Detailed Guide for Part Time Jobs in Germany

While considering higher studies abroad, Germany is one of the top destinations on a student’s list. Owing to multiple reasons from the quality of education to the multicultural environment in universities, Germany is one of the top choices for students planning to study abroad. Education in Germany is comparatively not that expensive. Students might want to take up part-time jobs to have a side income to support their living. If you wish to know more about the available part time job options in Germany, you are reading the right blog. In this blog, we shall discuss a few part time jobs available for international students in Germany.

Benefits of doing Part time jobs in Germany

There are many benefits to doing part-time jobs in Germany, including:

Financial benefits:

• Earn extra income: Part-time jobs can help students and other job seekers earn extra money to cover their living expenses, save for future goals, or pay off debt.
• Improve your financial literacy: Working a part-time job can help you learn how to budget your money and manage your finances responsibly.
• Gain work experience: Part-time jobs can provide you with valuable work experience that can make you more competitive in the job market.

Personal benefits:

• Improve your skills: Part-time jobs can help you develop and improve your skills, both hard and soft. For example, you may learn new technical skills, or you may develop your communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.
• Expand your network: Part-time jobs can be a great way to meet new people and make connections in your field. This can be helpful for finding future job opportunities or for building your professional network.
• Gain confidence: Working a part-time job can help you build your confidence and self-esteem. It can also help you develop a sense of responsibility and independence.

Other benefits:

• Experience German work culture: Working a part-time job is a great way to learn about German work culture and how businesses operate in Germany. This can be helpful if you are planning to pursue a career in Germany in the future.
• Learn German: If you work a part-time job in Germany, you will have the opportunity to practice your German language skills on a daily basis. This can help you improve your fluency and communication skills.

Also Read: Germany Study Visa

Type of Part time jobs in Germany

There are many different types of part-time jobs available in Germany for international students.

On Campus 

For students, there are several work opportunities on the university campus. The university’s HR or Admissions departments both have administrative and clerical jobs available. Students can help professors with their work by working as research or academic assistants. On university bulletin boards, libraries may post employment openings for clerical, bookkeeping, and assistant positions. Students can also work as waiters, cafe managers, food service assistants, kitchen helpers, etc. at university cafes or restaurants. 

Off-Campus 

In Germany, a work permit is not required to work a part-time job off campus. The amount of hours and days that students can work off campus is limited, though. The most well-liked off-campus part-time jobs in Germany are program-related, compensated internships that give you professional work experience. Support staff positions at cafes, restaurants, malls, supermarkets, and small businesses are other employment that students frequently look for. Additionally, there are employment available for students in media, newspaper, and petrol stations. Depending on the level of intricacy, these positions provide a respectable hourly compensation of 10 to 20 euros.

Online Jobs for Students

Online employment is growing in popularity among students right now. There are many career prospects online due to the growth of social media and digital enterprises. Students can work when and where it’s convenient for them while earning a good wage. The most popular online positions include positions in digital-based businesses, social media management, content authoring, data entry, digital marketing, and web development.

Also Read: Diploma Courses in Germany

Rules and Regulations for Part-Time Jobs in Germany

The employment legislation established by the Federal Employment Agency and the German Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs must be understood by pupils. The main rules to abide by while working part-time jobs in Germany are mentioned below:

• Working Hour Legal Limits: Germany has set legal restrictions on the total number of working hours and days. A student may not work more than 48 hours per week and no more than 8 hours per day on average. Additionally, a student may only work a total of 120 full days or 240 half days a year.
• Full-time Employment Requires a Work Permit: Students are not permitted to work full-time while on a student visa. You would need to apply for a work permit from the “Agentur für Arbeit,” the Federal Employment Agency, and The Foreigners’ Authority if you wanted to work full-time during holidays.
• Special Rule for Language Course Students: International students enrolled in language programs are subject to a special rule that restricts their ability to work outside of breaks and holidays without prior approval from both the Federal Employment Agency and The Foreigners’ Authority.
• Compliance with Employment Laws: While studying and working in Germany, international students are required to abide by all laws and norms. You will be deported right away if you are discovered to have violated any job laws. As a result, it’s important to comprehend and abide by the law.

