Jobs in Berlin: Everything you need to know

Die Job search in Berlin can be daunting, especially because the main working language in Germany is probably not your native language. This is probably the biggest fear for expats moving to Berlin.

However, there are many jobs in Berlin that don't require you to speak German, and international companies are popping up left, right and center of the city. With a thriving start-up scene, Berlin is even referred to by some as the Silicon Valley of Europe.

In addition to the burgeoning business and start-up sector, Berlin also has a rapidly growing hospitality and teaching sector, employing more and more non-German-speaking staff to serve the ever-growing international clientele. Combined with booming tourism, this is a fantastic time for jobs in Berlin.

With the help of our extensive job board and company lists, as well as our top tips for finding a job in Germany, we are confident that expats can quickly find a job in Berlin.

What are the most popular work areas in Berlin for non-Germans?

Before we look at some tips for finding a job in Berlin, it is important to take a look at the main industries where expats find work. In short, the most popular workspaces in Berlin currently are:

• Technik & IT
• Customer support
• Sales and business development
• Recruitment
• Hospitality industry
• Child care & lessons
• Marketing and customer support
• Writing and editing content

While you shouldn't limit yourself to these areas, these are the positions that English speakers are most successful in applying for. If you want to find work as quickly as possible, the hotel and catering route is usually the quickest - if you are prepared to be flexible, many people are able to do so within 2 to 4 weeks of arrival to work in the hotel and restaurant industry in Berlin.

Where can I find jobs in Berlin?

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There are a large number of companies in Berlin that are constantly looking for new, international talent. However, it can be difficult for applicants to get an overview of the positions on offer.

To combat this, we've put together some free resources to help you gain insight into the top employers in Berlin hiring international workers. Where possible, we offer direct links to the companies' career pages so that you get a complete overview of all current job offers for non-German-speaking employees.

General tips for looking for a job in Berlin

While the sources above give you a broad overview of the current job openings on the Berlin labor market, there are a few simple methods you can use to significantly improve your chances of getting a job in the German capital:

• Distribute your search
  Don’t limit your search to just a few job boards. Because it is more expensive for companies to advertise on larger job boards, many companies opt for smaller, less popular job listing sites. Many smaller start-ups even decide to advertise in Facebook groups because these offers are usually free.
  The larger job boards are of course much better known and can therefore be much more competitive. Splitting your time evenly between large job boards, smaller websites, and Facebook groups will give you a good overview of the opportunities available. To help you, we have put together a list of our favorite job boards in Germany.
• Get a German phone number and include your German address on your resume.
  Get a German phone number as soon as possible and include it along with your German address on your resume. The more you can show hiring managers that you are serious about living in Germany (and are already in the country), the better - a German phone number and address is an easy and effective way to do this!
  If you are applying from abroad, there is no problem using your international number and it is much better than not providing a number at all. Make sure you include the international area code so that HR managers can reach you as easily as possible.
• Open applications
  In Germany it is common practice to send open applications. If you are interested in a particular company or field but there are no corresponding positions advertised, do not hesitate to submit your resume and cover letter explaining why you would like to work for this company and what you could offer.
  While this may seem quite speculative, it can definitely pay off in the long run. We've found this approach to be particularly successful in the hospitality industry - if you're looking for a hospitality job in Berlin, we recommend sending open applications to all hospitality companies listed here and you'll likely receive some positive responses!
• Knowledge of the German labor market
  HR managers in Germany are confidants and expect certain things in your application. This especially applies to your CV, which should be in a “German style”. For some resume tips, see the Resume section below.
• Apply for different types of jobs
  In Berlin there is a very high proportion of part-time jobs and a growing market for freelancers. Don't just limit your search to full-time positions, consider other positions that can get you your foot in the door at a company.
  In Germany there are also a large number of mini-jobs that cost less than 450 euros per month and are exempt from income tax. You can make a living with several mini-jobs at the same time. If you need a work visa to live in Germany these options may not be available to you, but for EU/EEA citizens and those on a working holiday/youth mobility visa they are definitely an option.
• Always go to the source
  If you see a job posting on a job board, it's likely that the company has additional positions posted elsewhere. Always remember to visit each company's careers page to find all available positions in Berlin, as companies will likely only advertise a handful of their open positions on external job boards.
  With the help of our company lists you can easily get to the companies' career pages.
• Network, network, network
  Make connections wherever and whenever possible, be it at job fairs, hiring events or industry meetups. Networking events can be found on Eventbrite and Meetup.
  Another good place to network are the city's many co-working spaces, which host a variety of events and workshops. Factory Berlin, Betahaus and Sankt Oberholz are great places to network with freelancers and startup entrepreneurs.
  Job-related Facebook groups in Berlin are also a good place to connect with local employers, recruiters, hiring managers, etc., who often post job openings, articles and blog posts in these groups.
• Create comprehensive applications
  Take your time with each application to ensure it is tailored to the position you are applying for. Take time to tailor your resume to the position and write a cover letter that clearly matches the job description and requirements.
  Submit at least a resume and cover letter, but also include written references, links to personal websites, and portfolios if relevant to the position.
• Search smartly
  When searching job boards, don't just use "English" as a keyword, as this will only return a limited selection of English jobs. Also search using English terms that relate to the job you are looking for, e.g. B. for “Customer Service” or “Content Manager”. Varying the English keyword combinations will give you a much wider range of search results.
• Letter of recommendation
  Most large companies in Berlin offer generous referral bonuses for employees who refer candidates for positions. As a rule, this is €1,000 to €2,000 per referral that is posted.
  Therefore, it can be a smart tactic to have an employee (via LinkedIn ) to ask a company you want to work for to recommend you for a job. Because of the financial incentive, many employees will be willing to recommend you and this will usually ensure that your application receives preferential treatment from a hiring manager/recruiter.
• Follow up
  Keep a record of all your applications in a spreadsheet with the date you applied, the hiring manager/hirer, and other important information. This way you can keep track of your applications and stay in touch with the companies.

