Pathways to your job
Are you at the end of your studies or about to start your internship and want to get ready to apply for jobs? You can find numerous tips, links, reading and support services on this page:
- Job sites and job portals
- Application documents in Germany
- Application documents in English-speaking countries
- Applying via social media
- Selection processes – interviews and assessment centres
- Information about employers
Everything you need to know about application documents
Tips on applying for jobs in Germany
Your cover letter, CV and attachments (education certificates and letters of reference) are the core elements of your application. Even if you apply via an application portal, you will almost always be asked to upload at least your CV at the end of the process. You can find links, recommended reading and other information about preparing your documents here.
German application documents / Applying for jobs in Germany
Basic information about applying for jobs
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There is no 'right' or 'wrong' when it comes to application documents. There are some formal criteria, but alongside these you also have the leeway and the opportunity to communicate your skills in the best way possible. The person reviewing the documents should be able to form a clear picture of your profile through these few documents.
Helpful links
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You can find suggestions (in German) for compiling your CV and writing your cover letter on the following pages (this is a selection, not a complete list!).
Career Service workshops
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We regularly offer various workshops on application documents, including workshops for students who speak German as a second or foreign language. You can find information (in German) about our current workshops on Online and offline application processes here.
Application check
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You've already written your CV and your cover letter, and maybe you even have a job posting for a position you want to apply for? We're happy to give you feedback on your application documents!
Tips for English-language job applications and applying for jobs abroad
Whether you are planning to apply for a job in an English-speaking country or a German company is requesting your application in English, you need to adapt the language and content of your application documents to the application standards of the country in question. We've compiled links and other information materials here to support you in this process.
English-language application documents
Helpful links
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You can find suggestions for compiling your CV and writing your cover letter on the following pages (this is a selection, not a complete list!).
Career Service workshops
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We regularly offer various workshops on the topic of job applications, including workshops focusing specifically on English-speaking countries. These include the following:
- Workshop and webinar: Writing a CV and cover letter
- Mock interviews plus CV and cover letter check
You can find information (in German) about our current workshops on Online and offline application processes here.
Individual advising: CV and cover letter check
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You've written your CV and cover letter and researched the application process in your destination country? We're happy to give you feedback on your application documents! The session can take place in German or English:
Job sites and job portals
Where do you find the perfect job? Here, for example!
Meta search machines (selection)
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Meta search machines search both diverse job sites and the job offers on the career pages of various companies based on the search words you enter.
- adzuna.de (includes salary statistics)
- aktuelle-jobs.de
- cesar-jobs.de (with free-of-charge job radar)
- jobboerse.de
- jobrobot.de
- jobscanner.de
- jobsuma.de
- jobted.de
- jooble.de
- kimeta.de
General job sites (selection)
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- Jobs.de
- indeed.de
- Monster.de
- Stepstone.de
- Arbeitsagentur.de
- Stellen-online.de
- Stellenanzeigen.de
- Stellenanzeigen.net
- Stellenmarkt.de
- Jobware.de
- Jobturbo.de
- talentmanufaktur.de
- absolventa (special job site for people just starting their careers)
- xing.de
- sueddeutsche.de
- jobrapido.com
- gigajob.com
- experteer.de
- zeit.de/jobs (jobs in academia and research, the public sector, and business)
- myscience.de/jobs
International job sites
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Are you looking for a job abroad? You can find more information here.
For freelancers and start-ups
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- freelancejunior.de
- Gründerszene
- startupsucht.com (start-up jobs, start-up internships or co-founders)
- deutsche-startups.de
Job openings in the public service
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- Öffentlicher Dienst (via Stepstone)
- Bund.de
- Jop openings at HAW Hamburg
- jobs-beim-staat.de
- interamt.de (Public service job portal)
- stellenblatt.de
- bundesregierung.de
Healthcare, health sciences, public health, medicine
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- T5 JobBörse (job site focusing on the healthcare industry: job postings from the natural sciences, engineering, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, biomedical engineering, bioengineering, environmental engineering, computer science, and sales and marketing)
- Jobvector (jobs for natural scientists, medical professionals and engineers)
- Pharmaceutical and medical jobs (via Stepstone)
- Life Science Nord (job site specialising in jobs in the biotechnology, biomedical engineering and pharmaceutical sectors in Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein)
Nutrition and home economics
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Renewable energies / environment
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- greenjobs.de (job site for environmental experts)
- windmesse.de (jobs and internships in the wind energy sector)
- BWE (additional job openings in companies that are part of the Federal Association for Wind Energy)
- Ökoportal (global environmental job site)
- Umweltfreundliche Jobs (environmentally friendly jobs initiative)
- EEHH Jobbörse (job openings in companies that are part of the Renewable Energies Cluster)
Aviation and aerospace
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- aircareer.de
- dlr.de (German Aerospace Center)
- skyforward.de (virtual job fair for the aviation and aerospace industries)
Medium-sized companies
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- Yourfirm.de (Hidden Champions job site for students and early-career academics)
- mittelstandskarriere.de
- mittelstand.jobs
- mittelstand-stellen.de
Internships
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Diversity
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stellenwerk - the job site for Hamburg's three largest universities
Take advantage of the official job site from Hamburg's universities! Students and graduates can find suitable job offers for every phase of their studies: student jobs, internships, final theses, jobs for graduates, private part-time jobs and internal jobs at the universities. No job posting is more than 28 days old.
Social media job searches - XING and LinkedIn
How can I use social media for my job search? You can use XING and LinkedIn to apply for jobs and attract the attention of future employers. The following links provide tips on what to pay attention to in the process:
- karrierebibel.de – General information about job searches and applications (in German)
- linkedin.com – Setting up a new LinkedIn account (in English)
- basicthinking.de – 13 tips for a successful LinkedIn profile (in German)
- bewerbung.com – Social media as a springboard for your career (in German)
- stepstone.at – Searching for jobs via social media (in German)
- youtube.com – Using social media in your job search (in English)
The selection process – job interviews and assessment centres
Your application was successful and you've been invited to an interview? Then you're right in the middle of the selection process! Here are some tips for preparing for your interview, which might also take place via phone or video call. As part of a multi-step selection process you may also be invited to an assessment centre. We've compiled some links on getting prepared for this as well.
Preparing for job interviews
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- karrierebibel.de – Various interview types
- zeit.de/campus – Four tips for your job interview
- monster.de – Phases of discussion during a job interview
- zeit.de/campus – What happens in a job interview?
- absolventa.de – 10 tips for job interviews
- zeit.de/karriere – Dealing with trick questions
- uni.de – Ask yourself questions
- BCC - The Origin of Job Interviews – How your interview shouldn't go.
- verdi-bub.de – What questions are permitted?
- youtube.com – Seven tips for a telephone interview
Career Service workshops and coaching services
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We regularly offer various workshops on preparing for job interviews and assessment centres. These include the following:
- Mock interviews (German/English)
- Coaching 'Interview practice
- The telephone interview
- The video interview
- Assessment centre training
You can find information (in German) about our current workshops on Online and offline application processes here.
Information about employers
Which company is right for me? Where can I get information about employers – in part to help me prepare for my job interview? Rankings, employer reviews and insider perspectives can help you get oriented.
- Glassdoor.de – Employer ratings
- absolventa.de – Top employers in Germany
- greatplacetowork.de – Top employers in Germany
- kununu.com– Employer ratings
