Hi everyone,
I’m looking for honest advice from people who successfully moved to Germany for work, especially in finance or corporate roles.
Quick background:
– 28F, based in Morocco
– I have a master degree in International Finance (my degree is recognized in Germany)
– Currently working in treasury (corporate environment), and have 5 years of experience so far (in Morocco)
– I attempted CFA (didn’t pass yet, but still considering continuing)
– Meanwhile, Im trying to improve my financial skills, so I follow some CFI courses to get certificates
– Actively applying to jobs in Germany but not getting traction so far
– Trying to learn German (using Duolingo and DW learn German apps)
I’m trying to understand what actually works in real life, not just what’s written online.
For those who made it:
– Did you secure a job before moving, or move first and search locally?
– How did you handle visa sponsorship in practice?
– What made your profile “click” with German employers?
– Did you tailor your CV specifically to the German market?
– How long did the whole process realistically take you?
Right now, I feel like I might be missing something strategic; whether it’s positioning, skills, or approach. (My goal is to secure a job within 12-18 months).
Any concrete advice, experiences (even failures), or things you wish you knew earlier would really help.
(The picture is just to get more attention).
Thanks a lot 🙏
https://i.redd.it/3xwqwygodryg1.jpeg
Posted by Automatic_Fuel_5883
38 Comments
In 99% of all cases, no German = no job
That means b2 at a minimum, probably c1 or higher.
Do you have working experience/ working student/ intern at a big german company in germany?
Most of ppl here got a full time job conversion after working from working student/intern at a german company, or with significant working experience, in addition to very fluent english and B1 or B2 german.
Short answer: Language
Maybe ask in r/Germany_Jobs as well.
And as others already mentioned, without sufficient knowledge in German it will be extra hard. The German job market is really tight at the moment, as the economy is quite stagnant.
If you’re serious about this, you’ll have the most traction if you speak German. Duolingo is a waste of your time if you’re serious about learning. You need a structured plan (could be a course) with lots of speaking practice, feedback, and to study daily.
That said, I was hired into Germany without German, but I WAS already in Europe, I had 10+ years of experience, and it was very different job market in 2022 than it is today.
What country is your master’s degree from? You need to check if it’s recognized by Germany to start, or if you can get it recognized. https://anabin.kmk.org/cms/public/startseite. This process alone takes months and is a prerequisite for many visas.
If your bachelors is recognized but not your master’s, you could pursue another masters in Germany, which would give you an “in” and some visa advantages.
Finally, if you speak French already, you would probably have an easier time (not EASY, but easier) getting into a treasury role in Paris than in Germany without German.
– International companies
– Take regular risks
– Work in tech
– Be assertive about your strengths
– Build a brand around your strengths
Not an immgrant myself but in my work life i met a lot of immigrants from middle eastern and african countries with degrees but they ended up in shitty low wage jobs because their degrees didn’t get recognized in Germany
I moved from New York City to Cologne in October 2025 for a job. The timeline from when I started applying jobs to when I finally got a job was about 8-9 months and 250+ applications (I was applying to roles in both Berlin and Cologne).
For context, I’m a senior marketing manager with 15 years experience and an MBA. My German skills were roughly B1 while interviewing (I successfully did interviews in German / Denglish). The job I accepted was in a field I had experience in while living in the US and supposedly would be in English with some need for German. The salary was good (for Germany / in the top 25% for the role based on the gov salary data) and qualified for the EU Blue Card. I had to do all the paperwork myself as the company had only ~15 employees in their office, so they weren’t ready/able to help.
I was so eager to move that I overlooked a bunch of red flags during the interview process. I ended up having the worst working experience of my life and getting fired in March 2026 during my Probezeit (and subsequently learning I was the 3rd person they’d hired and fired in this role in a year!). I’ve luckily landed a new job and start Monday.
If I could go back in time, I wouldn’t have even THOUGHT about getting a job in Germany without a MINIMUM B2 German (real B2, not passing the test, but having the actual knowledge). The language is a must-have and don’t listen to anyone who says otherwise. The city is lovely and the people are fine. I just wish I were back home, but I can’t afford to leave, so I’m making the best of it and hoping things get better with my new job.
International/ CFA isn’t worth much in Germany.
Germany requires German language and an understanding of German accounting standard la and tax law which vary a lot from CFA.