CV tips to get a job in Berlin

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If you are not a native English speaker, mistakes in your CV can seriously affect your chances of getting a job in Berlin. It is therefore worth having your CV reviewed by a native English speaker to iron out any errors.

If you prefer to do it alone, here are some tips for creating a "German style" resume:

While the standard format and content of CVs is fairly consistent in most countries, a German CV should look like this:

• Saved in the following format: Lastname_Firstname_CV.pdf
• Saved as a PDF document.
• Standard structure of a German CV: Personal information, professional experience & internships, training, volunteer work, scholarships and awards
• Skills
• Each section should be organized chronologically, with your most recent experience coming first.

1. Personal information

On separate lines you should indicate:

• your full name
• Your date of birth
• Nationality(s) - also indicate this if you are an EU/EEA citizen. If you are not an EU/EEA citizen but already have a work-based visa for Germany, also add that you have a "full work permit for Germany".

Contact information (telephone number, email address and address). If possible, a German phone number and address is better, as hiring managers prefer applicants who are already in Germany and can start working immediately.

2. Work experience and internships

Include the dates you worked in various capacities, then provide details of the company, location, department, and position in which you worked. You should also provide a brief description of your position and responsibilities. Try to include experiences/keywords listed in the job postings you are interested in.

3. Education

College and possibly high school diploma.

Since internships are very popular in Germany, it is an advantage if you also state your experience as an intern.

4. Volunteer activities, scholarships and awards

Any volunteer work you have done, as well as any academic scholarships or awards you have received, can be listed here.

5. Skills

What you should include here largely depends on the position you are applying for. For example, if you For example, if you are applying for a front-end technical position, you should provide JavaScript, etc. We recommend focusing more on hard skills than soft skills. You can also indicate your language skills here, e.g. B. English native language and knowledge of German at an intermediate level (B2).

Further tips for creating a “German” CV

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The resume tips above will help you apply for a range of jobs in Berlin. Here are a few more tips to help you optimize your CV for the German job market:

• Present your professional experience in a results-oriented manner, i.e. H. focus not only on what you did in a particular role, but also on what you accomplished. This can look like this:
  - Ga.To16 - 02.To18 | He is also the manager MEDFC, Toronto, Canada
  - Oversaw and managed SEO strategy within organic search.
  - Led a team of 8 freelance writers to create content for Canadian clients.
  - Managed all company social media channels including LinkedIn, Facebook, Google and Twitter, resulting in a 50% increase in followers across platforms.
  - Increased website traffic from 40,000 users per month to 80,000 users per month.
• Check your resume with Grammarly to identify any spelling and grammar issues.
• Write your resume in complete sentences. We recommend writing 2 to 4 complete sentences for each of your previous jobs.
• Include keywords from the job posting in your resume so hiring managers can quickly determine that you have relevant experience, skills, or knowledge.
• Tailor your resume to different job titles. Your resume for a customer service position should look different than one for an editing position.
• Make sure you state in your cover letter or application that you can start work immediately if this is the case.
• If you're looking for resume inspiration, Google resume examples for your job title. There you will find countless resume examples for your professional field that you can adapt to your experience. JobHero is a good place to start and offers a wide range of CV examples for most areas.
• Formatting is important, especially in Germany, where a lot of attention is paid to details - make sure the formatting is consistent and clear.
• Make sure your email address on your resume is appropriate and professional. If you have an email address like [email protected], create a new email account with your full name, e.g. E.g. [email protected].
• Limit your resume to two pages. The length of your resume depends on the type of company you are applying to. However, we generally recommend limiting your resume to two pages, especially if you are applying to an international start-up company.

