How Did I Find A Job In Germany From India
Looking to expand your horizons and find a job in Germany? In this article, I share my journey and different options for finding employment in Germany while living in India.
"Germany has become a country that many people abroad associate with hope." – Angela Merkel.
If you're an Indian software professional looking to start your career in Germany, you're not alone. Here's a personal account of how I steered the job market in Germany and secured a job offer.
Germany is experiencing a significant shortage of IT professionals, forcing a skills gap in its digital economy. According to a report by the German Association for Information Technology, Telecommunications, and New Media (BITKOM), there were around 124,000 unfilled positions for IT professionals in Germany in 2019. That number would increase to 189,000 by 2022.
The market was thriving when I started uploading resumes to the career sites of German IT companies in 2022. The global venture capital funding for IT startups reached a record high of $288 billion in 2021. 2022 didn't disappoint, either. Both 2021 and 2022 were the best years for fundraising. Companies were willing to hire the right talent at a higher cost if needed. Growth was the motto.
LinkedIn has always been my go-to site for job applications. With a well-formatted resume and due diligence done on companies located in Germany, I applied for open positions. Although the success rate for getting a screening call was low, I received two offers.
The offer is a prerequisite for a German employment visa. I applied for and received the permit. Then, I took a flight to Berlin with my family.
I have oversimplified the steps. The end-to-end process is convoluted and time-consuming. However, I am happy to help you with every detail if requested.
The narrated experience is the first possible way to land a job in Germany. Overall, there are three as far as I know.
- Apply for jobs in German companies. You might get lucky. That's how I made it.
- Are you working in India for a German company? Opt for internal mobility.
- Can you take an elevated risk? Apply for a job seeker visa.
Let's jump into options 2 and 3. India is the hub for all companies to find talent—even German companies (or companies having branches in Germany) set up their offshore development centers in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Noida, Gurugram, etc. If you work for such a company, then apply for internal mobility. The steps in options 1 and 2 are the same. However, option 2's barrier to an interview call is low. It is the shortest path to success among the three alternatives. My friend, Sajit Gangadharan, followed option 2. Then, he was with msg Global Solutions India Pvt Ltd in Bangalore. Now he is with msg Global Solutions Deutschland GmbH.
Option 3 poses high effort and risk - apply for a German job seeker visa. This visa is issued to anyone who wants to find work in Germany. If granted, this visa allows you to stay in the country for six months to search for employment and, if found, apply for a work permit to remain in Germany long-term.
Learning the German language may come in handy. In the IT industry, most German companies ask for German language proficiency. However, most startups and US enterprises do not mandate this criterion.
There is a bonus option. People, who feel that their career curve has reached a plateau, can opt for a Master's in Germany. One of the benefits of studying in Germany is that the country offers a range of programs tailored to international students' needs. Many of these programs are taught in English, which makes them accessible to students from all over the world. Furthermore, international students in Germany can stay in the country for up to 18 months after completing their degree to search for a job.
Finding a job in Germany requires analysis, patience, perseverance, good timing, and a bit of luck. Unfortunately, the current macroeconomic situation is unsupportive as of the publication date of this article. Therefore, it is essential to be patient.
A word of caution: Moving to Germany, with or without a job, is the beginning of the journey towards building a good life there. The real challenge lies in the process of integration. Unfortunately, it's common for people to come to Germany with unrealistic goals and a fixed mindset, making it difficult to achieve their desired outcomes. As a result, it's essential to consider whether a career in Germany is the right move for you carefully.