Apply in Germany with documents that fit the job.

A German application follows fairly fixed rules. Employers compare many applications side by side, so documents that follow the usual form are easier to read and easier to trust.

• Cover letter (Anschreiben). One page at most. It explains why you want this job and which of your experience matches the requirements in the ad.
• CV (Lebenslauf). A table in reverse order, newest first, usually one or two pages. A photo is common but not required.
• Certificates (Zeugnisse). Degrees and references from former employers. Translations of foreign documents are often expected.
• Language. Most jobs expect German documents. International companies often accept English, and the ad tells you which language to use.

The order matters. Recognition and permits can take weeks, so check them before you send the first application.

1. Check whether your qualification needs recognition. For regulated professions such as medicine, nursing or teaching, recognition is required. For many other jobs it is not required, but it helps employers understand your degree.
2. Check your right to work. Citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland can work in Germany without a permit. Everyone else usually needs a visa or residence permit for work, such as the EU Blue Card.
3. Find a job and read the ad closely. Separate the requirements the employer insists on from the ones that are only desired. That tells you whether an application is worth the effort.
4. Write your documents for this job. The cover letter and the top of your CV should name the experience the ad asks for, in the words the ad uses, if you really have it.
5. Prepare for the interview. German interviews are often structured and ask about your experience in concrete examples. Practise your answers out loud before the real conversation.

• For skilled workers coming to Germany, the official portal is Make it in Germany.
• Whether and how your qualification is recognised is explained at Anerkennung in Deutschland.
• The public employment service is the Bundesagentur für Arbeit.

What the job market looks like in individual cities, with industries and large employers, is described on our city pages, for example Berlin, Munich, Hamburg. All cities are listed under Jobs in Deutschland.