Am I qualified in Germany?

 150 150 speakinterculture: careers

Am I qualified?

When compared to the international job market, the job market in Germany is extremely structured. Most Germans leave school with a vocational certification or a university degree that qualifies them for a specific career path. Some of these career paths are in regulated professions, which are strictly regulated. In these fields, employers are prohibited from hiring employees who do not have the relevant qualifications. Other career paths are a bit more flexible, but German employers do tend to expect candidates to have specific expertise. Although job market is getting more and more flexible with each year, both because of changes in the German education system (the Bologna reforms shifted most German higher education from a variety of traditional German degree programs to a combination of Bachelor and Master’s degrees) and because of shifts in the job market, employers tend to look for relatively specific profiles – especially when compared to international employers – when searching for candidates. In some non-regulated professions, specific degrees or professional qualifications can be an inflexible requirement.

There are a few steps you can take to find out whether you’re considered qualified for a job in Germany. First, you’ll need to find out whether your field is considered a “regulated profession”. If you’re in one of those fields, there’s no way around the qualification. In that case, you’ll need a professional qualification that’s recognized by the appropriate authority. You can find out whether you’ll need a professional qualification using this tool from the government. Anerkennung in Deutschland (English version)

If you’re not in a regulated profession, the next step is to find out how important your background will be to employers who are hiring in your field. You might be able to find some information using the tool above. You can also check Berufenet (this tool is only available in German, so you’ll need to have some German skills to navigate the portal).

If you’re a student in Germany or a recent graduate, check with your department coordinator to see if they can help you. They can often give you feedback on whether your career path fits with the degree program you’re enrolled in or have just completed.

Once you’ve got some basic information, the next step is to do an analysis of job postings. See what degrees or qualifications are listed in as many postings in your field as you can find in Germany. If the posting lists “or similar degree” then there is a bit of flexibility, but if it simply lists degrees, then they’re primarily interested in candidates with that background and may not be open to others.

For some fields – primarily professions that require vocational training, but occasionally also for career paths based on applied university degrees – you can try checking with the career counselors at the Arbeitsagentur, but they’re not always knowledgeable about career paths for people with university degrees. Finally, check with peers in your field who are already working in Germany.

Remember, for non-regulated professions, you have a much better chance of moving forward on a career path without all of the standard qualifications. You’ll need to tell a great story and find an organization that will be open to hiring you.

(In Progress!)

How to Format your Application

 150 150 speakinterculture: careers

Packaging is Everything!

If you clicked through the quiz, you’ll have learned that employers tend to review CVs quickly, spending just a few seconds with each application before sorting it into the “keep reading” pile or discarding it. According to an eye tracking study done by Ladders Inc, employers spend 7.4 seconds on average reading each CV. This average doesn’t represent all companies, employers, or fields – there are employers who spend quite a long time thoroughly reviewing each application and there are employers that make their decisions even more quickly – but even for those employers who are spending much more time with your resume, first impressions matter quite a lot. Research in behavioral science has shown that the first impression that we get is extremely important in decision making. While robots are designed to process information logically and methodically, humans are not. In fact, the human brain is wired to jump to conclusions, and will quickly establish an overall impression of a new person in as little as a tenth of a second. Researchers refer to this as the first impression bias, and it plays a large role in the hiring process. Along with this, our brains are more likely to remember the first information that we encounter, and this information can have an outsized influence on our evaluation of a candidate. In those first few seconds, the person reviewing resumes has already developed an idea of who you are – before they’ve finished reading what you’ve written. If you’d like to get an idea of how much time that is and how much they really take in from your resume, try timing yourself while reading a sample resume. Use the stopwatch on your phone. See how long it takes you to read just the highlights. You’ll likely find that you can’t take in very much information in 7.4 seconds. So if they’re not deciding based on your qualifications, what information are they using?

Imagine yourself in a library or a bookshop, looking for a new book to read. You might find yourself reading the inside flap, or back cover, or even paging through a book before you take it home – but how do you decide which books to pick up and flip through? We sometimes get recommendations from others, or look for authors that we’re already familiar with, but we also use the cover art and design to help guide us. If a book cover looks similar to the cover of books we’ve enjoyed in the past, we’re more likely to pick it up. It’s a bit like the role that clothing plays when you meet someone for the first time. Just like wearing the right clothes to an interview can help you be more successful, dressing your skills, knowledge, traits, and experience in the right formatting can help your resume make it into that “keep reading” pile.

