Working in Germany

Straight answers about finding a job in Germany, from the people building Expado.

• What a Werkstudent job actually is, and who can take one

  Twenty hours a week, a payroll rule that leaves more in your pocket, and one limit that catches non-EU students out.

• What goes in a German CV, and what does not

  The format is more conservative than most countries and the cover letter still matters. Both are easy to get wrong from the outside.

• Blue Card or Opportunity Card: which route actually applies to you

  One needs a job offer above a salary line. The other lets you come and look. The 2026 numbers, and how to tell them apart.

• Why German hiring takes so long, and what the silence usually means

  The delays are mostly structural rather than personal. Knowing which stage you are stuck in tells you whether to wait or move on.

• How much German do you actually need to get hired in Germany?

  It depends which half of the market you are applying to, and the two halves barely overlap.