If you’re thinking about leaving the US and moving to Germany, you’re in for a treat. I’ve been living in Germany for a while now and honestly, I love it.
One of the major worries people have when they’re thinking about moving abroad is that they might not be able to get a job. This is a totally valid worry, especially when a lot of the time, visas are contingent on whether you have a job offer or not.
Like a lot of countries, Germany has a list of job roles that are in demand for potential expats. This makes it a lot easier to see if it’s viable for you to move to Germany with your current skill set and experience or whether you’re going to need to pivot slightly to make your dream move to Germany a reality.
So, with that in mind, let’s go ahead and dive into the different kinds of jobs and sectors that you can apply for as an American in Germany.
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Tech Jobs
Let’s start off with a popular sector to pivot into – tech. Technology is pretty much location-independent which is amazing, and a lot of the time, tech teams are multilingual, coming together from all around the world.
Especially if you’re working in the software space, language barriers don’t tend to be as big of a thing, as you tend to be working solo or talking in coding languages which are universal in the tech world. That means that your skills can largely speak for yourself, regardless of where you’re coming from.
Popular roles in tech that are normally in demand in Germany are:
- IT Specialist
- IT Consultant/Analyst
- Data Scientist/Analyst
- Software Developer
- Software Engineering
- Quality Assurance
- UI / UX designers
- Product Management
Healthcare
Next up, we have roles in healthcare. Much like everywhere in the world, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals are always welcomed with open arms.
Once you’ve had your training and gained some experience, it’s fairly straightforward to work in Germany as an American healthcare professional.
Depending on your discipline or specialty, you might need to do some conversion courses to make sure you work in line with German safety standards and European practices, but it’s not too much to worry about.
- Doctor
- Nurses
- Senior Care Worker
- Childcare
Engineering
Let’s be honest, it’s no secret that Germany is one of the best countries in the world when it comes to engineering. So much so, that there are a ton of stereotypes and jokes around German engineering.
With this being the case, there are always plenty of engineering jobs available all across Germany. If you have experience or degrees in any of the following professions, you’re in with a great chance of securing a job and a sponsored visa to enter Germany in the first place.
- Engineer
- Electrical Engineer
- Civil Engineer
- Metal Worker
- Electronics Technicians or Electricians
- Engineering Managers
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Research
Germany is home to a whole host of amazing universities and research centers, complete with all that tasty EU funding. As such, if you have a niche discipline that works within a German research center, you can definitely apply for a researcher visa as an academic.
Visiting lecturers or overseas researchers is pretty commonplace across Europe as universities and research centers are trying to become more global and wide-reaching.
As an American, you can bring practices and techniques from home and apply them in Germany, or learn from the European strategies and protocols to enhance your existing research.
The majority of research positions in Germany normally lie within STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), but there are definitely opportunities for academics in all fields.
- Scientist
- Mathematician
- Psychologists
Hospitality
If you don’t have official qualifications or a degree, it can be tricky to get a working visa for Germany, but it’s not impossible. One of the most popular industries to work in as an expat or as a student studying abroad is hospitality.
Whether you have experience in retail, bar and restaurant work, hotels and hostels, or general customer service skills, a lot of that is transferable as an American in Germany.
Of course, it pays to be bilingual if you’re going to be working in front of the house, but if you’re building up your language skills, working in housekeeping, warehouses, or kitchens is a great way to get your foot in the door. They’re also always in demand as many locals opt for the more high-paying roles.
- Retail
- Bar work
- Hotels and Hostels
- Tourism
- Customer Service
EFL Teachers
Oh, teaching English as a foreign language, that staple of the move abroad scene. It’s on every expat job list for a reason. Although most people in Germany speak English at least at a basic level, having learned it in school, there is always a demand for native-level English speakers. As an American, you fit the bill!
Now, you don’t just have to teach children in schools as an American English teacher in Germany. You might be teaching business English, which is when you go into global companies and teach them words and phrases that are specific to their industry. It’s a niche that actually pays really well if you can find the roles.
You can also get a job teaching English to refugees in Germany. This is a hugely rewarding role and with more people coming across from the Ukraine, it’s a job that’s sadly only growing in demand.
- EFL (English as a foreign language) teachers.
- Freelance video lecturer of the English language.
- Business English teacher.
Sales
There are a few things that Americans are known for around the world (some are definitely better than others), but we are largely known for our unique sales skills.
Whether you take Wolf of Wall Street at face value and think of yourself as a legal version of Jordan Belfort, or you just know how to butter people up, sales roles in Germany, especially for English speakers, are normally in demand.
With so many global companies having headquarters in Germany, it’s pretty common for the sales department to hail from all around the world, dealing with different markets.
As an American, you have a unique knowledge of the US market and sales scene, and that knowledge comes at a premium when you’re applying for roles in Germany.