A well-formatted resume is easy to read. It has a simple, uncomplicated layout, and the reader should be able to quickly find the most important details. Headings and titles should be clearly marked, and descriptions of . “F” or “E” formats perform really well in Germany, as do resumes that don’t have a lot of graphics or extra design elements. It should have evenly-spaced text and be easy to read, in a font that’s legible and not too small. Use consistent fonts throughout the whole document, and make sure that elements are formatted consistently as well. If you’ve listed the dates of a previous job in MM/YY format, make sure that you use the same MM/YY format elsewhere. Typos and extra spaces or line breaks can create a chaotic or unorganized impression.

A simple way to make sure that you follow all of these rules is to use a template. However, you’ll need to be careful if you’re applying at a German company. Many of the resume layouts you’ll find on the internet are not designed for the German job market. If you’re applying in Germany and need a German-style layout, take a look at Xing’s resume builder at lebenslauf.com. Resume builders are great as they allow you to make small changes to your resume without a lot of additional formatting. If you’re applying for a job in the international job market, you can take a look at resume.io or resume.com. Don’t use the Europass layout, as it tends to receive negative feedback from hiring managers. Again, avoid anything with lots of designs or colors. Keep it as simple as possible!

In the next article, we’ll talk about what goes in the resume.

Do I need a cover letter?

Finding an Internship in the Corona Pandemic

Building your network and your knowledge about the job market in your field is always a great way to boost your internship search. An informational interview is a great strategy to find out more about working in your field and to expand your network. Remember, in an informational interview, you never want to ask for a job or an internship (don’t do it!). Reach out to professionals in your field – you can find them in alumni networks, linkedin, or xing – via email (it works best if you use your university email address) and ask them if they’d mind answering a few questions and helping you learn more about the career path they’ve chosen. You can start with questions like:

  • What internships did you do while you were a student and how did they prepare you for the job you have now?
  • What do entry-level jobs in this field look like and what are the most important qualifications?
  • What one thing do you know now that you wish you knew as a student/young applicant?
  • What skills/knowledge are most important for the job you have today?

Freelancing in Germany: The Basics

 150 150 speakinterculture: careers

What is a freelancer, and why does it matter?

Freelancers are self-employed individuals that – because of the type of work they do and/or because of their qualifications – are exempt from trade tax (Gewerbesteuer) and do not need to register as a business (Gewerbeanmeldung). In many countries, you can work as a freelancer quite easily, but in Germany, self-employment is highly regulated. The German social welfare net relies heavily on the role of the employer. Employers pay high payroll taxes for their employees – approx. 50% on top of what employees receive in gross salary for each employee. These taxes include unemployment insurance, maternity leave insurance, sick leave insurance, retirement insurance, and health and long-term care insurance, all of which serve as safety nets for citizens. Many of the regulations surrounding freelance work are designed to prevent employers from using freelancing to avoid paying these taxes.

Who can be a freelancer?

The "Freie Berufe"

There are two ways to achieve freelancer status in Germany. If you belong to one of the “Freie Berufe” or specific professions that are based on a set of professional qualifications or creative ability, and where there is a specific interest in having these services done by an autonomous professional, you are permitted to register as a freelancer. The law defines these professions as follows  “The free professions are generally based on special professional qualifications or creative talent, and involve the personal, autonomous, and professionally independent provision of services of a higher nature in the interest of the client and the general public.” (§1 (2) PartGG.

These are typically professions that provide external services that would not be done in-house, such as lawyers or consultants, or professions which typically involve doing work for a variety of clients, such as surveyors, translators, or journalists. The list of the “catalogue” free professions – the professions listed in income tax law – are listed below:

Medical professions:

  • Physicians
  • Dentists
  • Veterinarians
  • Healers/alternative medicine practitioners
  • Physiotherapists

Natural science/technical professions:

  • Surveyors
  • Engineers
  • Commercial Chemists
  • Architects
  • Pilots

Legal, tax and business advisory professions:

  • Lawyers
  • Patent Attorneys
  • Notaries
  • Auditors
  • Tax consultants
  • Tax agents
  • Consulting economists
  • Business economists
  • Certified public accountants and auditors of accounts

Language and information communication professions:

  • Journalists
  • Photojournalists
  • Interpreters and simultaneous translators
  • Translators

There are four additional professions listed in the Partnership Company Laws:

  • Psychologist
  • Healing masseur
  • Midwife
  • Expert Consultant

You can also be a freelancer in fields similar to the professions listed above – if you are unsure, the tax office will help you to determine whether your profession is considered freelance. You can also consult a tax advisor, but the tax office is generally willing to help you and will do this for free.

