International students find Germany to be an attractive study destination, largely due to the quality of education it provides and also due to its wide range of opportunities to advance academically, create a financially stable life, and an excellent career (see why you should consider studying in Germany). To date, the number of international students in Germany has reached over 416,437, making this country one of the most favourable countries to pursue a degree. Final ‘pull’ factor attracting growing numbers of students to Germany is the prospect of staying on to work after graduation. In fact, around 44 percent of international graduates decide to stay (at least temporarily) in Germany after completing their studies. Europe’s largest economy and most industrialized nation, Germany today offers one of the world’s most resilient job markets and it is not very difficult to get a job after Masters in Germany. In part due to the nation’s ageing population, there’s high demand for skilled immigrants to fill gaps in the labour force.

Any candidate who aspires to start their career overseas probably has two reasons: to get a job after graduation or settle in a foreign country. But whatever the case, if you’re looking to study for a Masters in Germany, you’re in an excellent situation. Because the job market in Germany is widely open for international students, especially those who are looking for job opportunities in Germany after graduation from a German University.

Job After Master in Germany for EU Students

Graduates from EU/EEA countries can stay on to seek work without any restrictions or permits. If you are from the EU/EEA, you will be subject to the same rules and regulations as German graduates, especially in terms of employment, working conditions, and taxes. You do not need to have a work permit to work in Germany when you graduate, just like you did not need to have a student visa to study in the country.

Job After Master in Germany for Non-EU Students

International students from elsewhere including India are eligible for Germany Post Study Work Visa. They can extend residence permits by 18 months in order to seek work, commencing from the date on which final exam results are issued. You can use the 18 months to find jobs in Germany that you think are related to your field of study. It would be best if you start looking for jobs in Germany while you are still at university, or during your final semester. During these 18 months, you can work whatever job you can in order to support yourself until you find full-time employment, and it does not necessarily have to be related to your field of study.  Documents to submit for applying for the residence permit extension in Germany:

• Personal ID and Passport.
• Proof of Graduation from a German University.
• Proof of Health Insurance.
• Proof of Financial Resources.

Job Hunting In Germany: How To Look For A Job After Masters In Germany?

Even as an international student, one will never find it difficult to search for a job in Germany that fits their profile. Germany offers several job opportunities for international students, especially for those candidates who complete their MS in Germany. Most of the global tech and manufacturing giants across the globe are prominent recruiters in Germany. To help you find right job after Masters in Germany, Let’s start with some general advice on how you can start your career in Germany:

Good preparation and networking are key success factors! 

• Recruitment and networking in Germany take time: Start looking into the different options BEFORE you are desperately looking for a job
• Attend conferences and events with speakers and participants in your field of interest
• Subscribe to newsletters with your specific interests
• Note down deadlines for trainee or young professional programs
• Keep track of your applications: In many cases, the job advertisement is put offline when the application deadline has passed. Save job descriptions you are interested in and note down which jobs you applied for and when. This really pays off when you are invited for a job interview and want to prepare yourself!

Make sure your social media profile is always up to date 

• A lot of employers in Germany use LinkedIn or Xing to recruit talents
• Job advertisements are often shared in personal networks and online: Follow employers, influencers or recruiters that interest you on social media channels
• Join groups with areas of interest to you e.g. career groups, sector specific groups

Start learning German as early as possible

It is true that on average Germans have a good command of English, but the working language of most companies is still German. That’s why knowledge of German will increase your job chances considerably!

Check out local or sector-specific job platforms

There are a large number of job platforms in Germany. In this list we are continuously collecting websites that might be interesting for you. In addition to LinkedIn and Xing, there are a lot of websites that could be interesting.

Websites and Platforms to Search a Job After Masters in Germany

Here is a full list of platforms where you can find jobs in Germany. You should visit these German Job Portals regularly so that you don’t miss any exciting opportunities.

