You must have sufficient funds to support your stay. It includes coverage of monthly expenses and health insurance. You must have at least 720 EUR (62,436.33 INR) per month.
How long can I stay in Germany without a visa? ›Non- EU nationals
Generally speaking, all other foreigners require a visa for stays in Germany. A visa is not required for visits of up to 90 days in an 180‑day period for nationals of those countries for which the European Community has abolished the visa requirement.
The processing time for visa applications (short stay) takes up to 15 days. If long-term residence permits or visa for employment in Germany are applied for, the processing time will be up to several months.
How much is tax in Germany? ›It's a progressive tax: if you earn more, you pay a bigger percentage of your income. If you earn less than 10,347€ per year, you don't pay income tax. The median income tax rate is around 18%. The maximum income tax rate is 45%1.
Which city in Germany has more job opportunities? ›Berlin - one of the economic hubs of the world
The capital city of Germany offers some of the best employment opportunities in Berlin. It is one of the economic hubs of the world and attracts a growing number of expats each year that come in search of better career options.
What Is a Good Salary in Germany in 2022? In Germany, a monthly net income between 2,500 EUR and 3,500 EUR is considered to be a good salary. You can afford a decent life in a large German city with that income, including renting a 2 bedroom apartment, regularly eating out, and weekends away.
Which jobs are in demand in Germany 2022? ›- IT Specialists.
- IT Consultants/Analysts.
- Data Scientists/Analysts.
- Software Developers.
- Doctors.
- Engineers.
- Mechanical and Vehicle Engineers.
- Electrical Engineers.
Is IT easy to get job in Germany on job seeker visa? ›
But not everyone needs this type of visa to search for employment in Germany. You will find out the details in no time. Obtaining a job seeker visa to Germany is not easy, you will have to be eligible and fulfil all the requirements and go through the application process with a lot of precision.
Which field is best for future in Germany? ›- Human medicine and dentistry. ...
- Law. ...
- Natural science: physics, chemistry, and biology. ...
- Engineering: industrial engineering, mechanical, electrician. ...
- Mathematical and computer science. ...
- Business informatics. ...
- Psychology.
Which type of visa do you need? Probably one of the four main types: tourist, immigration, student, or work.
What is the age limit to work in Germany? ›Is there an age limit for Work and Travel? Yes, at least 18 and at most 30 years. Only with the Youth Mobility Program is the age limit extended to 35 years.
Can I convert my Schengen visa to work permit? ›If you wish to travel to any of the countries in the Schengen area to work, you will need to apply for an employment visa. There are no Schengen visas for working purposes available. You must apply for a long-stay or National visa.
What is better then Indeed? ›ZipRecruiter: Best Overall Indeed Alternative
Its recruiting software includes screening questions, candidate contacting―both applicants and those found via ZipRecruiter's resume pool―and basic applicant tracking.
- ZipRecruiter.
- Indeed.
- Monster.
- Careerbuilder.
- Glassdoor.
- Linkedin.
- Snagajob.
- Dice.
Bottom Line. Neither Indeed nor LinkedIn is the “better” job platform. Indeed is the better choice to find the greatest number of open positions, while LinkedIn is more likely to help you find specialized positions. LinkedIn also has the advantage of giving you a permanent profile on a popular professional network.
What is the highest paying part-time job in Germany? ›- Research scholars.
- Research assistants/academic assistants.
- Support staff.
- Teaching English as an English tutor.
- Industrial production assistants.
- B.Sc. ...
- B.A. International Management. Featured. ...
- B.A. Aviation Management. Featured. ...
- B.A. Hospitality Management. Featured. ...
- B.Sc. Data Science. ...
- B.A. International Management. Featured. ...
- Bachelor Business Administration. Featured. ...
- B.Eng. Industrial Engineering and Management.
Which website is best for job search in Europe? ›
- 1) Eurojobs.com.
- 2) EuroJobsites.com.
- 3) EURES.
- 4) JobsinNetwork.
- 5) EURACTIV.
- 6) CV-Library.
- 7) Stepstone.
- 8) learn4Good Europe.
Indeed Expands in Germany and Increases Job Seeker Traffic by 124% since June 2012.
Is Indeed for USA only? ›Indeed is the #1 job site worldwide, with over 250 million unique visitors per month. Indeed is available in more than 60 countries and 28 languages, covering 94% of global GDP.
Where can I find employees in Germany? ›Public German job sites
The Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit, BA ), the largest provider of labor market services in Germany, has a network of over 700 agencies and offices around the country. Its International Placement Service (ZAV) has information about work opportunities, including casual work.
Germany is a federal, parliamentary, representative democratic republic. Its political system is based on the constitutional law, known as the Grundgesetz (Basic Law) Germany's constitutional law was approved on 8 May 1949 in the city of Bonn, at that time the provisional German capital.
How much is salary in Germany? ›According to Statista, in 2021, the average gross annual salary in Germany was 47.700 euros a year, or 3.975 euros a month. The numbers above are for all of Germany. However, the average gross salary will depend greatly on your location, professional experience, education, size of the company, and gender.
Can I find a job in Germany without speaking German? ›In short: yes, there are English-speaking jobs in Germany. Foreigners who look for jobs in tech startups or digital departments have a higher chance of finding work in Germany without speaking German.
What is the most common job in Germany? ›- Software developer and programmer.
- Electronics engineer, electrician.
- Healthcare worker and nurse.
- IT consultant, IT analyst.
- Economist, business administrator.
- Account manager, client consultant.
- Production assistant.
- Sales representative, sales assistant.
In 2021, Germany was ranked the 20th richest country in the world, measured by GDP per capita. This means that if you add up the value of all the goods and commodities produced in a country and divide the figure by the number of inhabitants, you get $50,700 (€52,200) per person per year in Germany on average.
What is Germany famous for? ›With an interesting and rich history narrated by the old-fashion and colorful architecture, castles, palaces, cathedrals and monuments themselves, its landscapes, mountains and forests, delicious food and beer, Germany remains one of the top destinations in the world for travelers.
Is German hard to learn? ›
With plenty of straightforward rules, German is not actually as hard to learn as most people think. And since English and German stem from the same language family, you might actually be surprised at the things you pick up without even trying! And on top of it all, it's definitely a useful one, too.