Working as a student is a great way to add to your professional resume in Germany, But before you get started on the job hunt, it’s always great to know the ins and outs of being employed while residing here on a student visa. And as always, Team Coracle is here to answer all your burning questions.
How Much Can I Work?
When you are a full-time student in Germany, there are strict regulations around work hours. This doesn’t mean that you are at a disadvantage in any way. In fact, the hours allocated to you by the authorities are meant to give you a good work-life balance while ensuring that you have enough time for your studies and social life.
As an international student, you can work up to 240 half days or 120 full days in a year. This comes down to about 20 hours a week. While this is standard, it is absolutely important that you check what your visa or Aufenthaltstitel states with regards to hours. If you have reduced hours as per your visa, make sure that you follow the same to avoid running into issues with the authorities.
If you want to work longer than the number of hours that are specified for international students, you will need to receive permission from the Auslanderbehörde (Foreigner’s Office) and possibly the Agentur für Arbeit (Employment Agency).
It is also important to note that you are not allowed to freelance as a student in Germany. So, while freelancing might feel like a lucrative option, it is best if you don’t consider it as a possible form of employment.
Where can you find a job?
Finding a student job in Germany is quite easy. Start with the notice boards in your university where you might find work opportunities within or around your campus. Also, share your CV with shops and restaurants around your university and your residence as they are often on the lookout for part-time help. While your job search often gets easier if you speak German, it should not come as a hurdle in most cases.
If you prefer looking for jobs online, there are several sites that might fit the bill. Some of the popular options range are jobber.de, jobmensa.de and nebenjob.de. You might also be able to get hold of opportunities through Studentenwerk or the Student Union of your university.
Moreover, networking with your peers and seniors might be a great way to come across job opportunities that might fall through the cracks.
When should you look for a job?
Legally, you can work in Germany from the time you enter the country as a student. While that is an excellent possibility, your first semester often requires a certain amount of time and patience to get you settled into your new and interesting life.
Keeping that in mind, it is only wise to start your part-time student work opportunity from the second semester. The first semester, in our experience, is a great time to socialise with your peers, find your footing in the new country and familiarize yourself with your course before you begin looking at adding the new responsibility of a job.
How much should I expect to get paid?
While many students work during their stay in Germany for the experience, several also do so in order to be able to earn their living expenses. Irrespective of which category you fall into, knowing how much you must be paid fairly is a must.
Most service jobs will start with paying you a minimum wage and might improve your salary based on how well you perform the tasks at hand. As of July 2021, the minimum wage in Germany is fixed at €9.50 per hour and ideally, no form of employment should be paying you less than that.
However, based on your skill level and work experience as well as the relevance of your job to your field of studies, you might be getting paid a lot more than the minimum wage. Not only that, your pay might vary based on the city you live in as well. More expensive cities like Munich or Hamburg have better-paying jobs to counter the higher cost of living.
Do I need to pay taxes in Germany?
If you are a part-time employee in Germany, your taxation regulations are much different from a person who works full-time. That being said, you are exempt from paying any taxes as long as you are earning upto €450 per month.
When your salary goes beyond the minimum amount, you may be required to contribute to health insurance, social security and pension funds. However, given that you have a limited number of work hours and therefore lower income than full-time professionals, your contributions will always be significantly lower.
Conclusion
If you had any doubts about finding employment as a student, this blog along with our blogs on why you should work in Germany and the types of jobs in Germany must have given you a good idea about what to expect.
Do your research, find your niche and look for jobs that contribute to your learning and experience as an international student in a new country. We believe that trying your hand at different things and especially the new and unfamiliar can help you get on the right track for your future professional endeavours.