Tätigkeitsberufe

Along with the professions listed above, there are several occupations that are considered freelance occupations based on the tasks being done. These are scientific occupations (research, consultation), artistic occupations, literary occupations, teaching occupations, and childcare. The deciding factor in determining whether someone can be a freelancer is what they’re doing in their day-to-day work, not their original qualification. For example, if a lawyer founds a start-up, they’re no longer working as a lawyer and typically would no longer qualify as a freelancer.

How do I know if I can be a freelancer?

All freelancers must have their occupation/profession registered with the tax office. The tax office will determine whether you can be a freelancer based on the description of the work that you do. It’s best to be as general as you can when describing your work, and to remember that certain professions and occupations require you to pay into the retirement insurance while others don’t. Some free professions are required to register with professional organizations (guilds/chambers) that regulate their professions. Many free professions are additionally regulated and require government permits.

Taxes and Insurance

Everyone in Germany must have adequate health insurance. The immigration office looks most kindly on public insurance. I recommend the TK – they have an excellent English-speaking customer service department – but any public health insurance will cover you adequately. You do not need to register with the Gewerbeamt (trade office) – the trade office handles trade. Freelancers do not pay trade tax. Most freelancers also do not need to pay social security taxes – although this depends on your profession! If you are an artist, journalist, or author, you are required to pay social security tax and you will need to register with the Kunstlersozialkasse.

Whether or not you will need to pay into the public retirement insurance system depends on your profession and occupation. German law considers certain jobs as “in need of protection” – coaches, teachers, trainers, and other educators are in this category, as are nurses, midwives, physical therapists, and speech therapists. Artists pay into retirement insurance through their membership in the Kunstlersozialkasse. In general, if your job places you in a dependent relationship with a client, you will be required to pay into public retirement insurance. You can make an appointment with the local DRK office if you’d like to find out more (note: when dealing with the retirement insurance, it’s absolutely ok to ask hypothetical questions – I generally recommend gathering information first before officially informing the retirement insurance office of your status).

Kleinunternehmer + VAT Tax

If you are a freelancer and you invoice less than 22.000,00 € a year, you don’t have to worry about VAT taxes (unless the tax office decides they want you to start filing them – they’ll let you know if they do). If you go over in the middle of the calendar year, don’t worry. You don’t need to start paying VAT in the middle of the calendar year unless you go over 50.000,00 €. You will need to inform your clients – on your invoices – that you are invoicing according to § 19 of the VAT tax law. Being a small business also has some benefits for your income taxes.

Watch out for pseudo-self-employment!

Germany wants to make sure that freelancers are really freelancers. Those high payroll taxes I mentioned above could create a big incentive for employers to outsource work that should be done in-house by a protected, insured employee with access to unemployment and sick leave to freelancers. In order to prevent this, Germany has additional regulations surrounding the relationship between clients and freelancers.

Freelancers must retain their independence and operate as independent professional service providers. In general, clients cannot behave as employers, and may not mandate work hours, work location, give direct instructions and feedback, integrate employees directly into the company structure, or require freelancers to provide regular reports. Freelancers should not take official vacation and should not be required to clear absences with other employees. They should not receive sick pay, and in most cases, they cannot be wholly dependent on a single client.

In order to maintain freelance status, freelancers should work in their own space, for multiple clients, and should not take on long-term contacts with individual clients (if you work heavily with a single client, you ideally agree on work terms for each individual project). Freelancers should also have the freedom to design and organize their own work, have an individual market presence, be able to decide when and where they work, have the freedom to decide which meetings they will attend, and should be paid far over the going rate for employees – enough to cover the additional costs associated with paying their own insurance and taxes.

Pseudo-self-employment is decided on a case-by-case basis, and it depends heavily on the context. There are also some cases where the rules are a bit different. In general, freelancers are advised to make sure that no more than 5/6 of their work comes from a single client. However, having multiple clients isn’t always enough if you don’t meet the other criteria in the list. If you’re not sure, I’d recommend consulting with a tax advisor.

What happens if I’m pseudo-self-employed?

If the clearinghouse of the German retirement insurance runs an audit and determines that social insurance payments were required in your case, you’ll typically be required to pay a maximum of 3 months of your portion of the social insurance payments and relevant taxes retroactively. You’ll also have to edit all of your invoices and clear up any incorrectly paid VAT taxes. Your client – now technically employer – will be required to pay up to the maximum limit, in some cases up to 30 years, for missed social insurance payments as well as any relevant taxes. You’re technically employed now, so you have a right to all employee benefits, such as paid vacation and protection from termination.

