Marie, an international student, moves to Berlin to further her education. On arrival, she is taken with the rich historical landscape of Berlin and the stunning architectural designs she sees. Though, not a German speaker, she is glad to be integrated with the people’s rich culture and ready to explore the city. However, after a couple of months of living and studying in Berlin, Marie realizes living in Berlin as a student isn’t as easy as she thought. And certainly not as cheap either.
How To Find English-speaking Jobs In Berlin
“I need to get a job, perhaps.” Marie reasons. However, she has no idea what to do about it, or what she should do first. If Marie’s story is similar to yours, this post will help you discover ways you can easily find English-speaking jobs as a student in Berlin.
To find a job as a student anywhere in the world is seldom easy. It involves quite a lot of thought, research, and planning. This process can be a lot more difficult when you’re trying to find work as an international student. While finding English-speaking jobs in Berlin is not impossible, it can be a daunting process and will require that you exhibit a high level of patience and perseverance.
Finding English-Speaking Jobs in Berlin
Job seeking generally will demand that you devote quite a lot of time to thinking about which options are best for you. This means you should have carried out thorough research on what industry to work in, the easiest places to find part-time work, and what will be required of you. Thankfully, we cover some of those points in this blog post. However, you still have to critically examine what kind of jobs offers will suit your student status and still free up ample time for your studies. Some things you can do to prepare you for job hunting include:
- Try to learn German
Job seeking in most cases is about standing out from the competition and offering value your prospective employers would care about. Learning the local language, which in Berlin is German, could greatly increase your chances of finding a job in Berlin. And this includes English-speaking jobs as well. One glaring reason is that most positions are advertised in German. In this case, not understanding the language at least to a certain degree would mean forfeiting these offers by default.
Also, even though few multinational corporations are present in Berlin and have English as their official working language, most employers still lookout for English speakers who can speak German or are making efforts to learn. So, strengthen your chances of easily landing a job by learning to speak German.
- Streamline your options
International students can take advantage of jobcentres available on their campuses. Universities in Germany have job centers that act as recruiters for companies when there is a vacancy.
However, you might find that you do not have the luxury of waiting until there is an opening or that the number of students seeking jobs far outweighs the number of available jobs. You can try to find an English-speaking job elsewhere. To do this, try to streamline your options by targeting industries that always need English speakers. For instance, the hospitality industry always needs English speakers because Berlin is known for its various bars, cafes, and exquisite restaurants. You can send out as many applications as you can to companies and businesses in this industry. Again, understanding the German language would be an added advantage for you.
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- Learn about the peculiarities of the German job market
This goes without saying if you want to increase your chances of finding English-speaking jobs in Berlin. This is because there are processes obtainable in the German job market which might differ from other places. Finding out these things and tailoring your applications to suit them can make a remarkable impact on your chance of success.
For instance, in Germany, Curriculum Vitae is used rather than resumes. It’s also advisable not to work with assumptions and to learn how to properly format your CV.
You should also find out the kind of expectations prospective employees might have.
Some documents you might need in Berlin to find work and even English speaking jobs include:
– A German bank account
– A red card
The red card is a type of sanitary certificate. It is only necessary if the English-speaking jobs you have applied for are in the Hospitality sector.
– You should also find out about labor laws in Berlin and if there are any restrictions on your ability to apply for jobs as an international student.
For instance, International students from the European Union have no restrictions. However, international students from other countries, which are not part of the EU, are not allowed to take certain kinds of jobs. For instance, freelance jobs or work as self-employed. They are allowed to work at part-time jobs however for 120 half days or 240 full days annually.
Where can these English-Speaking jobs be found?
– Social media platforms
Social media is one of the amazing ways international students seeking English-speaking jobs can find great opportunities. There are many Facebook groups, online communities, and many more that offer knowledge on how to navigate the German job market and constantly offer opportunities. Some of these include:
- English Speaking Jobs in Berlin, Germany.
- Berlin Startup Jobs
- IT jobs in Berlin.
- Local job boards and advertisements in newspapers.
- Berlin Startups and temporary work agencies.
You could also use websites like Indeed, Glassdoor, and more.
While all these can help you land your dream student job, don’t underrate the importance of having a strong and vibrant network. Most job offers might come from personal contacts and recommendations. So go out, meet people, socialize, and get most people connected to you to know about your job search expeditions.