Laws and Eligibility

When it comes to the job market for students from Europe, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland the rights are the same as for German students. Students from these regions can work more than 20 hours per week. There are certain restrictions for students who come from other countries barring the ones mentioned above:

• Students can work for either 120 full days or 240 half days.
• As per university norms, students are not allowed to work for more than 20 hours a week during term, but they can take up full-time employment during vacations.
• It is of utmost importance for the students to comply with the country’s federal law as any negligence would be punishable.
• Students require a work permit (that has details of the maximum limit of work a student can take up) from the ” Federal Employment Agency and the foreign authority.
• Students are exempted from paying taxes if they earn less than 450 euros per month or do not work for 50 working days continuously.
• Students who are undertaking a language course or preparatory course are only allowed to work during free periods that too with permission from the Federal Employment Agency and the Immigration Office.
• Students cannot be self-employed or involved in freelancing.

Also Read: Mechanical Engineering in Germany

How to Find Part-Time Jobs in Germany for International Students?

• Examine the labour market: View the local labour market here: It’s time to apply after looking through job positions for international university students on university notice boards, local media, online job portals, and local employment agencies.
• In Germany, make applications for relevant part-time jobs: Similar to German students, you must typically apply by email and include a CV and a motivational letter with your application materials. In Germany, a strong cover letter is quite important and might be helpful when applying for part-time work.
•  At the interview, present a positive impression: You received an invitation to a face-to-face interview for one of the job vacancies you applied for. Make an effort to come across favourably and, if you have any, discuss prior experience in the industry. Mentioning that you are taking or have taken a German language course could also be very beneficial.
• Embrace the career opportunity: Have you been offered a position at one of the student jobs or part-time jobs you applied for? Make the most of this chance! Start your part-time employment while you are studying abroad once you have established certain fundamental terms, such as your working hours, with the company.
•  Utilise your work permit once you graduate: Students can use their student visas to obtain an 18-month residence permit for the period following graduation if they wish to work full-time in Germany after completing their studies abroad. This also enables people to start their careers in Germany while working full-time in any kind of profession! Please keep in mind that once you have secured professional employment, you must apply for an employment visa.

How much do part-time jobs in Germany pay?

In Germany, there is a minimum salary. It has been €9.60 per hour since July 1, 2021, and it will increase to €10.45 in July 2022. However, the amount you make is mostly influenced by your own abilities, the sector, and the local labour market. Hourly pay is typically greater in cities like Hamburg and Munich, but so is the expense of living. The average hourly pay for academic assistants, production assistants in industry, and service personnel at trade shows is frequently somewhat above the minimum wage.

Candidates are permitted to work a total of 120 full or 240 half days per year while still enrolled in school. However, this may differ between areas with high and low employment. Simply said, you might only be granted a work permit that is longer than 120 days if your university is located in a region with a high unemployment rate or that requires more labour. Freelancing or self-employment are not permitted under the part-time work option.

Also Read: Admission Requirements to Study in Germany

Income Tax

Students are exempt from paying taxes on income up to 450 euros per month. Your income will be able to reach 5,400 euros a year if your employer pays you on a mini-job basis. For students, the annual exemption level from taxes is $9,000. However, if you put in more hours and consistently earn more than 450 euros a month, you must obtain an income tax identification number. Every month, a certain amount will be automatically taken out of your account; for students, this includes tax and pension insurance contributions. At the end of the year, students can recoup the tax by filing income tax returns.

FAQs

This was all about the complete guide of part-time jobs in Germany. if you also want to know more about country reach out to  Leverage Edu  country experts. they will brief you in details.