Caution: Some employers have attempted to sue pseudo-self-employed freelancers for “overpayment” with the argument that the taxes and insurances have already been paid, at least in part, through the freelancer’s higher fees. This used to be quite difficult but a law change in 2019 has made it much easier for employers to succeed in court. It’s quite important to make sure that you’re not pseudo-self-employed, as it could have serious consequences for your finances. If you’ve ticked all of the boxes above, you should be fine, but if you’re uncertain, it’s best to contact an expert. This could be the tax office, a tax advisor, the retirement insurance office, or an employment lawyer.

Need more information?

You’ll find a lot of information in the Existenzgründungsportal, created and maintained by the Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. Much of it is also available in English. Government sources are typically up-to-date, so they’re excellent for making sure you have the latest information. If you have questions about tax or regulations, I’d suggest asking your tax office clerk first. You can find their name and extension at the top of any letter or document you’ve received from the tax office. If your German is advanced enough, they’re typically glad to answer questions. If you’re a bit nervous to call, most tax offices in Berlin have (or at least had, pre-COVID) an advice counter. Tax advisors are great if you’re earning enough that you think you’ll be able to save money if you filed more strategically, but for small freelance businesses, you might consider a one-off consultation when getting started and a good tax program – or alternatively, use a tax club! More on tax basics to come soon!

Where to Search?

 150 150 speakinterculture: careers

Where can I search for English-language jobs?

Where can I find jobs and internships in English speaking countries? The answer is that it really depends on what you want to do and where you want to go. I’ve collected a number of sites below. You’ll find job boards with different focus areas (general job boards, industry-specific job boards, job boards that focus on start-ups, job boards that focus on sustainable work) as well as some sites that provide information on international internship programs.

Important Tips for Using Job Boards & Internet Placement Sites

When applying for jobs, it’s always a good idea to search on job boards/sites that are specifically designed for you – focusing on your background or skills. The more specific the job site is (and the more it fits with your profile), the more likely it is that the employer is looking for a candidate with your skills. This saves you time and energy in the application process.

Never send off your application using the “apply” button on sites like indeed and monster. Once you’ve found the posting, it’s always best to search for the company and find the posting on their own website/apply directly to the company using the contact information on the job posting. Using the “apply” button generates a generic application based on your profile and it’s almost always a sign that you weren’t really interested in the job. Always craft a specific application tailored to that job posting and send it to the contact information that they’ve provided.

Finally, never pay for an internship placement. There are many sites that ask you to pay for an internship placement. These sites are typically unreliable. In general, there is a wide range of internship placement programs out there – some are great, and some are not as optimal. I’ve included a few sites that rate internship placement programs below – please note that I don’t have any actual experience with these programs or sites, so make sure to do your own research before signing up.

Should I post my resume on job sites?

I usually don’t recommend posting your resume on job search sites like monster and stepstone, especially if you’re looking for jobs that have a large candidate pool. Most employers aren’t actively searching for profiles – they tend to wait for applicants to approach them – and if they are, they’re usually looking for higher-level positions or very specific skills/expertise and won’t be searching for interns or recent graduates. I do recommend posting your profile on a career-oriented social media site such as LinkedIn or Xing (or a field-specific site). This lets you add information to your profile that might not fit on a typical resume.

About this List

The list below is embedded from Raindrop.io (that’s the best way for me to be able to constantly update it when I find new resources for you). The main folder contains general job sites, and each folder contains specific sites.  If you’d prefer to open the raindrop page in a separate tab, you can do so here. You’ll find a collection of general job boards as well as specific sites for academia, research, and a variety of different fields. I don’t have personal experience with all of these sites – some of the industry-specific boards have been collected via recommendation from colleagues and career service departments. I hope that this collection gives you a chance to really explore the types of jobs that are out there for you!

Where to Search?

 150 150 speakinterculture: careers

Where do I go to search for jobs in Germany?

Where can I find quality job postings for jobs in Germany? This is a question I’m often asked – and the answer depends a lot on the field that you’re applying in. Below, I’ve collected sites from a variety of sources and for a number of different fields. Some of the sites are primarily in German while others are available in English. If you don’t speak German, I usually recommend focusing on job postings presented in English (although you may have success with low-level German skills for German-language positions in the natural sciences/formal sciences). You can find out more about language level and employer expectations here.

Important Tips for Using Job Boards

When applying for jobs, it’s always a good idea to search on job boards/sites that are specifically designed for you – focusing on your background or skills. The more specific the job site is (and the more it fits with your profile), the more likely it is that the employer is looking for a candidate with your skills. This saves you time and energy in the application process.

Never send off your application using the “apply” button on sites like indeed and monster. Once you’ve found the posting, it’s always best to search for the company and find the posting on their own website/apply directly to the company using the contact information on the job posting. Using the “apply” button generates a generic application based on your profile and it’s almost always a sign that you weren’t really interested in the job. Always craft a specific application tailored to that job posting and send it to the contact information that they’ve provided.

