The Skilled Immigration Act: the most important websites

2020-08-31
Marlene Thiele
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Working, recognition and living in Germany... with these links, you will soon have all the information you need to work in Germany.

What kinds of opportunities do I have in Germany?

For a quick overview, try the from Make it in Germany. Here, you enter the activity you plan to undertake in Germany (e.g. study, work, research) and specify your home country for a compact summary of your opportunities and any obstacles (such as requiring a visa). Advice is available via email, live chat or telephone.

How and where can I get my certificates recognised?

The information portal “Recognition in Germany” deals with recognition for education and training undertaken outside of Germany. Search for your profession (e.g. “doctor”) in the . In the next step, you will find out how to have your profession recognised – for example, a doctor will require a medical licence (national accreditation). The portal also provides an overview of the various specialisations, (in this case, the various consultant qualifications). Here you can choose the most suitable job title, or retain the general designation of “doctor”. You will then be presented with an overview of possible areas of practice in Germany – for example, in a hospital, medical practice or in the pharmaceuticals industry. In the next step, you can enter your preferred place of work. Entering this displays all the information you’ll need on the responsible recognition authority.

Which jobs are in highest demand in Germany?

There is particularly high demand in the German medical sector, as well as in STEM subjects, which covers all occupations in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. At present, for example, Germany needs doctors, nurses, software developers and product and account managers. According to the 2019 , other highly demanded trades include electronics engineers and warehouse workers. For more information, see and .

How do I find suitable job offers?

Vacancies are advertised on numerous websites. Interested persons will find what they are looking for on the careers pages of relevant companies and via the ’s job search engine. also has a job board listing many offers. Other job portals include , and .

Maintaining a profile on or is also valuable when searching for a job. With 660 million users around the world, LinkedIn is very popular in Germany; Xing is its German-language equivalent. Both employment networks allow users to present their own career histories, network with other users and search for jobs online. The Alumniportal is also ideal for making contact with potential employers and future colleagues.

Who can help?

Many FAQs have been answered on the site, which also offers various contact options. Personal advice in German and English is available via a telephone hotline or a contact form. Another useful source is the ’s site, which runs an advice hotline and lists important links for interested professionals from abroad. Sources include the and the .

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