Looking for a job in Germany? Be prepared because the German job market is really bad right now. Imagine applying for 800 jobs and getting rejected 200 times a month. Sounds impossible? but It’s the reality in Germany right now.
Finding a Job in Germany is not easy!
Germany’s economy is Struggling
Companies are applying for bankruptcies at an alarming rate. Unofficial and official hiring freezes are happening in most companies throughout Germany.
Some are sending their employees into Kurzarbeit, in which private-sector employees agree to or are forced to accept a reduction in working hours and pay. Some are directly firing their employees.
Among those being fired are people who are newer in the company or not connected well socially in the company. Unfortunately, most expats or foreigners fall into this category.
Why People are Struggling to Find a Job in Germany
The private and public sectors in Germany get assistance from funding programs. Be it at a provincial, federal, or EU level.
And because the German government has been dissolved, there is a lack of direction. This is particularly important because most of the funding and assistance from the previous government was made available for renewable or green technology. And no one knows if the new government will support the green transition or change its direction.
This is why most companies in Germany are trying to preserve as much money as they can. And I think the situation will get worse at least until October . Because the government needs to be formed and a concrete policy has to come into place before assistance to the economy will be given.
That’s why I think employees are going to struggle in 2025. But it’s not just people who are already employed in Germany. It’s people who are coming on the Opportunity Card who will struggle as well.
Why opportunity card in Germany might not be right for you
Personally, I divide the Opportunity Card holders into two distinct categories. The first is for people who have technical skills, like chefs, plumbers, electricians, drivers, care providers, etc. These people have a higher requirement for visa approval. For example, they might need additional certifications in Germany or a minimum German language requirement.
The second group is people with a higher degree—a bachelor’s, master’s, or a certain amount of experience in a field. Their visa approval is generally straightforward as long as their degree is recognized in Germany.
Related Guide: Opportunity Card in Germany – What You Need to Know
Bottleneck Sectors with Jobs in Germany
The number of jobs available for the first group is quite high. These are actually bottleneck jobs, and even if the economy is struggling, people are always going to need an electrician, a plumber, a bus driver, or a nurse.
On the contrary, in a struggling economy, it’s quite hard to find a job as an IT specialist. A company can always pause its growth for a couple of months and save that money for an emergency rather than hiring an IT specialist.
It’s the same story for most people coming to Germany on the Opportunity Card. I think the main culprit here is the reality of the visa criteria versus the job market. There is no language requirement for the second group, but most jobs need good German communication skills.
Why you Need German Language skills even with English Speaking Jobs
Please understand one thing: Employers in Germany will always prefer someone with great German language skills. It does not matter if the company is in a small city or a large one or if their customers are regional or international. That’s the reality.
Other countries might embrace English, but in Germany, and many other European countries, they always prefer their own language. You will need at least a B2 German language level to find a job in Germany these days.
Think of it this way: Companies in Germany are hiring one person instead of three as a cost-saving measure. And because the number of hirings has decreased, the effective talent pool has essentially increased. So companies are preferring people with better German skills compared to those who have okay German skills.
But the problem is that people without German skills are still being offered visas because they have great profiles, but these people are not getting jobs.
This misalignment is making the process much harder for non-German speakers and international applicants.
Rejections: The new normal with Job Applications in Germany
Ask anyone who is actively searching for a job in Germany—200 rejections per month is an average right now. People need between 600 to 800 applications to get a job. And the number of rejections will keep increasing in the next few months.
Obviously, you need only one “yes” among hundreds of “no’s,” so you need to keep applying.
Why you might not get a Response for a Job application
Job applications in Germany are similar to other countries, but Germans love their holidays. In almost all cases, you will not get a response if the HR person or the project lead is on holiday.
Forget about a “yes”—you won’t even get a “no” during the holiday season.
And the holiday season in different German federal provinces varies: Easter, summer, autumn, winter, Christmas holidays—all these exist and vary depending on the federal province.
As a general guide, regardless of which level of application you are at—whether waiting for a first response, after the first or second interview, or waiting for your contract—always keep the holiday period in mind. Know that you will not get a response during that time.
Types of Responses you might get
I think about 50% of your applications will land in the limbo phase, where you will either get no response at all or just a generic response saying your application has been received and will be processed soon.
The next 40% or so will be instant rejections, with generic responses starting with “We regret to inform you” or “We were unable to…” This is likely due to the job position already being filled or you being auto-rejected by the ATS. The ATS can reject you for genuine reasons, like you not being a reasonable candidate, or simply because your CV format was incorrect.
Related Guide: German CV Template That HR in Germany Loves
Very rarely will you get an email outlining the reason for the rejection—perhaps you applied for a leadership position and didn’t have the proper experience required. But recently, a lot of people are getting rejection emails saying that the candidate does not have good enough German language proficiency, even though the job posting did not explicitly mention such a requirement.
Job Designations are different in Germany
You also have to know that designations work differently in Germany. In your home country, a Project Manager position might require 3 to 4 years of experience, but in Germany, depending on the company, that position might require 10+ years of experience.
A friend of mine, for example, has multiple years of experience as a project manager in a research institute in Germany, with a total of 8 years of experience as an employee in Germany, and was still rejected for a project manager position in the industry.
So try not to take those rejections to heart because the criteria vary from company to company and industry to industry. In fact, I would say do not take any rejection to heart.
I know each rejection feels personal, but please do not get demotivated. You will get hundreds of them, but you only need one “yes.”
Is it worth coming to Germany in 2025?
I get a lot of questions from students planning to join a master’s program in 2025. Asking whether Germany is good for IT, engineering, or finance.
The issue here is that a student, on average, requires five semesters to finish a three-semester master’s program. Some finish in four semesters, and rarely does a master’s student finish their three-semester degree in 18 months.
Let’s take the two-year example: If you come to Germany in October 2025, you will join the job market in early 2028. This is too far away to make an accurate prediction. But I think Germany is still a great place to get higher education, even if it is struggling economically at the moment.
Who knows what the situation will be in 2028? But I think the chances of it being better than now are far higher than it being worse.
In my opinion—and this might change in a few months—the most critical decision right now is for people who are already in good positions in other countries. Many of them might have received the Opportunity Card or could easily get it based on their profile. However, for them, I believe Germany might not be the right option at this moment, especially without at least B2-level German language proficiency.
Find a Job in Germany’s Competitive Market
The reason is simple: the job market in Germany is highly competitive right now. Companies are prioritizing candidates with strong German communication skills.
Even if your qualifications and experience are excellent, without proficient German, you may struggle to secure a job. Especially in industries that are not experiencing labor shortages.
If you already have a stable job in another country, making the move without proper preparation. Particularly in terms of language skills—could put you at a serious disadvantage.
Germany remains an attractive destination for work and higher education. But the current economic conditions make it essential to plan strategically rather than rushing into the decision.
If you do have B2-level German or belong to a profession in high demand. The Opportunity Card might still be a great option. Otherwise it may be wiser to wait a few months. Improve your German, and assess the job market again before making the move.
If you are one of the lucky ones who finds a job in Germany, make sure you have a proper look before signing it.
Disclaimer: None of the content in this article is meant to be considered as legal, tax or investment advice, as I am not a financial expert or a lawyer and am only sharing my experience with stock investing. The information is based on my own research and is only accurate at the time of posting this article but may not be accurate at the time you are reading it.