Life in Germany

  Is moving to Germany on your mind?

  Then Germany has a lot to offer you. Though moving to a new place can be difficult and exhausting, approaching the right source of information at the right time can save much of your time and energy.

  

 There are many ways of making it to Germany. The most common of them are through studying in Germany and Working in Germany.

  I have already given much information about studying in Germany in my previous posts. Lets take a look at working in Germany.

  Working in Germany can be achieved by either accessing the German job market from your home country or by applying for a job after your education at a German University. Whatever method it may be, prior to applying it is very important to know about the German job market.

German Labour Market:

One can access the German Labour Market through the following:

• Applying to a Job seeker's visa
• Training in Germany
• Studying in Germany

• A foreigner's access to the German labour market is limited to certain occupations and usually requires the approval of employment authorities. In recent years, many legislations have been formed in order to overcome this limitation.

   In contrast to the low skilled or unskilled workers, highly qualified foreign nationals such as university graduates have high access to the job market. It is also important to know whether your foreign qualifications are recognised in Germany. 

    To check whether your qualifications are recognised in Germany refer to the Anabin Database. 

• Another major aspect is to learn about what is trending in the job market. Not all professionals can gain easy access to the labour market. In the recent years there has been a lot of demand for doctors, scientists and researchers. Hence it is vital to know what kind of profession is currently trending before accessing the job market.

• The third aspect to remember is the knowledge of German language.

   Many companies require you to know spoken German. You can learn German through the Goethe Institutes in Germany and in your own country. There are different levels of language courses offered at these institutes for some fee. 

  If you are entering Germany for study or research or internship then DAAD offers various language scholarships that entitle you to learn German in Germany with scholarship. 

Working in Germany:

1. Finding a job

2. Apply for a work visa

3. Moving to Germany

   The first step is to search for a job relevant to your qualification. Once you have found the job, apply and get your qualifications recognised. Then sign the contract.

   The next step is to apply for a work visa. To apply to this visa you should have the offer letter from the company with you. More information about the work visa can be found at your respective country's German Embassy website. 

   If you have completed your graduation or higher study from a university in Germany, then you are entitled to have a work visa for 18 months soon after your graduation during which you can find a relevant job. Later if you want to continue then you can extend your work visa.

  If you are a citizen of EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, you won't be needing any work permit. Citizens of other countries will have to apply for a work visa at their respective German missions abroad.

  Academics have an added advantage. You can apply for a jobseeker's visa which is valid for 6 months and come to Germany and find a relevant job.

More details on how to make it to germany can be found here.

List of Reliable sources of information:

I have listed some important websites that can help you to a great extent and gives you indepth details of all the questions that may arise.

1. Making it in Germany

    the website provides comprehensive details on how to access the German labour Market and moving to Germany and post-immigration processes.

2. Federal Foreign office

   The website provides information on various regulations associated with visa, immigration laws, living in Germany and so on.

3. Eures

   this website is more like a job portal. Here job seekers can search for jobs and employers can search for candidates who suit the vacant positions in their companies.

4. European Commission

    the website represents the European Union on a whole. It proposes various legislations and regulations. you can also find information on education, living, working in EU.

5. Study in Germany

    this website powered by DAAD provides information on all universities in Germany and the range of programs offered and also contains information on scholarships, internships, student life in Germany and many more.

6. research in Germany

    Interested in doing your doctorate or post doctoral studies in germany? then this website is the centre of information for you. The website has info on scholarships, research institutes, research areas career after research in Germany etc.

7. Academics.com

   this website is suitable for academicians seeking job at various universities and institutes in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and other countries in Europe.

    If you still have any queries then leave a comment below or you can contact me through the contact form.

Stay tuned to this blog for more updates...