Should I post my resume on job sites?

I usually don’t recommend posting your resume on job search sites like monster and stepstone, especially if you’re looking for jobs that have a large candidate pool. Most employers aren’t actively searching for profiles – they tend to wait for applicants to approach them – and if they are, they’re usually looking for higher-level positions or very specific skills/expertise. I do recommend posting your profile on a career-oriented social media site such as LinkedIn or Xing (or a field-specific site). This lets you add information to your profile that might not fit on a typical resume.

About this List

The list below is embedded from Raindrop.io (that’s the best way for me to be able to constantly update it when I find new resources for you). The main folder contains general job sites, and each folder contains specific sites. You can also search via tag (#biology, #chemistry) for very specific sites (although not everything is tagged). If you’d prefer to open the site in a separate tab, you can do so here. You’ll find a collection of general job boards as well as specific sites for academia, research, and a variety of different fields. I don’t have personal experience with all of these sites – some of the industry-specific boards have been collected via recommendation from colleagues and career service departments. I hope that this collection gives you a chance to really explore the types of jobs that are out there for you!

Deciphering German Job Postings

 150 150 speakinterculture: careers

The "eierlegende Wollmilchsau"?

Browsing through job postings can be a bit overwhelming. It seems like some employers are looking for the “all-singing, all-dancing” absolutely perfect overachiever (or, as this absolutely lovely German idiom puts it so succinctly, the eierlegende Wollmilchsau – egg-laying wool-milk-pig – but are they really? When you look a little closer, certain words and phrases can clue us in to which qualifications are musts and which might not be completely necessary.

Now, before we get started, it’s important to note that Germans are generally very direct communicators. That goes for writing as well as for conversation. They say what they mean, and they don’t usually waste words. Job postings are no exception. They usually expect applicants to have around 80-90% of the criteria listed, so before you sort out the “extras” from the job posting, do be sure that you fit most of the requirements. So now that we have that out of the way, how can I tell which requirements in the posting are must-have criteria, and which are optional?

Must-Haves and Nice-to-Haves in Job Postings

The Must-Haves: How to Identify Non-Negotiable Requirements

Employers usually list must-have requirements at the beginning of the list, just as you’d list your star qualifications at the beginning of your cover letter.

Phrases like the ones below indicate that employers will only consider you if you have these qualifications. I’ve listed a very general translation alongside the English phrases, but do keep in mind that English translations are likely to vary.

setzen wir voraus | we expect
sind wichtig | are important
berücksichtigt werden nur | We will only consider applicants with
unbedingt notwendig | absolutely necessary
wir suchen, wir erwarten | we’re looking for, we expect
nachweisbare Erfolge | verifiable success, demonstrable success, proven track record
zwingend erforderlich | mandatory
ist Voraussetzung | is a requirement
Sie besitzen, Sie haben, Sie bringen mit | you have, you bring with you
selbstverständlich | self-explanatory, as a matter of course
zeichnen Sie aus | you are characterized by, your attributes are
dringend erforderlich | very necessary, crucial

The Nice-to-Haves: Keywords for "Optional" Qualifications

Employers will often list additional requirements that they’d like to see in a candidate. If you have them, great! You’re a perfect fit. However, not having these qualifications won’t immediately land you in the discard pile.

Phrases like the following usually indicate that there’s some leeway in the requirement.

erwünscht | desired
wenn Sie außerdem mitbringen | if you additionally have
zusätzlich noch | in addition
runden Ihr Profil ab | round off your profile
sind von Vorteil | are advantageous
hinreichende Erfahrung | sufficient experience
Idealerweise | ideally
Gerne sehen wir | we’ll be glad to see
Zusätzlich freuen wir uns | additionally, we’d be happy if

If you’re not sure if a certain qualification is a must-have requirement, you can always contact the company and ask! “I’m interested in the position, and I do have x – how important is y?”

If you don’t have a must-requirement, and you’ve noticed that it’s a relatively common requirement in your field, you might consider taking a class or online course, and listing that in your application. “I’m currently taking a course on x, which I’ll complete on…” (Avoid the phrasing “I don’t have x yet” – negative phrasing is almost always unsuccessful.)

Other Things to Watch for in Job Postings

"Unserious" Postings

You might occasionally run across positions out there that sound vague, or confusing, or even too good to be true. In many cases, they are. Before you start writing that time-consuming application, be sure to do some research about the company. (Of course, you’ll need that research to craft a fantastic application!) Phrases like “higher-then-average pay” or “interesting tasks” or postings that ask for someone who is “available immediately” to “travel extensively” without any additional information can be a sign that the job is not quite what it seems.

