Job search

Job search

Are you looking for an internship or part-time job during your studies or your first job after graduation? We'll show you how and where you can find suitable job offers.

Online job portals

There are over 1000 job portals in Germany, which does not simplify the job search. One of the most comprehensive platforms is the job exchange of our project partner, the Federal Employment Agency. Among the most popular are Stepstone, stellenanzeigen.de and Jobware: in the annual competition "Germany's best job portals", they vie for the top positions, and the career network Linkedin also holds its own as a job portal in this ranking.
There are also specialized platforms:
  • For students and graduates:
    You can find part-time jobs as a student assistant in your department or in the university administration in your university's job portal. You can also find regional part-time jobs and internships as well as entry-level jobs that match the subject areas at your university.
  • For internationals:
    Make it in Germany is aimed at skilled workers from abroad and offers them important (legal) information in four languages in addition to an online job exchange. Platforms such as englishjobs.de offer "English jobs in Germany", i.e. jobs that do not require German.
  • For certain disciplines/industries
Tablet that displays various job search icons under Headline Job Search
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Career Fairs

Career fairs are your chance to meet employers in person and get an impression of the company. Whether you are looking for an opportunity to write your thesis at the company, an internship or your first job after graduation, you can ask your questions at the stand.

Impressions of a career fair with young professionals looking for jobs and internships.
© kasto - stock.adobe.com

GROWING TOGETHER

The ICS RM-MatchingMatching Week

Find jobs instead of searching: At the Matching Week of the International Career Service Rhein-Main , you can get in touch with employers who are particularly open to students with an international or intercultural background . Matching Week Week takes place every year in December and students can apply with their CV in October.

Matching Week 2025

Employer

Career websites

It can be hard work, but worthwhile for your job search, to regularly check the careers websites of employers who operate in your desired sector and/or are particularly international.

You can find suitable employers via

  1.  Recruiting activities at your department and via job portals or career fairs at your university
  2.  Overview platforms such as berufsstart.de/unternehmen
  3.  Member lists of employers' associations, such as our association partners:
    Arbeitgeberverband des privaten Bankgewerbes , Hessenchemie, Hessenmetall, ... Incidentally, these associations are exciting employers themselves.
  4. Our brief introduction in the next paragraph: Learn about the advantages of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Young woman searches for jobs on her laptop
© Looker_Studio - stock.adobe.com
Uncover the treasures in the hidden job market

Career opportunities in SMEs and startups

SMEs are small and medium-sized enterprises with a maximum of 250 employees. Almost all companies in Germany belong to this group. They are responsible for around a quarter of turnover, but employ a good half of the workforce. Start-ups are young, innovative companies that are in the founding or growth phase.

The advantages of working in an SME or start-up are:

  • Flat hierarchies, which means you can work independently and take on responsibility early on.
  • Broad range of tasks, i.e. your work is varied and usually involves several roles.
  • Familiar atmosphere, i.e. you are visible as a person and, depending on the size of the company, have a direct line to the management.

As a rule, you need good German in an SME. However, if a company is internationally positioned, you can score points with linguistic diversity and intercultural skills. We'll introduce you to a few of these SMEs and start-ups to give you an idea of why it might be worth applying there.

Employer portraits

These SMEs and start-ups are looking for multilingual and intercultural junior staff:

EPHYMESS GmbH – Manufacturer of measuring and control instruments

What makes this SME exciting?

EPHYMESS GmbH manufactures customized measurement and sensor technology for the rail transport technology, wind power and industrial sectors. This is used, for example, to monitor the speed and direction of travel or the temperature and oil level of trains, which may not make trains more punctual, but it does make them safer.

As a family-run, medium-sized company headquartered in Wiesbaden, EPHYMESS combines traditional values from its 70 years of existence with engineering excellence, a spirit of innovation, and internationality. Its safety and control solutions are sold in 42 countries. This achievement is based on the commitment of its approximately 160 employees. International colleagues contribute significantly to their independent, self-responsible work style and the respectful and constant exchange of ideas with their experiences, perspectives, and ideas.

Young man with cable reel in front of a factory building
© Roger Richter

What qualifications are required there?

The company's various divisions and tasks require diverse qualifications and skills. For example, the young Chief Financial Officer studied economics at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU), holds a master's degree in mechanical engineering from the Technical University of Darmstadt (TUDa) and qualifies him as a development engineer, while IT administration is handled by a graduate in physical engineering from the Wiesbaden University of Applied Sciences (now HSRM), and the Quality Assurance Manager brings an exciting international career, including postings in Syria and Italy, as well as a doctorate in France.

