- Use the official job portal of Germany plus 2 or 3 private sites, not only LinkedIn.
- Search in English and in the local language, and set daily alerts.
- Apply on the company career page whenever you can.
- Track every application and follow up after a week.
Most people I help only use LinkedIn. That is a mistake in Germany, where many mid-sized companies post on the official job board and specialised portals first. These are the sites I actually use with my clients.
The best job sites in Germany
| Site | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Jobbörse (Federal Employment Agency) | Official | The largest number of vacancies, including mid-sized companies |
| Make it in Germany job listings | Official | Jobs for international applicants |
| StepStone | Private | Professional and graduate roles |
| Indeed | Private | Volume and alerts |
| Network | Networking, international companies | |
| Network | German speaking companies and recruiters | |
| GermanTechJobs | Specialist | Software and IT roles with salary ranges |
| Berlin Startup Jobs | Specialist | English speaking startup roles |
| jobvector | Specialist | Science, engineering, IT and medicine |
| academics | Specialist | Research and university jobs |
| Interamt | Public sector | Federal, state and city jobs |
| Company career pages | Direct | Your top 50 target employers |
How to use them well
- Search in English and German. Try your title in both languages, for example Data Analyst and Datenanalyst, plus englischsprachig.
- Set daily alerts. Apply within two or three days of a job being posted.
- Apply directly when possible. If the job is also on the company's career page, apply there.
- Tailor every CV. Match the keywords of each ad. See the German CV guide.
For other countries, see local job portals in Europe, and read why applications get rejected before you send the next one.
Common questions
What is the best job site in Germany?
There is no single best one. Combine the official Jobbörse, StepStone or Indeed, LinkedIn and the career pages of your target companies.
Is XING still used in Germany?
Some German speaking recruiters and companies still use it, but LinkedIn is more important for international roles.
Where can I find English speaking jobs in Germany?
Startup and tech boards, LinkedIn and company career pages, with English filters.
PORTALS to @swapnil_in_germany on Instagram.
I moved to Germany for my master's, collected more than 1,000 rejections, and then got multiple job offers within six months. I work in digital marketing in Germany and help international professionals get hired in Europe. Read my story.