Top-Level Positions

The length of the job posting is often, but not always, a clue. The longer it is, the more likely it is that they’re targeting people with many years of experience – if you’re fresh out of uni, it can be a sign that you’re not as likely to be chosen.

Employment Type

Do keep in mind that you will need the correct visa when applying for offers for freelancers. Employers offering full-time work will be able to assist you (or at least provide you with relevant information) for a visa application, but if you’re here on a student visa or don’t have an unlimited residence permit, you might not be eligible to work as a freelancer. Be on the lookout for freelance work that puts you in danger of “Scheinselbständigkeit” – it’s primarily a problem for the employer, but can cause issues if you’re on a visa.

I'm still confused?!

If you’re still having trouble interpreting job postings, or you’re sending lots of applications out and not getting a response, it’s time to take advantage of the resources in your network. Struggling with applications over a long period of time can be draining, and after a while, the frustration starts to find its way into the cover letters and resume without us even noticing. Reach out to the career service department at your university, friends and family members in similar fields, students and peers in your university network – and of course, I’m always available for an application or career coaching session, just an email away.

Job Market Survey: A Career Orientation Tool

 150 150 speakinterculture: careers

How much do you know about the job market?

Not clear on what kind of jobs are out there in your field? Unsure about grad school? What about that PhD? The Job Market Survey can be a very helpful tool when making choices, deciding where to focus in your studies, and in helping you be as prepared as you can for getting a job after you’ve graduated.

Maybe you’ve fallen in love with your subject area (like I did with anthropology) without spending too much time considering what people in your field actually do for a living. Maybe you have a pretty good idea of what people do in your field, but you have really specific ideas about the types of tasks you’d like to do in your future career. Maybe you have a really solid picture of the job market and you’re fairly certain you’re on the right track. Whatever the situation, doing a preliminary search for jobs just to see what’s out there can give you real information that you can use when making decisions about your future path, and give you added confidence about your choices. It can also help you to make the best use of the resources available for you today (if you’re still a student).

I’ve put together a video for you that takes you through the Job Market Survey from start to finish with all the tips and tricks that will make it a success for you! For a shortcut, you can check out the list below.

The Job Market Survey

Step 1: Make a list of your key qualifications, experience, skills, knowledge, and traits. I recommend the Skills Profile that I use in my classes and in career coaching as a good place to start.
Step 2: Consider your needs, wants, and nice-to-haves – what do you absolutely need in a job? This is where career coaching can really help – if you’re going it on your own, I’ve created an activity (loosely inspired by Edgar Schein’s Career Anchors) to help you evaluate what you need. I’ve also put together this worksheet (a guided reflection on what your ideal workplace conditions are) to help jumpstart your brainstorming.
Step 3: Do some research. Start googling job postings simply to get an idea of the types of keywords that employers in your field use. Check out linkedin profiles of successful peers and people that are a few years ahead of you.
Step 4: Define your keywords for the search. It’s important to keep track of your chosen keywords.
Step 5: Set up a search alert on a job board. Using your chosen keywords, adjust the search terms until you get results that fit (jobs you’d actually apply for, if you were going to apply for jobs right now). Set up an alert and have new jobs that fit the keywords sent to your email.
Step 6: Evaluate your results. Collect the job postings for a period of around 1-3 months. Did you get enough results? How many of the postings fit your idea of the ideal job? Are you comfortable with the results? I’ve created a follow-up to the career reflections worksheet you did earlier as well as a SWOT activity that might be useful in evaluating your results.

What if I don't get satisfactory results?

In the video, I discuss what to do if you’re not satisfied with the results of the search. When we realize that the job market doesn’t quite fit our profile, we can either change our focus slightly to become more competitive for the small number of positions out there that both fit our ideals and our profile – adjusting our current path while still in university, so that we’re better prepared for the job market – or make a career change, and broaden our search or change directions completely. If you’ve completed the activity and you’re torn between paths, career journaling, reflection, and career coaching can all be excellent tools in helping you make a decision.

Why think about this now? I’ve got all the time in the world!

The wonderful thing about being a student is that you have lots and lots of time to explore, think, develop, plan, and change your mind. This activity isn’t designed to force you to make up your mind today – it’s simply designed to help make sure that you have the best possible chance at ending up in a job that you love, flourish in, and that feels fulfilling to you. The earlier you review and reflect on your path and how well it fits (or doesn’t fit) where you want to be in the future, the more flexibility you have in making changes. Students have tons of resources available while at university. Life as a student is busy, so it’s common not to take advantage of everything that’s out there. However, making a career change later in life can be a bit more challenging, especially in the German job market, and the earlier you get an idea of what’s out there, the better prepared you’ll be!

