If you are planning to move to Germany without a job, there is a lot you need to consider before you move.
Are you planning on finding a job while you are there? Do you have work lined up? Do you have somewhere to stay?
You’ll always be in a better position if you move anywhere with a job lined up ahead of moving, but even if you don’t have a job yet, there are ways you can go about finding one once you’re there.
In this article, we’ll be going over a few tips you should use when you plan on moving to Germany without a job. So let’s get started.
Tip 1: Start Learning German
If you are planning to move to Germany but you don’t have a job and you also can’t speak the language, this will not put you in a very good starting position.
It’s much easier to get a job as a foreigner in Germany if you can speak the language because there will be a larger variety of jobs you can apply for.
Even if you don’t have a great deal of experience and qualifications, being able to speak German will make the probability of you getting hired for a job much higher than any candidates who can’t speak German at all.
Luckily, you can enter and live in Germany without a job if you’re there for the sole purpose of learning the language.
There are special visas you can apply for that are specifically designed for this. While you’re learning the language, you can legally work a part-time job to finance yourself.
Once you complete the course, you are expected to return to your home country, unless you have secured a job that ticks all the boxes of obtaining a standard residence permit or a Blue Card.
Tip 2: Start Your Job Search
If you can speak German or you’re confident in your ability to secure a job in Germany, but if you can’t speak the language, you need to know that your job prospects will be very limited.
Being well qualified, having previous work experience, and being able to speak even the bare minimum of German will make job searching much easier though.
Even if you aren’t fluent in the language, having the extra notches in your belt will help you dramatically.
One of the best websites you can visit to begin your job search in Germany is actually indeed totaljobs, which is popular in most countries.
Just change the location to Germany, type in your desired position, and see if there’s anything that is suitable for your qualification and experience levels.
Tip 3: Utilize The Job-Seeking Visa
If you are a Non-EU / EEA national, then the Job-Seeking Visa will allow you to work in Germany for up to 6 months.
If you live outside of the EU though, you will need these three things to be able to successfully get the visa:
- First, you will need to prove you have the ability to support yourself financially for the entire duration of your stay within the country.
- You will also need some form of degree-level education. Without this qualification, your application for a Job-Seeking visa will likely be rejected.
- Experience in your field of work or study. There isn’t an official number of years that has been declared, but the general rule of thumb is to have more than 5 years of experience under your belt.
It’s in your best interest to apply for jobs before you enter the country.
If you are successful in getting a Job-Seeking visa, six months will fly by a lot quicker than you might think, so having some interviews lined up will give you extra time to find a job.
Tip 4: Get Into Freelancing
If you have a specific niche or you have spent a lot of your time freelancing, this can actually be of great benefit to you in this situation.
There are lots of freelancing fields you can go into.
Some of the most popular ones include content writing, graphic design, photography, social media marketing, virtual personal assistant, and translation & interpreting.
Freelancing is a great option because it means you don’t have to rely on the safety net that comes with German social security.
If you are confident that you are making enough money from freelancing, then you can support yourself when you move out to Germany with no problems at all and you won’t need a Job-Seeking visa.
Tip 5: Look Into Apprenticeships
If freelancing isn’t something that works for you, you can always look into apprenticeships.
Germany in particular is actively looking to employ more people with experience and qualifications in trades, so you will have a lot of luck looking for an apprenticeship within the country.
The main caveat that goes with apprenticeships though is that you will need to be able to speak and understand enough German to not be a risk or liability to any company that takes you on.
German apprenticeships usually last for about 3 years and are aimed at school leavers, so if you are above the age of leaving school, just know that you might have a little bit of trouble trying to find a company that will take you on.
That doesn’t mean that these companies won’t take you on at all, but just bare in mind that you probably won’t be their first choice.
Conclusion
It’s no secret that moving to Germany without a job can be incredibly difficult. It’s even more difficult if you can’t speak the language in any capacity.
However, if you follow these tips and get a job lined up before you move out there, you will be in a much better position.
If you aren’t planning on moving to Germany for a while, start taking some German language courses and learn as much as you can.
It’s not impossible to move to Germany without a job, but you have to be willing to put in the extra work to find one.