- Sales representative
- Customer Service
Marketing
So, depending on who you work for marketing can overlap with a lot of different departments. You might end up in tech, tourism, media, business consultation, and more.
Pretty much every business has a marketing department, and as businesses grow, they’re increasingly looking for marketing materials that are written or designed in English.
If you have experience writing copy, developing content, or strategizing in the US markets, then you are definitely in with a shot of getting a marketing-related job in Germany.
- Copy editor
- Digital Marketing
Tips for Getting a Job as an American in Germany
So, now that you have an idea of some of the great jobs that exist in Germany for Americans, let me share some insider tips on how to find and secure these roles and make that expat dream a reality.
Language Requirements
This shouldn’t come as a surprise if you’re thinking of living and working in Germany, but you need to learn the language. Even if you’re going to be working in an English-speaking team, a lot of German visas are contingent on you knowing at least a basic level of German.
If you’re thinking of just blagging it and trying to get away with it, you will have to take a test to prove your language level within a few months of living in Germany, so I’d start prepping now.
Not only is it a visa requirement, it’s going to make getting a job in Germany that much easier. The more languages you know, the better – always!
Upskilling
To get a job in Germany, you need to prove that you are a better candidate than all the Germans who are applying and anyone from Europe who can legally work in Germany without a visa. That’s a lot of people to prove you’re better than.
In order to stand out from the crowd, consider upskilling in your field to make yourself an extra-special candidate.
Take voluntary professional courses, read up on the industry forecasts to see what’s on the horizon, and learn all you can about the business that you’re applying for. Go that extra mile to make sure that they can’t say no!
Leverage your US knowledge
Especially if you’re working for an international company or a German business that’s looking to break into the US market, having knowledge of the way business is done in the US or consumer habits is going to be a huge plus point in your favor. Use it.
When you’re looking at standing apart from local candidates, you have to use every tool at your disposal. That means leveraging your knowledge of US markets and trends to woo hiring managers.
We might not think that this kind of insider knowledge is exciting or valuable, but to a German company looking to expand into US markets, it makes you an invaluable addition to the team.
Sponsored Visas
One of the biggest things about moving abroad and finding work is finding a company that’s going to sponsor your working visa. Unless you have a spousal visa that allows you to stay in the country, or you’re on a student visa and are only expecting to work under 20 hours a week, you’re going to need your employer to back your visa application.
Don’t be afraid to ask hiring managers early on in the process if they’re open to sponsoring visa applications. In the long term, it’ll save both of you a lot of time and effort if they’re not open to sponsoring you.
There are always sites dedicated to showing businesses and open jobs in Germany that state they’re open to sponsoring visas. The job site, Indeed, has a whole search area dedicated to it, which you can check out here.
Research Headquarter Locations
Certain industries tend to congregate around specific areas in Germany. Much like how Silicon Valley is a tech hub and New York is the financial capital of the US, different cities in Germany are dedicated to different job roles and industries.
For example, if you want to work in banking or IT, you might want to focus your search in Frankfurt. On the flip side, if you’re more into media and fashion, switch your search criteria to Dusseldorf.
You can easily find out the best region for your job role online, and it’ll save you a ton of effort looking in the wrong places. It might just open up some new accommodation possibilities for you as well if your specialism lies in a less popular location.
Create Alerts
Just because you can’t find a job that fits your skill set right now doesn’t mean that it won’t exist soon. Make sure you set up alerts on Indeed and LinkedIn for the specific job role and locations that you’re after.
This way all the jobs are going to come to you, rather than having to spend hours each day searching through all the irrelevant roles. Work smarter, not harder!
Have You Thought of Landing a Job in Germany?
So, if you’re thinking of moving from the US to Germany, I’d say go for it! There are plenty of amazing businesses that have headquarters all over the country, and there is a reasonable demand for a lot of different kinds of roles.
Whether you’re a creative, analytical thinker, or a combination of the two, one of these 33 great jobs is likely to be in your wheelhouse.
Remember, if you currently work for a company that operates in Germany, you can always broach the subject of transferring offices. That’s what I did and it made the whole job search battle that much easier!
Which jobs on this list are you most interested in pursuing or trying out? Let me know in the comments below, I’d be super interested to know!
Read More About Europe:
- Digital Nomad Cities in Europe
- What to Know Before You Visit Istanbul?
- How to Live in Portugal for Three Months: Where to Stay
- Can You Live in Germany Without a Degree?
- Without a Job, How to Move to Spain
Vanessa Wachtmeister is a travel tech professional and the creator of the wealth & wanderlust platform, Wander Onwards. Vanessa is originally from Los Angeles, California, she is a proud Chicana, and she has been living abroad for the last 9 years. Today, she helps people pursue financial and location independence through her ‘Move Abroad’ Master Class, financial literacy digital products, and career workshops.