How to Find Full Time Jobs in Germany After Ausbildung
Finishing your Ausbildung in Germany means that you have been engaged in vocational training, worked in a German company and learned the peculiarities of the country’s labor market. However, as soon as this stage is completed, another question comes to the forefront is what should you do next? Fortunately, Germany is in constant need of skilled specialists, and having finished your Ausbildung gives you a great chance to become one. Below is an easy guide on how to find full time jobs in Germany after Ausbildung.
Understand Your Competitive Advantage After Ausbildung
It may be useful to understand the advantages you will possess after finishing your Ausbildung when looking for full time positions. First of all, you already have practical experience, understand German work culture, and, in most cases, even improved your language skills. Employers do not have to invest any effort into training you, and therefore, you will be preferred as a candidate to those who come to the company without any experience.
Talk To Your Training Company First
Companies in Germany offer a permanent job placement to the apprentices performing well during their Ausbildung. This is the fastest and the most straightforward option of getting full time employment. If you liked your training company and performed well during your Ausbildung, discuss it with your supervisor or HR department in your company directly. Companies generally prefer keeping their trained employees rather than hiring and training someone new, therefore such a discussion may save you a lot of time and energy.
Update Your Resume and Documentation
In case there are no opportunities at your training company or you want to consider other options, start by updating your resume (known as Lebenslauf in Germany). It should follow the structure and the format typical for Germany, including information about your Ausbildung certificate and practical skills. Together with your resume, prepare a cover letter (Anschreiben), and have your certificates and references ready. Such a preparation will greatly facilitate your job hunting.
Use the Right Platforms for Full Time Jobs
Germany has a number of websites where companies offer full time vacancies for those who have finished their Ausbildung. You may use such websites as:
- Bundesagentur für Arbeit (the official job portal from the government of Germany)
- StepStone
- Indeed Germany
- Xing (very popular in Germany among professionals)
Set up your filters properly, do keyword searches related to your profession and apply on a regular basis. Many companies actually prefer to hire candidates who have completed their Ausbildung, therefore mention this in your resume and LinkedIn profile.
Network in Your Industry
Networking is a vital component of the German job market. Attend events in your industry, join relevant LinkedIn groups and connect with people working in the same area. Sometimes, job offers are published via network even before they go online. Do not hesitate to contact your former trainers, colleagues and professionals that you have met during your Ausbildung.
Improve Your German Language Proficiency
Even if you have completed your Ausbildung with a decent language proficiency, still improvement will not hurt. Many full time positions, especially in cases when there is customer interaction and/or cooperation with other colleagues, require good language skills. Consider taking additional language classes if needed, it shows employers that you are serious about building a long term career in Germany.
Get to Know Your Visa and Residency Obligations
Once you finish your Ausbildung, you will likely qualify to obtain an extended visa in order to seek employment in your training field, thus giving you several months to obtain a full time job. You can then apply for the work-related residency permit once you receive the job offer. It is important that you verify the current requirements from your local immigration office or an experienced study abroad advisor.
Stay Patient and Persistent
Seeking employment can be a time consuming process and rejection is something you should expect along the way. Be persistent, improve your application every time you get any kind of feedback. You should know that many graduates of the Ausbildung programs manage to find their first full time jobs within a couple of months.
Germany is still in great need of highly qualified specialists and your qualification shows that you already meet their needs. The key to success is patience and proper preparation.
The experienced advisors at BCES Admissions Abroad will gladly assist you with all the questions related to Ausbildung, visa procedures and finding a career in Germany.