Germany is a top destination for international students. It offers great career opportunities and high standards of living, making it one of the most sought-after destinations for those seeking higher education abroad. you can get easily parttime jobs in Germany.
However, if you are planning to move to Germany for your higher education or are already part of the student community in Germany, you would be aware that side jobs are an essential part of the international experience, and it helps bolster your resume once you graduate into the real world. The living cost might seem affordable in terms of the EU average, but international students usually require the assistance of these side jobs to make ends meet.
Here is what you need to know as an international student in Germany. Your visa rules might limit the number of hours you can put in for a side job, especially if you are from countries other than EU member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
The following are the restrictions that you might face as an international student in Germany
1. International students are allowed to work only for 120 full days or 240 half days per year.
2. International students are not allowed to undertake self-employment or freelancing
3. If you need to work more than the hours allowed, you should get permission from the local employment agency (Agentur für Arbeit) and the foreigners’ registration office.
4. International students undertaking a language or preparatory course are only allowed to work (during recess periods) with permission from the Federal Employment Agency and the Immigration Office.
Note: International students working as academic assistants are not usually restricted to a limit of working hours. Nevertheless, they will still have to let the foreigners’ office know about their circumstances. Students living in low employment rate areas are allowed to work extra hours.
It is possible to earn money while studying in Germany through part-time jobs and internships. You can find part-time jobs in Germany if you have a German language proficiency of level A2 or higher on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Suppose you have a German language proficiency of Level B2 or higher on the CEFR. In that case, you will have more opportunities to find a suitable job because some employers require their employees to speak German fluently. An excellent way to start looking for part-time employment in Germany is by doing an online search using search engines like Google or Bing with keywords such as “jobs” and “vacancies” and then filter your results based on keywords such as “part-time.
For work as a waiter/waitress at a restaurant or bar – You can apply at restaurants and bars near your university campus or anywhere else. This is one of the most lucrative part-time job options for international students because it has flexible timings and a good pay structure. The only downside is that it requires some management and communication skills, which may not be easy for all students.
Places to look out for part-time employment as an international student?
You can look out several places for part-time employment as an international student.
The first is your university. It is always a good idea to start with the university. They usually have some placement service that helps students find jobs. Additionally, suppose you’re looking for work in a specific industry or location. In that case, they may be able to help you find an internship spot that will allow you to gain experience and make contacts in your field of interest.
Another place to look for part-time employment is on job boards or websites like https://www.study-in-germany.de/en/ or https://de.indeed.com/. These websites often host listings from companies currently hiring and need people with specific skillsets.
If you don’t want to advertise yourself on these sites, it might also be worth trying out some local community centres or organizations in your area where they may have volunteer positions available (especially if the organization offers services that are related to your interests).
To caution: Always verify the sources and links before application and acceptance to avoid falling for fraud.
Some of the most common part-time jobs for international students in Germany are:
Academic assistants
o Library supervisor
o Literature researcher
o Tutorial assistant
· Off-campus jobs
o Waiter/Waitress
o Trade Fairs
o Courier
o Babysitter
o Bartender
o Cashier
o Filing office documents
o Media (Journalism students)
o Tutoring (Students in teacher training)
Choose your pick out of them based on how they will add prospects to your resume rather than only focusing on the monetary remuneration,
Taxes, Insurance, maximum remuneration?
Here the students can earn up to 450 euros/ month without paying taxes
Beyond that, they should get a tax number that will aid in tax reduction that they can get back at the end of the year after filing for tax returns.
If you are permanently employed as a full-time employee, only then are you eligible for social security insurance benefits. The Benefits include partial payment for health insurance, nursing care insurance, pension and unemployment insurance. If you work less than two months for around 50 days, you will not be required to pay social security contributions. However, those employed for more extended periods must have pension insurance.
You are right if you think it is a good idea to get a part-time job as an international student in Germany. It is an excellent way to have some extra money and also to have some valuable experience for your CV.
Most parttime jobs in Germany will be of the “host-nation” (imported) variety. This can benefit the student, including a more easy-going work environment and less pressure associated with the job. Part-time jobs also often do not require knowledge of the local language, but this is not always so. Some part-time jobs will require you to have excellent German language skills; these are usually higher-end part-time jobs and include modelling or acting careers, as well as tutoring.
