Updated: August 2026. Where to actually look for work in Germany, how major portals differ, what to do if you are not yet in the country, and what a German employer expects in an application. All links have been verified, and the figures are based on data from the Bundesagentur für Arbeit.
Where to start looking
In Germany, two parallel channels operate, and relying on just one is a typical beginner's mistake.
- Job boards. The majority of open positions are published here. You should start with them.
- «Vitamin B – connections and networking. A noticeable share of jobs in Germany are filled through referrals and never even make it to publication. Specialised communities, industry meetups, former colleagues and acquaintances work just as well as a job portal.
- The companies' own websites. Section Jobs or Career the employer's website often contains vacancies that are not on job boards, and applications go directly to HR there.
Major portals: how they differ
Regarding reach in 2026, the picture looks like this — the attendance figures are given according to industry market reviews.
- Federal Employment Agency Job Market — government portal, around 14 million visits a month. Completely free, with the widest database for blue-collar and other non-office jobs. The first place you should visit.
- Indeed — the largest aggregator, around 15 million visits. It collects job ads from other sites, so a vacancy may be duplicated.
- StepStone — around 10.5 million visits, strong positions in office and skilled vacancies, a lot of international companies.
- LinkedIn — around 9 million visits in Germany. The best option if the working language is English or if you are looking at an international company.
- XING — the German-language equivalent of LinkedIn, with around 2.9 million visits. It focuses on the domestic market and management positions.
- stellenanzeigen.de — a major German portal, which frequently takes top spots in jobseeker surveys.
- meinestadt.de — search by specific city and region. This is useful if relocation within the country is not being considered.
Niche job boards
If a profession is niche, a specialised portal will provide more relevant job vacancies than a large aggregator.
- IT and engineers: heise Jobs, jobvector
- IT freelancing and project work: Gulp — projects for self-employed professionals
- Medicine: General Practitioner
- Hotel business and gastronomy: HOGAPAGE
- Graduates and starting a career: Graduate, Staufenbiel
If you are not yet in Germany
Official government portal for overseas professionals — make-it-in-germany.comvacancies, job requirements and step-by-step entry instructions.
There are three main legal pathways, and whether you can look for work while already in the country depends on the one chosen.
- Opportunity Card — job search opportunity card. You need to score a minimum of 6 points under the points system, prove German of at least A1 or English of B2, and show means of subsistence — in 2026 this is €1,091 per month. It is issued for up to a year, during which part-time work averaging up to 20 hours a week is permitted while searching. Details are in the breakdown Chancenkarte: job search visa.
- EU Blue Card — for professionals with higher education and a contract already signed. The salary threshold in 2026 is €50,700 per year generally, and €45,934.20 for shortage occupations and young professionals. The list of documents is on the page Blue Card.
- Work visa — if the Blue Card is not suitable due to your profession or salary. We have covered the types of visas in the article work visas for Germany.
A separate case is relocating after 45: there are different requirements for salary and pension provision, about this Residence permit in Germany for people 45+.
Recognition of a degree often makes all the difference
In many professions, it is impossible to work at all without recognition of qualifications — these are doctors, nurses, lawyers, teachers, and some engineering and craft trades. In other cases, recognition is not compulsory, but it significantly increases your chances and salary, and earns you points for the Chancenkarte. How the procedure works is covered in the article recognition of foreign diplomas in Germany.
Check the salary before the interview
Guessing a figure is a losing position. In Germany, there are open sources you can check beforehand.
- Federal Employment Agency Salary Atlas — official salary statistics by profession, region and age. The most neutral source.
- gehalt.de — salary bands by role.
- kununu - employee reviews of the employer and salaries. It's useful to see what is written about the company from the inside before an interview.
Please clarify separately whether it applies within the company collective agreement (Collective agreement). If yes — salary, holiday allowance and benefits are set by the industry agreement, and negotiations take place within narrow limits.
What a German employer expects in a job application
The response format in Germany is quite strict, and carelessness is immediately apparent here.
- CV — CV in a tabular format, 1–2 pages, in reverse chronological order, with no gaps in work history. A photo is not essential, but it is still customary in conservative industries.
- Cover letter — a one-page cover letter. Not a CV retelling, but an answer to the question of why you, and why this particular company.
- References - diplomas, certificates and references from previous employers (Arbeitszeugnis). In Germany, such a reference is issued by law, and its absence raises questions.
- Language certificate, if available, and the diploma recognition document, if the procedure has been completed.
What to check in a contract before signing
- probationary period — probationary period, usually up to 6 months. During this period, dismissal is possible with two weeks' notice.
- Notice period — the notice period for resignation. This is important if you are planning to change jobs: it binds you just as much as the employer.
- Holiday. The statutory minimum is 20 working days for a five-day week, and in practice contracts usually provide 25 to 30.
- Overtime: are paid, compensated with time off in lieu, or «covered by the base salary». The wording should be read carefully.
- Fixed-term contract - fixed-term or open-ended contract. This affects both the renewal of the residence permit and the approval of the loan.
What you will need right after getting a job
- Medical insurance. Without it, the employer cannot officially register you. How the state system works – in our analysis state health insurance.
- Tax bracket. The take-home pay depends directly on it, and in the event of marriage, a more advantageous tax bracket can be chosen. Analysis — tax classes in Germany, and how is the tax itself calculated — income tax.
- Salary account. Which Girokonto to choose and what to look for in the terms and conditions — bank account comparison.
- SCHUFA. A credit rating affects renting a home, payment plans and mobile tariffs. What it is and how to check it — SCHUFA.
- Sick note. The formatting rules are different from the usual ones, and the analysis is sick note in Germany.
If employment isn't for you
It is more profitable for some specialists in Germany to work for themselves. What is needed for this and where to start — how to become self-employed or a freelancer and freelancer's handbook in Germany.
The material was prepared by the FINBER team — an independent insurance broker and financial advisor with IHK §34d and §34i licences and over 20 years of experience in Germany. Data on the Chancenkarte and EU Blue Card are based on publications by the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit), are correct as of August 2026, and are reviewed annually. The article is for informational purposes and does not constitute individual legal or financial advice.
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