Cover letter for jobs in Berlin

While the CV is required for almost every job application worldwide, you may not be as familiar with the cover letter. However, in Germany, some employers place as much value on this letter as they do on your CV, and it offers a fantastic opportunity to convey your passion for an industry, company or product as well as demonstrate your personality and professionalism.

Here are some important points to keep in mind when writing a cover letter for the German job market:

• Make it formal and professional. The cover letter should follow standard letter writing practices and be formal in tone, content and formatting. It should contain at least the following:
  - Your address and contact details.
  - The name of the hiring manager/recruiter and the address of the company you are applying to.
  - The date on which you write the letter.
  - The subject of the letter - here you should state exactly which advertised position you would like to apply for.
  - A formal salutation - "Dear Mr. Westermann…
  - 3-4 paragraphs - this is your opportunity to express why you are exactly the candidate the company is looking for. Don't just recite your resume, but explain in detail why you are interested in this particular position and company, show how your skills fit this position perfectly, and express what makes you interested in the position can contribute to the team and the company.
  
  Research your future employer and show understanding and enthusiasm for the work they do and are currently working on.-
  
• Limit it to one page. Human resources managers want cover letters to be short and sweet. When it comes to cover letters, excessive content does not reflect thoroughness and interest, but rather an inability to be clear and concise.
  
• Don't make mistakes. This may be easier said than done, but it is absolutely important that you have no spelling, grammatical, or typographical errors in your cover letter. Mistakes give the impression that you are not detail-oriented and that you lack precision.
  To avoid mistakes, you should definitely have a second pair of eyes check your cover letter.

With a meaningful CV and a cover letter you can position yourself perfectly for a variety of positions in Berlin. These two documents open the door for you interviews in Germany, where you can fully showcase your personality, your passion and your skills!

LinkedIn tips for looking for a job in Berlin

In a sense, your resume and cover letter are a "printed" presentation of yourself. But in the modern world, having an online presence is also important when it comes to finding a job.

LinkedIn is undoubtedly the most important tool for searching for jobs and being found by potential employers in Berlin.

For those unfamiliar with the platform, it is essentially a social network where users can present their employment profile (i.e. an online resume), browse job advertisements, and be found by employers and hiring managers.

Thousands of companies in Berlin use the site to advertise their vacancies. A well-presented, clear and optimized profile will significantly improve your chances of getting a job in Berlin.

It's important to reach the "All-Star" level on LinkedIn. All-Star profiles tend to rank higher in LinkedIn search results, and the platform says that as an All-Star candidate, you are 40 times more likely to receive job offers. If you haven't reached All-Star level yet, LinkedIn will tell you exactly what you're missing.

Optimize your LinkedIn profile for the German job market

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Here are some important tips for optimizing your LinkedIn profile:

• headline
  Your LinkedIn headline is one of the most important parts of your profile and serves as a very short introduction. Update your headline to highlight your role and the fact that you are looking for a job in Berlin. For example, “Online marketing specialist is looking for a new challenge in Berlin”.
• Postal code and industry
  Update your location to a Berlin zip code, as hiring managers often search for a specific radius on LinkedIn. Choose the industry that best describes your specialization.
• Contact information
  Your email address, phone number and physical address are only visible to your direct contacts. By providing this information, you will make it easier for your contacts to contact you. Your Twitter ID, websites, and public profile URL are visible to all members on LinkedIn.
• LinkedIn summary
  The summary gives you the opportunity to introduce yourself. It should respond to your headline and provide a reference to your experiences, interests and strengths. Try to make this summary so appealing and personable that the reader will want to continue reading your profile.
• Qualifications
  You should list at least up to five skills. In this section, you can specify up to 50 skills and add important keywords that will appear in LinkedIn searches. Add any relevant skills and ask people in your network to recommend you.
• Experience
  Like a resume, list your current and previous jobs. Many just include the job title for each position, but you should also include a few bullet points about your key responsibilities, accomplishments, and other important information for each position you held.
• Bild
  This should be either a professional photo or a high quality image.

