Completing a degree is definitely one essential step to start one’s career, yet the real challenge for many students is the employment process after graduation. Finding the ideal work depends on many variables, such as the field or sector of interest, the grade point average (GPA) of the graduate, the professional and academic skills of the applicant, the employment rate of the country, and more.
German students have always been known to be hardworking, disciplined, and successful in their studies, and as a result, we can find German graduates working at the world’s most prestigious companies and businesses. Thereby, it may be easy for German students to work abroad, yet it may also be a challenge to do so due to the competition between skilled German graduates to get the best working positions abroad.
In this article, we reviewed the top 5 countries for German students and graduates with the highest possibility to work abroad in various sectors. If you are a German student with an ultimate goal to pursue your career abroad, read this article to plan your future and make your dreams come true.
Top Countries for German Students to Find Work
German students and graduates have higher chances of getting a job abroad, specifically in some countries, which will be explained in detail below. Read more to find out the countries with the best opportunities for German students and graduates.
1. Switzerland
One of the ideal countries for German students to work in is, without a doubt, Switzerland, and for plenty of reasons. Firstly, Switzerland is a country of bureaucracy, which creates tremendous opportunities for students and graduates of law and legal rights. German students have significant advantages over others in this case, as Germany has a well-known reputation for having the world’s best law schools, which makes German students highly competitive at the highest-class bureaucratic positions in Switzerland.
Another great advantage for German students to work in Switzerland is the language. Switzerland is a country with four official languages, yet the majority of the population speaks German, which is a fantastic opportunity for German students to stand out over other candidates in a job application.
Lastly, Switzerland is a high-income country with a low unemployment rate; thus, finding a job and making a living will have great merits for German students in terms of economic and social welfare.
2. Netherlands
With its strong economy and growing demand for a skilled foreign workforce, the Netherlands is one of the attractive destinations for German students and graduates majoring in IT, computer engineering, finance, and healthcare.
German students need to get a highly skilled migrant visa to work full-time in the Netherlands, yet if they hold a student visa in the country, they can work up to 16 hours per hour.
One challenge of living in the Netherlands could be to make a living in the country for German students, as the cost of living in the Netherlands is relatively higher than in Germany. However, many of the qualified positions, especially in the technology and healthcare sectors, offer high salaries for skilled foreign candidates, which is why it’s important for German candidates to be competitive during job interviews.
3. The United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is one of the countries with the most diverse workplaces and multicultural environments, as the country constantly hires skilled foreign employees in various sectors. One of the greatest advantages of working in the United Kingdom is that it is the center of many small or international corporates, which creates various work opportunities in any field for locals and foreigners. This makes the UK a great choice for German students looking for work opportunities in the various industries.
Although German students and graduates can choose from a wide variety of job opportunities in the UK, specific sectors are in demand for highly skilled applicants, including software development, architecture, graphic design, cyber security, healthcare, and more.
Additionally, it is very easy to get a part-time job in the UK for German students with an ongoing study program or graduates looking for an additional job in the country. Some of the demanding jobs German students can work as part-timers in the UK are teaching assistants, private tutors, translators, hotel receptionists, and other similar short-term positions.
4. Ireland
Along with the UK, Ireland is popular among German students due to its welcoming locals, breathtaking landscapes, and miscellaneous career options. The country is one of the top countries German students choose to live in, and it is for several reasons.
Firstly, Irish people are known to be friendly and hilarious towards foreigners, which makes it easier for German people to get used to the change of environment. Secondly, it is not only easy to find a job for German students, but there are also various internship opportunities for fresh German graduates or senior students.
Demanding professions German students and graduates can work are IT, gastronomy (e.g., chefs), nursery, business, and finance. German students with certain qualifications can easily find a job compared to other European countries. Moreover, although a proficient level of English is needed for the majority of jobs, there are also some work opportunities requiring German language skills for corporates with German & Irish partnerships.
5. Austria
Lastly, Austria is an excellent choice for German students and graduates due to its high standards of living and growing economy. Moreover, it is easier to adapt to living in the country as a German speaker as there is no need to worry about the language barrier.
There is a high number of German residents in Austria as it is one of the EU countries, making it accessible to travel between two countries whenever wanted. Demanding job opportunities for German speakers in Austria are accounting, healthcare, engineering, and more.
FAQs on How to Search for Work Abroad
What Are the Challenges Faced by Students in Finding Work Abroad?
The challenges of finding employment abroad are diverse, yet the common difficulties students face are usually the following: obtaining a working visa, language barrier, dishonesty of the employers, lack of financial support for accommodation, and more.
As a fresh graduate, you may be excited and find your ideal job in your dream country, yet the company may not be eager to provide a work permit for overseas applicants; in this case, the best would be to require information at the beginning of any job interview abroad. Similarly, it is also common for some employers to provide the necessary assistance for their employees coming from abroad, including accommodation. Thus, it is always better to be clear about such topics when discussing terms and conditions in a job interview.
International job hunting has always been challenging in different ways, yet as a German student or graduate with high skills and expertise in a specific field, the employment process can be much easier than expected. What matters the most is to make the right choice by considering your expectations, abilities, and conditions from your desired position in the workplace. You can start by perusing this list of top countries where German students can find work.
Hopefully, this article on the best countries for German students to find work will give you a head start as you search for work. Make sure to also check out our Scholarships Page for different information on scholarships and universities across the globe!
