The German economy is in big need of skilled workers, meaning there are great opportunities for career growth. But despite this, searching for jobs in Germany tends to be quite overwhelming. This is because it is a highly competitive market and many talents apply for one job.
So how can you make sure you land more job interviews?
7 mistakes you need to avoid to find a job in Germany
The answer might not be as straightforward as you want it to be as many factors play a key role. So let’s rather start with key mistakes you should avoid at all costs to increase your chances of landing a job.
- Mistake number 1: Not doing your research
- Mistake number 2: Not creating a job search strategy
- Mistake number 3: Not adapting your application documents to the German standards
- Mistake number 4: Not being constant
- Mistake number 5: Not having an updated LinkedIn profile
- Mistake number 6: Not investing enough time into networking
- Mistake number 7: Trying to do it all on your own
Let’s look at each of these mistakes in more detail.
Mistake number 1: Not doing your research
Before you start your job search, you need to know if there are currently enough jobs out there that fit your profile. Doing this research will also provide you with a better impression of what companies are offering relevant jobs for you, locations you should focus on and of course also a better understanding of which skills are needed. Only after getting a good impression of the market, should you start with your job search.
How can you do it? We suggest to start with a job portal like Indeed. Type in relevant keywords for your profession and see if there are multiple pages of relevant results.
Mistake number 2: Not creating a job search strategy
Now that you did your research, create a strategy for your job search. You need to make sure you do not just apply to jobs randomly. If you have a strategy you know where to invest your energy and where not and will automatically save yourself many unnecessary job rejections. Imagine a football match without a game plan? Chances get very low of winning the match and the same is for your job search.
What does it mean exactly? Think about which type of companies and jobs are best for you. For example, if you’re an international, focus on international companies. If you’re coming straight out of university, focus on junior jobs. Always play to your strengths.
Mistake number 3: Not adapting your application documents to the German standards
Every country has their own way of doing CVs and cover letters. Make sure you know what is expected in Germany. Imagine being the recruiter who scans through hundreds of CV’s, looking for reasons to reject CV’s to be able to narrow your selection. For sure those CV’s who do not even fit the German standard will be the firsts going out. Do not waste valuable opportunities because of this classic mistake that can be easily avoided. Want a CV template adapted to the German job market? Download it here.
Mistake number 4: Not being constant
Given how competitive the job market in Germany is, it is important you remain constant and patient. Job rejections are part of the process and on average the jobsearch in Germany takes 3-6 months. This means that you should be prepared to face rejections and not take them personally, but rather keep on motivating yourself to actually land your dream job. Constantly sending out applications is your fastest way to success.
Mistake number 5: Not having an updated LinkedIn profile
Nowadays LinkedIn is the “right arm” of your CV. You need it and recruiters will certainly check it out after you apply to their jobs. So make sure to have a LinkedIn that includes all your past experiences and also includes all the keywords relevant to your industry. Remember that your LinkedIn profile is also your “candidate brand”. Add a banner that shows a little bit more about your professional profile and of course a smiling picture to invite people to your profile and connect with you.
Mistake number 6: Not investing enough time into networking
So many jobs get filled via networking. One study even pointed out that the number lies around 80%. You should definitely jump on that train and given the ease of virtual networking you can already start building a professional network in Germany even without being there physically. Reach out to people via LinkedIn and also attend virtual events to create connections.
Mistake number 7: Trying to do it all on your own
Trying to find a job in Germany on your own and without the necessary knowledge is very difficult as you won’t receive much feedback during the process. But if you google “How to find a job in Germany” you will find 1 million different answers. So how are you supposed to know what actually works and what does not? It is very important that you actually check out the people sharing the knowledge with you. Who knows how recruiters in Germany work? Well, recruiters or HR experts who have worked there and are now sharing their knowledge. Checking references will make your life much easier as the knowledge shared will then actually help you out.
Summary: The 7 mistakes you need to avoid to find a job in Germany
This was of course a summary of common mistakes we want to help you avoid. Personally, doing your research and being aware of the recruiting process in Germany is the best way to be successful faster. And as we know it is difficult to find trustworthy sources, we decided to put our knowledge as recruiters together in our premium masterclass that also gives you access to our international community, free events and the chance to ask us any questions on the path of landing your job in Germany.
Want to learn more about it? Check our our masterclass and community by clicking here.