Once you've updated your LinkedIn profile, you should do the following:

• Get a free one-month trial LinkedIn Premium to make it easier for you to send messages to hiring managers.
• Find and connect with hiring managers on LinkedIn and introduce yourself. Once connected, you can view the hiring manager's contact information, which is useful for sending open applications.
• Add hiring managers on LinkedIn for jobs you apply for. Look at their profile to get them to look at your profile.
• Reach out to people on LinkedIn who do the same job you're applying for and ask them for application/interview tips or a recommendation for a job.
• Once you've added a number of Berlin recruiters and contacts, indicate in your LinkedIn feed that you are in Berlin and looking for a job - add a brief description of your work experience and that you are available to start work immediately. This will attract hiring managers to check out your site.
• Use the LinkedIn job search feature and set up job alerts.
• Search for a job title and enter “Berlin” as the location. This will show other people who work in a similar role in Berlin, so you can get an idea of ​​which companies they work for.

You can also one Xing -Create a profile (the German equivalent of LinkedIn) and use the job search function. There aren't as many English-speaking positions there as on LinkedIn, but it might still be worth taking a look.

Interview tips for jobs in Berlin

Of course, once you've combined a strong resume and cover letter with an optimized LinkedIn profile, the next step is to apply for jobs and attend interviews. If you're confident and well-prepared, interviews are the perfect platform to showcase your skills and cement your position as number one for a job. However, if you lack confidence or are disorganized, interviews can quickly turn into a nightmare scenario.

• To help you avoid the pitfalls of an interview in Germany, we have put together a few tips to keep in mind:
• Be on time. This goes without saying, but be on time. Germans place a lot of value on punctuality, and if you don't show up on time you will essentially be written off.
  Dress appropriately. Many offices in Berlin are quite casual when it comes to work attire and very few require you to wear a suit. Showing up to an interview in your favorite three-piece suit can be a disadvantage if the interviewers don't think you "fit into the company culture."
  To be on the safe side, we recommend a collared shirt and dress pants for men and dressy casual wear for women.
• Research thoroughly. This is undoubtedly the most important aspect when interviewing for jobs in Berlin. It is important that you can demonstrate your interest in and knowledge of the position and the industry in which you will be working. For jobs in business, you should know what projects the company is working on, where it is positioned in the market, how it has developed, etc.
  Find out as much information as you can on company websites, social media, press releases, financial reports, etc. Having extensive knowledge of a company is the easiest way to stand out from the other applicants who likely have similar skills and abilities to you.
• Be prepared for questions about your skills. At least part of the interview will likely involve you answering questions about your skills. These questions can be confusing to candidates who expect to only talk about the company, role and industry. Here are some examples of typical competency questions:
  - What was your biggest challenge at work and how did you overcome it?
  - What are your strengths and weaknesses?
  -Give us an example of a situation in which you failed and explain how you could have acted differently?
  -How would you describe yourself?
  Competency questions are intentionally difficult, so think of different scenarios you can use for several different questions. Interviewers generally assess your ability to perform under pressure and whether you can give a coherent answer.
• Be curious and ask questions. At the end of your interview, ask questions that show your curiosity about the company:
  - Which markets does the company plan to expand into in the near future?
  - What projects are you most looking forward to in the coming year?
  - Why do you like working in this company?
  - What is the corporate culture like?
  Remember that you are also interviewing to find out if you want to work there.
• Be prepared for a slow application process. The application process for jobs in Berlin is generally quite slow. Don't be surprised if it takes 4 to 6 weeks between an initial phone interview and a job offer.

Working conditions for jobs in Berlin

If your application and interview are successful, you will receive a job offer (hurray!). At this point, it is important to review the working conditions to ensure they are fair before signing a contract. The working conditions in Berlin should at least meet the following points:

• minimum wage
  As of January 1, 2020, the minimum wage in Germany is €9.35 per hour.
• annual leave
  You are entitled to a minimum paid vacation of 24 days per year + public holidays. You are eligible for this entitlement after 6 months of employment. If you have been employed for less than 6 months, your vacation entitlement will be calculated pro rata.
  If you leave your employment and have not yet used up your annual vacation, your employer must pay you the remaining vacation entitlement.
• Issuance of the employment contract
  Your employer must provide you with an employment contract within one month of starting work. Your German employment contract should contain at least the following:
  - Your name and address as well as the name and address of your employer.
  - The date your employment began and the length of the contract.
  - A job description with your tasks and responsibilities.
  - Your gross salary and how your salary is made up (e.g. base salary, commissions, bonuses).
  - Your working hours
  - Your annual vacation entitlement.
  Information on how and when the employment contract can be terminated.
• Probationary period
  The probationary period is a probationary period during which the employer can easily terminate your employment if they do not consider you suitable for a position.
  For a normal employment relationship in Germany, there is no limit to the length of the probationary period, although it should not exceed 9 months.
• notice period
  As a rule, employers must give a notice period of at least 4 weeks. This must be calculated on the 15th of the month or at the end of the month. In Germany it is common for employment contracts to have a 3-month notice period.
• Sick leave
  As long as you have been employed for at least 4 weeks, you are entitled to up to 6 weeks of paid sick leave. You must provide your employer with a medical certificate on the 4th calendar day of your illness.
• working hours
  The maximum working time per day is 8 hours. It can be extended to 10 hours if you work an average of no more than 8 hours per day over a six-month period.
  Work is not permitted on public holidays and Sundays.
• Salary and wages
  Salaries are usually paid monthly at the end of the calendar month.

