If you consider to work in Germany after graduation it's best to prepare this step as early as possible. Identifying your own preferences and competencies; finding internships, relevant part time jobs & getting to know potential employers while you are still a student will increase your chances to find an appropriate job after graduation.

How to prepare best differs in regards to the area of your studies / your aimed career path as well as your future employer. However, there are also many similarities. What counts for everyone: The earlier you start to prepare, the higher the chances to successfully find your career path.

All international students of the University of Cologne can participate in these workshops free of charge! Some workshops are held in German, some are held in English. A language level from B1 and above is recommended.

Find Your Team. Digital Get to Know Meetings

(Regional) organisations and companies present themselves digitally and inform about job entry possibilities, values, expectations and more. Interested students have the opportunity to ask questions about the application process and the every day working life - outside the application process! Available experts are HR staff and team members.   

Find Your Team: job search options

There are many ways to find jobs. In 2015, the IAB published a study on how companies search for new employees and how the positions are filled. The most important tools include: 

• job advertisements on the company's/organisation's own homepage
• job engines on the internet
• speculative applications
• contacts or recommendations from other employees
• contact with the federal job agency
• private employment agencies

A lot of information about the organisation/company can be found on their own homepages. It is also useful to take a look at information about companies and organisations from independent sources. Media reports can be helpful, but also special platforms such as Glasdoor, where employees can anonymously post their satisfaction with their job and information about salaries, etc. 

Below are some internal and external internship and job engines where you can search for advertised vacancies: 

University internal offers

Please note: The ProfessionalCenter and the  Career Services of the faculties offer a high-quality and diverse range of counselling, competence training, getting-to-know-you and recruiting events free of charge for students of the University of Cologne! Please also make use of these!

Helpful external links

The Federal Government: Make it in Germany

Berufenet - which job fits to my course (in German only)

EUROPASS - tool for creating CV and cover letter

16Personalities - free personlity test

Tool for women in the STEM sector at the start of their career

Internship guide by the Leibniz Universität Hannover