General platforms to search jobs in Germany 

• www.stepstone.de
• www.linkedin.com
• www.xing.com
• www.glassdoor.com
• www.monster.de 
• www.indeed.de

Internships, working students, jobs for graduates in Germany 

• www.absolventa.de
• www.jobteaser.com
• Local university portals: Many universities in Germany have a freely accessible job portal on which local companies often advertise jobs targeting students with specific study backgrounds e.g. Technical university Berlin or Technical university Munich

Jobs at Start-ups in Germany

• www.gruenderszene.de
• www.angel.co
• www.arbeitnow.com
• www.germanystartupjobs.com
• www.berlinstartupjobs.com

Software development Jobs in germany

• www.honeypot.io

Social / Sustainability Sector Jobs in Germany

• www.goodjobs.eu
• www.idealist.org

Creative Jobs in Germany

• www.dasauge.de (only in German)

Non-profit and public sector Jobs in Germany

• https://gesinesjobtipps.de/ (only in German)

Jobs at Mittelstand / medium sized companies in Germany

• www.mittelstandsjob.de
• www.mittelstandskarriere.de

City-specific Jobs Portals in Germany

Many cities or federal states have their own business development agencies that support local companies in their search for talent e.g.

• Talent Berlin: www.talent-berlin.de
• JoYo Hamburg: www.yojo.de

What Should I Do After I Find a Job After Masters in Germany?

After you find a job in Germany, with a minimum of a one-year contract, you should apply for an German work visa or the EU Blue Card. The German work visa is a residence permit that lets you work as an employee in Germany. The EU Blue Card is like a work visa, but better. The application process is almost the same. Here are some benefits of EU Blue Card over the regular German work Visa: 

• You can get it faster
  You don’t need permission from the ZAV if your salary is over 58,400€. This makes the application process shorter.
• It’s easier to change jobs
  After 2 years with a Blue Card, you can change jobs without applying for a new Blue Card. This saves a lot of time. With the work visa, you must apply for a new visa every time you change jobs.
• You can get your permanent residence faster
  With a Blue Card, you can get your permanent residence in 33 months instead of 60 months. If you get a B1 language certificate, you can get your permanent residence in 21 months.
• It’s easier to move to other EU countries
  You can move to other EU countries (except Denmark and Ireland) more easily. If you had a Blue Card for over 18 months, you can move to another EU country, and apply for the Blue Card there.
• You can travel longer outside Germany
  With a Blue Card, you can leave Germany for 12 months before your residence permit becomes invalid. With a work visa, you can only leave for 6 months.

EU Blue Card Requirements for Germany

However to get a EU Blue Card you will have to fulfil the following two core requirements, which are not required for the regular German Work visa:

• You need a high income
  You must make at least 58,400€ per year (before taxes). If there is a shortage of skilled workers (e.g. scientists, mathematicians, engineers, doctors and IT specialists) in your field, you must make at least 45,552€ per year.
• You need a university degree
  Your degree must be recognised in Germany. It must be listed as equivalent (entsprichtor äquivalent) in the Anabin database.

German work visa requirements

• You must have a job offer in Germany. It must be a concrete job offer, not just a job listing.
• You must have a university degree or a vocational qualification
  Your job must be related to your education. You do not need a university degree to get a German work visa. Vocational training is enough. Your school does not need to be recognised in Anabin.
• Your employer must be in Germany
  For example, you can’t work for an American company, unless they have an office in Germany.
• You must be qualified for the job
• You must be allowed to do this job in Germany
  If you need specific qualifications to do your job in Germany, you must prove that you have them. For example, doctors, engineers and tax advisors need specific qualifications.
• You must have approval from the ZAV
  The ZAV verifies that the position can’t be filled by a EU citizen. If you apply for a Blue Card, and you make over 58,400€ per year, you don’t need this.
• You must have German health insurance and a place to stay
  You must find a place to live and get German health insurance before you apply for the work visa.

Pro-Tip

Job After Masters In Germany: The Top In-demand Jobs In Germany

Due to the advanced MS degrees, Germany’s job market is prominent for MS degree holders with in-demand jobs in various sectors such as IT, Engineering, Data Science, and other specialisations. The average salary after MS in Germany ranges between €46,000 and €110,000 per annum. Here are some of the best Master’s programs, their salaries, and top employers.