Required documents for starting work in Berlin

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Once you have found a job in Berlin and signed your employment contract, you will need a number of important documents in order to be able to fully get started with your new employer. These documents are described in detail in our guide to starting work in Berlin.

You can start work without some of the following documents, but your employer will definitely need them before the first payroll in order to pay you:

• German tax ID (tax identification number)
  Your German tax identification number determines which tax class you belong to. To receive it, you must first officially register at an address in Berlin, a process called registration.
  Once you have completed your registration, your tax identification number will be automatically generated and sent by mail to your address after approximately 2 to 4 weeks.
  Without your tax identification number, you will be taxed at a much higher rate until you can provide your employer with your tax identification number. If you need to complete your registration quickly but don't yet have an address in Berlin, you should check out our accommodation package, which includes short-term accommodation and a registration service.
• Certificate of membership of the German health insurance company (membership certificate)
  If you work in Germany, you must register with a German health insurance company. If you have a regular employment relationship, your employer will need your German health insurance information before you start your employment relationship. Our preferred provider for German health insurance is TK-Versicherung, which you can take out via this link. For more details on why TK insurance is a good choice, click here.
  Further details about the health insurance system in Germany and how to register with a suitable German health insurance provider can be found in our health insurance guide.
• German social insurance card (SVA)
  If you have regular employment in Germany, you are also subject to social security contributions. You can apply for and request a social security card from your German health insurance company (see point 2). If you register with the statutory health insurance company TK, you can usually receive your German social security number there within 24-48 hours.
  Your employer needs to know your Social Security number before your first paycheck so that they can correctly calculate your salary.
  Further information about your social security card and how to get your German social security number can be found here.
• German bank details
  Many German employers require you to have a German bank account in order to be able to bill your salary.
  Our preferred German bank accounts for expats in Berlin are N26 and bunq , which you can quickly apply for online.
  Your employer will need the IBAN number and BIC code of your German bank account.
• Criminal record certificate
  For some positions in Germany, a police clearance certificate is required, especially if you want to work as a teacher or with children.
  In Berlin you can apply for a police check at any citizens' office. You can make an appointment here.
• Red card
  The Red Card is a safety and hygiene certificate that you need if you want to work in the hospitality industry (bars, restaurants, kitchens, etc.) in Germany.
  If you want to work in the hospitality industry, you should get a red card as soon as possible, as many companies won't hire you without one.
  To receive a red card, you must make an appointment at one of Berlin's health authorities. In Berlin these are located in Lichtenberg, Mitte and Charlottenburg. You can use this link to make an appointment at one of the offices.
  For more detailed instructions, see our blog on how, where and when to apply for your Red Card in Berlin.
• Work visa / EU Blue Card
  If you are a non-EU/EEA citizen, your employer will probably want to check whether you have received a work permit for Germany. To do this, you must have successfully applied for and received a work visa for Germany.
  If you have not yet applied for a visa to Germany but have received a job offer, read the section on applying for visas to work in Germany.

Work visa / EU Blue Card

Salary expectations for jobs in Berlin
Although it obviously depends on the function, the company, the industry and the position, it can still be very difficult to determine your salary expectations for different functions in Germany.

Hiring managers may view you as unsuitable for a position if your salary expectations do not match what the company is willing to pay for the position. This may result in your application being rejected, even if you were willing to accept a lower salary.

Since you've probably never worked in Berlin before, it's much safer to ask for a salary range than to simply guess a number. Most hiring managers should be able to give you an approximate number that you can use to adjust your salary expectations if necessary.

If you would like to specify a salary expectation, you can find it here Website useful information about what is paid for similar positions in Berlin.

Note: Berlin is a relatively cheap city compared to many other European cities, e.g. E.g. London, Paris, Amsterdam etc. Salaries generally reflect this and should be taken into account when setting salary expectations. In addition, startup companies often have a lower salary budget - this should also be taken into account when applying to startups.
If you have not yet applied for a visa to Germany but have received a job offer, read the section on applying for visas to work in Germany.