Career Journaling: Internship Reflection Questions

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Why Career Journaling?

Understanding what you enjoy about work – and knowing which specific aspects of work that drain or frustrate you – can be very helpful in guiding you to make career decisions, support you in interviews and in performance reviews, and generally give you confidence in the workplace. Your internship is a great place to begin career journaling. Reflecting on the ups and downs of your internship will make it easier to identify your strengths, areas you might want to improve in, and what kinds of work (and work environments) encourage you to flourish!

Questions to Get Started

Organization and Culture
  • What implicit (unspoken, unwritten) rules did you notice during your internship? (These could be for communication, procedures, protocol, or interaction in the workplace.)
  • How are tasks and work spread out among staff? Do you feel that it was a fair distribution? If not, what specifically did you find inequitable?
  • What size was the company you worked for? How did that impact your internship? Did you like or dislike being at a company of this size?
  • How do different people at your site or involved with your site (i.e., clients/customers, etc.) dress? How did that fit with your ideal “workplace attire”?
  • How would you describe the culture within your organization (ways in which co-workers interact or don’t interact) and how does this fit with your “ideal” employer?
  • Depending on the sector (for-profit, non-profit, or governmental) your internship is in, how does the structure impact the ability of the organization to accomplish its goals? (Consider layers of management, board of directors, volunteers, etc.) Explain.
  • What happens in your workplace when someone makes a mistake? What about when they do a really fantastic job? How did you feel about this?
  • If you were running this organization, what would you change and why?
Tasks & Work
  • What types of tasks did you do that you enjoy or excel at completing? What did you enjoy most about them? Were you surprised?
  • What was the management style like? How structured/guided is your time?  How effective/ineffective does that make you?
  • What tasks in your internship did you dislike? Could you imagine finding a job in this field that did not include these tasks?
  • What about your internship is the most surprising to you (i.e., what did you least expect going into the experience) and what lesson(s) can you draw from this?
  • Was the content of your work related to your studies? How did you feel about this?
Future
  • If you wanted to follow in the career path of someone at your internship site, what would you need to do to make this happen?  (Tip – ask the person for advice and use this in your response.)
  • If you’re at a non-profit, what role does funding play in the organization? What different sources of funding does the organization utilize to maintain operations? In your opinion, are there ample resources to fund future projects and is there a plan to secure these funds?
  • In what ways have you experienced or witnessed either informal or formal mentoring taking place within the organization?
  • How have you or others in this organization effectively utilized relationship building/networking?  In what ways could or did you build a strong network with those you work with for future benefit?
Values
  • Did your workplace reflect your personal values? Was your employer committed to contributing to society (i.e., environment, community, education, youth, etc.)?  Explain.
  • Compare and contrast the mission statement of the organization – if you were aware of one – with what you observe in the day-to-day operations. Do they actually accomplish their mission?
  • Does the organization seem to be an active member of the community (however this is defined)?  If so, how?  If not, should it be and how could this be accomplished?
  • Was your workplace diverse? How have you observed/experienced individuals from different demographic groups (gender, age, educational background, etc.) interacting with each other? How did you feel about what you observed?
Working Conditions
  • How does the location of your internship site (e.g., neighborhood, surrounding businesses, access to food, etc.) fit your needs?
  • How are employees paid in this field? Do you feel that it is adequate when you see the tasks and workload that they face?
  • How were the working hours – did they fit well with you and your internal clock? How flexible was your employer? Did you feel that this created a positive or negative work environment for you?

A note – some of these questions are loosely based on the Hanover College website which is in turn based on “Weekly Internship Journal Blog Prompts” by the Chicago Programs.

Internships (in the Age of Corona)

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Internships in the Age of Corona

Finding a great internship is a challenge in “normal” times. There’s so much to think about. What company is the best fit for me? Where do I want to go? What do I hope to learn or achieve? In the current pandemic, it can be an even greater challenge. Currently, many companies have temporarily suspended their internship programs, or reduced the duration of the programs that they offer. 40% of the respondents to a recent poll by the National Association of Colleges and Employers in the USA have switched to virtual internship programs. In Germany, only about half of the internships that were available at the same time in 2019 are still available now. However, that doesn’t necessarily have to spell bad news for current students – there are still quite a few options out there!

What are internships for?

This might seem like a strange question, but if we take a closer look at why we’re really doing an internship – beyond “it’s a requirement for my program” or “everyone else is doing one” that can help us find a way to achieve the goals we have for our internship even in these really challenging times. Two of the main reasons internships are a great resource for students is that they provide you with an opportunity to test-drive working in a professional setting and to network with people in your field.

