Hey everyone!
I’m a 3rd-year Business Administration student (Controlling, Audit & Accounting) currently based outside of Germany and I’m on a mission to find a Finance/Audit/Controlling internship in Germany for Summer 2026.
I’ve been applying for a few weeks now and honestly… I have SO many questions 😅 I feel like there’s a lot of conflicting info online and I’d love to hear from people who’ve actually been through this process, whether you’re German, an expat, or an international student who made it work.
The stuff I’m genuinely curious about:
Finding offers – Beyond Indeed and LinkedIn, where do you actually find the good internship listings? Any hidden gems or platforms most people don’t know about?
The application itself – How important is the Motivationsschreiben really? Do recruiters actually read it or do they just skim the CV? Being international – If you applied from abroad, how did you handle it? Did companies ghost you because of location, or were they open to it?
Language – How much does German level matter for Finance roles? Is B2 enough or do most companies expect C1 minimum?
Timeline – How far in advance did you start applying for a summer internship? And how long before you heard back?
What actually worked – Cold emails? LinkedIn DMs? Job portals? Referrals? What moved the needle for you?
Would love to hear your experience – good, bad, or ugly. Thanks so much in advance! 🙏
https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1scldyr
Posted by Any_Shower_6988
2 Comments
r/germany_jobs
“Verfügbar bis Juni”? I think you mean “Verfügbar ab Juni”? No one will make an effort to hire an intern for only one month if its truly only until June.
I think your chances are really slim with only German B2 for smallish and mittelstand companies, especially since you are in finances and accounting, which needs good understanding of german legalese like tax law.
I’d go for the international companies or some Big4 offices in Frankfurt, Munich or Berlin. Good luck!