Communication and language skills are essential for everyone. For a purely part-time job in production, German language skills at B2 level are sufficient, as this requires dexterity, patience, and good vision, and employees are retrained. Beginners can get an interesting start in the professional world here. However, anyone interested in working in administration or development at EPHYMESS requires at least a C1 language level. Practical experience is an advantage. The same applies to communication-related tasks, such as building the company's presence on social media and the intranet.

Students can be hired by the company if they perform well and successfully complete their studies.

What does an application need to be successful?

Open positions are published on the website. Applications should include a cover letter, resume, and references. They should also list the applicant's previous experience, professional interests, and motivation to join the EPHYMESS team.

To EPHYMESS GmbH

 

heidi International GmbH – Young HR Startup

What makes this startup exciting?

heidi is a young HR startup from Frankfurt that connects international specialists with companies in Germany and specializes in medium-sized employers.

Heidi's innovative response to the skills shortage: The startup first analyzes a company's recruiting needs and develops a target country and campaign strategy. It identifies potentially suitable candidates and manages the selection process based on digital assessments and data-driven analyses. Heidi also supports the visa and relocation process. This gives you early insights into many areas, works closely with the founding team, and allows you to contribute your own ideas. "We grow quickly, work hands-on, and offer the opportunity to take on responsibility directly."

The two managing directors of the HR startup heidi in front of their office
© heidi International GmbH

Diversity is particularly important to the startup: co-founder Bijan and some colleagues have international roots (e.g. Bulgaria, Brazil, Iran, Pakistan) – “this enriches our culture and makes us better.”

What qualifications are required there?

heidi regularly seeks interns and working students in software development and business development. Students with an interest in startups, digital business models, HR, or international collaboration are particularly well-suited.

Good English skills are a must – German is helpful depending on the role. More importantly, you should be a strong communicator, enjoy taking on responsibility, and not be afraid of new challenges. Other foreign languages are very welcome for daily interaction with international professionals.

Heidi is the right place for anyone who wants to work in a meaningful company that builds bridges between international talent and the German economy, and who wants to help shape things rather than just “go along”!

What does an application need to be successful?

"Be authentic, show your motivation and what makes you special. We value initiative, team spirit, and the willingness to learn – grades are less important to us than your attitude."

To heidi International GmbH

Passavant-Geiger GmbH - Technology leader in water and wastewater technology

What makes this medium-sized company so exciting?

Passavant-Geiger GmbH is an internationally active provider of solutions in water and wastewater technology and focuses on drinking water treatment, industrial water treatment, waste water treatment and seawater desalination.

Production team in front of a machine drawing
Passavant-Geiger GmbH

With specialized products, equipment and system solutions for filtration and separation, it actively contributes to environmental protection and resource conservation. A plus point for anyone who wants to do something "useful"!

The medium-sized company combines the advantages of two worlds:

With around 300 employees, there is close contact between colleagues and managers, especially at the headquarters in Aarbergen in the Taunus region. Decisions are generally made quickly and you can take on responsibility early on.

At the same time, the international activity provides interesting insights into global projects and markets. It attracts people from a wide variety of cultures and countries: The current CEO Chafik El Kabali himself has study and work experience in different cultural and language areas. Working hand-in-hand with diverse teams in turn strengthens the company's potential for innovation. For this reason, international specialists are actively supported in their integration, including with language courses and assistance in everyday working life.

What qualifications are required there?

A wide range of tasks in technical and commercial areas offer opportunities for internships, working student positions or career entry with individual, personal support and clear development prospects at home or abroad. Theses can also be supervised.

A sound knowledge of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering or environmental engineering as well as the confident use of CAD programs (e.g. AutoCAD, Inventor), MS Office and possibly SAP are essential for a position. Degrees as an engineer or technician in the fields of mechanical engineering, process engineering and electrical engineering are particularly suitable.

In terms of language, technical activities during the course of study also require a good knowledge of German and English at B2 level. For permanent positions, internal and external communication requires very good German at C1 level, as well as good to very good English for international projects and documentation.

What does an application need to be successful?

Applications can be submitted by e-mail or simply by uploading files to the company website. A complete CV, references, proof of internships or relevant activities are a good basis for this. A short covering letter explaining why and in which area you would like to work at Passavant-Geiger GmbH is an advantage.

To Passavant-Geiger GmbH

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