In an internship setting, you can test your skills and find out what you’re great at, and develop an awareness of areas in which you might need to build your skills/knowledge. That might apply to your knowledge in your field, concrete skills like working with Excel, or interpersonal skills, like how to navigate challenging supervisors. You can also learn what work environment fits best with your work style – do you thrive in settings with a flat hierarchy? Do you work better with lots of direct input from your supervisor? How important is structure to you in the workplace?

Knowing people in your field and building professional relationships is very important for your future career – it can make a big difference in your job search later on. Many entry-level positions are filled by former interns – and having those contacts means that you have someone to touch base with when you start your job search. You might have better access to jobs that aren’t as widely posted, and you’ll likely find that your application has a better chance of being seen by the right people.

Finding an Internship in the Corona Pandemic

Your first option is to look for a “regular” internship. You’ll probably do best if you focus on specific companies that are a good fit for what you hope to do in the future (remember, many companies are open to unsolicited applications for interns) and on job boards like Connecticum that focus on internships. Craft each application carefully. Remember, quality is way more important than quantity. Keep in mind that as internships become more competitive, things like language skills may matter more now than they did in the past. If you’re looking for an internship in Germany, it might be a good idea to brush up on your German skills. Sign up for a (virtual) tandem partner, switch your day-to-day life into German (from Netflix to your computer settings), and start reading as much as you can in your free time.

Building your network and your knowledge about the job market in your field is always a great way to boost your internship search. An informational interview is a great strategy to find out more about working in your field and to expand your network. Remember, in an informational interview, you never want to ask for a job or an internship (don’t do it!). Reach out to professionals in your field – you can find them in alumni networks, linkedin, or xing – via email (it works best if you use your university email address) and ask them if they’d mind answering a few questions and helping you learn more about the career path they’ve chosen. You can start with questions like:

  • What internships did you do while you were a student and how did they prepare you for the job you have now?
  • What do entry-level jobs in this field look like and what are the most important qualifications?
  • What one thing do you know now that you wish you knew as a student/young applicant?
  • What skills/knowledge are most important for the job you have today?

If you still can’t find a really great internship, you can create your own! Think about the skills and background that would be the most helpful for you to have in order to achieve your career goals. For example, you might find that most job postings for your dream career path require you to have certain experience – maybe you need experience in managing projects or in social media marketing. Think of a project that you could do that would help you get that experience. Write a plan/pitch and approach a local non-profit or a small company. For example, you might write a pitch to develop a social media marketing strategy for a local non-profit that wouldn’t normally be able to hire a social media manager, or offer to develop a website or app. Remember to keep the resources required from the company to a minimum and to be very clear about what you expect and what you will provide. You can also try doing a DIY internship project in your community  – launch your own local or digital project.

Getting the Most out of Virtual/DIY Internships

Doing a virtual or DIY internship will mean that you have less face-to-face contact with the people you’re working with. When you start out, clarify your expectations for feedback in the beginning. Know how and when to best contact your supervisor – via email? a slack channel? – and find out where you can go when you have a question. Remember that many of your colleagues are dealing with a lot of stress in these unusual times and may be balancing working from home with childcare or other obligations, so be empathetic. Make sure to speak up right away if you feel lost or uncertain – don’t wait for your colleagues to notice that you’re having trouble. (This is also a good idea when you’re not working virtually but is so much more important when you’re hidden away on the other side of a screen).

Do your best to build your network and connect with your colleagues. When/where appropriate, try to engage them – ask questions about their careers and be memorable. In virtual meetings, make sure that your background is professional, but not cold or blank. Leave colleagues with an impression of you as a person. Make sure to follow the rules of video etiquette. Set clear networking goals and try to follow through – if you’re having trouble reaching them, reflect on what might be getting in your way. Are your goals unrealistic, or are there strategies you can use to help you achieve them?

In a virtual or DIY internship, you are responsible for your own career development. Career journaling can be a great way to keep track of your success and of the things you’d like to improve on. Take some time daily – or at least once a week – to reflect on your progress. Sit down with a pen and paper – or a digital journal – and write out a career journal using career journal prompts. That way, you’ll have a better idea of what you’ve working towards and what you’ve achieved!

If You Get Stuck, Ask For Help

The stepping stones on your way to a great career are almost always help and support from people along the way. Reach out to friends, family, fellow students – if you aren’t having success in finding an internship, your university likely has a career service department. See if they have virtual counseling hours. Get in touch with your university’s student union and see if they have resources for you. And of course, I’m always here to help with career counseling – please feel free to get in touch!

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