Data Scientist after Master of Data and Knowledge Engineering – Average Salary EUR €80,391 – at Google & Amazon

Engineer after MS in Engineering – Average Salary – EUR 55,000 – at BMW, Volkswagen

IT Manager after MS in computer science – Average Salary EUR 76,000 – at KPMGSAP

Project Manager after MS in computer science – Average Salary EUR 86,500 – at Rocket Internet, Bosch

Robotics Research Engineers  after MS in Robotics – Average Salary EUR 103,931 – at KUKA Robotics, CorpKION Group

Automation engineer  after MS in Robotics – Average Salary EUR 123,000 – at Siemens Telekom

Avionic system support engineer after MS in aerospace engineering – Average Salary EUR 107,000 – at Airbus, Boeing

Big Data Specialist after Master of Data and Knowledge Engineering – Average Salary EUR 69,000 at Here Technologies, Salesforce

Best Cities to Find Job After Masters in Germany

Here’s the list of leading cities that offer better jobs in Germany, salaries, and top employers in terms of generating career opportunities.

• Berlin – Deloitte, Accenture, PwC
• Frankfurt – Siemens, Amazon, Deutsche Bank
• Stuttgart – KPMG, Bayer, Ford Motor Company
• Cologne – Procter & Gamble, Deloitte, Accenture
• Munich Intel Corporation – Microsoft, SAP
• Hamburg – IBM, Deloitte, Capgemini

FAQs on Job After Masters in Germany

Can I Work in Germany After I Return to My Home Country?

If you have finished your higher education studies in Germany as an international student and after graduation, you have returned to your home country, you can still find employment in Germany. What you need in this case is a job seeker visa that allows you to enter Germany for a period of six months and find employment. However, in comparison to an extended residence permit, the job seeker visa does not make you eligible to work while you are looking for full-time employment, meaning you will have to provide proof that you have the necessary financial means to support yourself. After you find employment with a minimum one-year contract, you can apply for an EU Blue Card.

Can I bring my family to Germany?

Yes. With the work visa and the Blue Card, you can bring your family to Germany. They must apply for the family reunion visa. Your family members will be allowed to work or study in Germany.

How much does the German work visa cost?

It costs 100€. It’s cheaper for some nationalities.

How much does the German Blue Card cost?

It costs 100€. It’s cheaper for some nationalities.

How long does it take to get a work visa?

It takes 8 to 12 weeks to get a work visa when you apply in Germany, but it can take up to 16 weeks. Different departments process applications from different nationalities. Some departments are slower. You can get the Blue Card faster if your salary is over 58,400€, because you don’t need approval from the ZAV.

How long is the work visa valid for?

Up to 4 years, but it can be shorter if you have a temporary work contract. You can extend your work visa before it expires. After a few years, you can apply for permanent residence. After eight years you are eligible for German citizenship if you fulfil certain requirements (for example, knowledge of German). In almost all German states, the time you spent studying in Germany also counts toward the eight-year residence period.

How long is the Blue Card valid for?

Up to 4 years, but it can be shorter if you have a temporary work contract. You can extend your Blue Card before it expires, or apply for permanent residence.

Do I need to speak German?

No. You don’t need to speak German to get a work visa or Blue Card. It’s harder to find a job if you don’t speak German.

Can I change jobs?

Yes. Your work visa or Blue Card is for one employer only. If you want to get another job, you can apply for a new work visa or Blue Card. There are two exceptions:

• If you had a Blue Card for at least 2 years, and you have an unlimited work contract, you can change jobs without changing your visa.
• If you had a residence permit for at least 3 years (excluding your time as a student), and you have an unlimited work contract, you can change jobs without changing your visa.

What happens if I lose my job?

You must tell the Ausländerbehörde as soon as you lose your job. Your visa is still valid, but the Ausländerbehörde can shorten your visa. The Ausländerbehörde will give you 3 to 6 months to find another job or leave Germany. If you don’t tell the Ausländerbehörde that you lost your job, you and your employer can be fined.

Can I travel outside of Germany?

Yes. With a work visa, you can leave Germany for up to 6 months. With a Blue Card, you can leave Germany for up to 12 months. If you leave for a longer period without a special permission, your residence permit become invalid. You can ask the Ausländerbehörde for permission to leave longer without losing your residence permit.

Can I start my own business?

Sometimes. If you have this line on your work visa, you are allowed to freelance. You must keep your job. Freelancing can’t be your main occupation. If you want to freelance as your main occupation, you must apply for a freelance visa. You must still register your business. You might need permission from your employer.