How to apply for jobs in Germany

When an employer wants complete application documents, the Federal Employment Agency lists them as the cover letter, an optional cover page (with a photo if you use it), the CV (with a photo if there is no cover page), your certificates and any further attachments. The CV should not run past two A4 pages. You can send the file by email, by post or through the company's own portal, and for email or online applications you add a scanned signature to the document.

German recruiters read the Lebenslauf as a table: dates on the left, role and employer on the right, no unexplained gaps. Our German CV format guide shows the layout and the personal details to include. The Anschreiben is a one-page letter addressed to a named person where possible; the cover letter builder drafts it from your resume, in German or English.^[2]

The General Equal Treatment Act (AGG), section 1, aims to prevent or remove disadvantage on grounds of race or ethnic origin, sex, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual identity. It applies to recruitment, so questions on these points have no place in an interview, and your file does not need to mention them.

If you believe a rejection was discriminatory, section 15(4) sets a short deadline: a claim must be made in writing within two months, starting when you receive the rejection, unless a collective agreement says otherwise. Keep the advert and every message from the employer until the process is over.^[3][4]

If you hear nothing after the period mentioned in the advert, a short, polite email or call to ask about the status is acceptable. Log each application and contact with the job tracker so you know when a follow-up is due. Some adverts ask for your salary expectation (Gehaltsvorstellung) in the application; give it as a gross annual figure and a realistic range.

Section 622(3) of the Civil Code allows either side to end the employment with two weeks' notice during an agreed probation period of up to six months. When you leave a job, section 109 of the Trade Regulation Act entitles you to a written reference (Arbeitszeugnis) stating the type and length of your work, and on request your performance and conduct as well; future employers will ask for it.

Interview travel costs are often reimbursed by an employer who invited you, so ask beforehand. If they are not, people registered with the Federal Employment Agency can apply for support from the Vermittlungsbudget, but only before the interview: costs are not covered retroactively.^[5][6][7]

The Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) lets qualified people come to Germany to look for work. It is issued for up to one year, requires at least six points in a points system, and allows part-time work of up to 20 hours a week plus two-week trial jobs with each employer while you search.

With a concrete job offer, the EU Blue Card is the usual route for graduates. It needs a job offer or contract of at least six months and a minimum gross salary; as of 2026 the official figures are €50,700 a year, or €45,934.20 for bottleneck occupations and recent graduates. Check the current threshold on the official page before you negotiate.

For regulated professions, apply early for recognition of your foreign qualification: the procedure ends with an official notice stating whether it is recognised in Germany. If your CV is not in German yet, translate your resume and keep the original for international roles.^{[8][9][10][11]}