Getting a job when you are not I. Germany already is essentially impossible except in area where companies are truly truly desperate. There are simply too many risks and it is too time consuming.
There is basically no visa sponsorship to speak of.
Yes, you 100% need a German style resume.
I got my first job from the first company I approached. But that wasn’t during an economic stagnant period and it was a cooking job.
Good luck.
Need C1 German and preferably a German degree. Even then, there is no gurantee because of the current job market. I know people who had both and still could not manage a job in an Engineering field(Not automotive). So I do not think it is wise to take a huge risk to leave a job and come to Germany and having hope to find a job from outside of Germany.
1. Language, language, language.
2. Only aim for big companies, Stay away from small companies to be safe and not get fired in few months during your probezeit (aka periode d’essai), because that will eventually get you in trouble with the Ausländerbehörde and also will get u in a sticky financial situation ( you need at least 1200 € a month to survive.)
3. Easier way would be to get enrolled in a german university for an other masters degree and start from there.
The job market in germany is currently struggling, so finding a job while still being in morocco is gonna be hard work.
Native level German speaking skills and cultural assimilation, convincing CV, drive to excel and graduating from a top-tier university.
Anyone is citing others experience meanwhile having very well paid jobs . Learn the language give it a shot , life is too short to not try . Trust me you will do great but expect some ups and downs…
One of the most important steps for you will be getting your degree officially recognized in Germany, as others have already mentioned.
Also, I would strongly recommend moving beyond Duolingo. It’s more of a game than a real learning tool. If you’re serious about working here, focus on reaching at least a solid B2 level in German through structured learning.
Do you have any exposure to German GAAP (HGB)? It’s not always essential for treasury roles, but it can definitely strengthen your profile, especially when working closely with accounting and reporting.
The finance job market is not as oversaturated as IT or tech. Strong finance professionals are still in demand, and companies often struggle to find the right people.
The key is your positioning. Be very clear about what you want to do and where you’re heading. Reflect that consistently in your CV (German layout of course) and LinkedIn profile. When a recruiter opens your profile, they should understand within 10 seconds what roles you’re targeting.
If you’re getting contacted for roles that don’t match your goals, it’s usually a sign that your positioning isn’t clear enough yet. This goes in hand with applying to jobs selectively. Apply only to roles you actually want to get. The market will answer. I didn’t believe it, but it really works.
Be determined, be fierce. Good luck 🍀
EU countries aren’t hiring from neighboring EU countries. So unless you are an expert in a very niche skill, your chances are 0.
Learn German, upscale your qualifications per German standards, in case you haven’t yet. It’s going to be a long road. Start early
Off topic, but I can smell the urine in that picture.
If you don’t speak German, don’t even try it.
For CV in finance just use Harvard CV, it works on the German finance market as well, I can vouch for that.
As for language skills, if you can’t speak German your choice of companies significantly lowers.
I’ve worked for private banks, dax finance companies, European big banks, big 4 and other financial services.
Almost everyone of them required at least b1 german.
Only two of them did not care about it because the employees were really internationals.
With your experience and skills your only likely barrier is language. Duolingo is a waste of time to learn a language functional enough to help you find work.
You learn a language on Duolingo if you’re going on a vacation.
25m, work in tobacco north Germany, on 75k with 1 year experience, company will sponsor permanent residence
Finance jobs, especially in traditional German banks, require C1/C2 German. You should be able to master it professionally, and be able to talk it well, as most clients are in DACH. In particular, IBs, portfolio and asset managers. Quant startups are more flexible. Also, if you a more of a quant or data scientist (like me), where coding and math offset German. Plus, from experience, > 90% of the floor can be sometimes male.
I suggest you try London, Paris, Luxembourg, Amsterdam or Brussels instead. Zurich may or may not require advanced German.
Visa sponsorship is actually quite easy in Germany, as long as you earn enough you can get a blue card. There has to be though no other local candidates or from the EU as qualified as you, by law. Another issue is how slow the procedure can be, both at the consulate and within Germany. These factors discourage hiring from abroad, as it slows down things to a crawl…
CFA would definitely improve your CV. But language will be a show stopper outside of quant startups.
(Not trolling) since you’re from Morocco do you speak French fluently? If yes, why not try France? At least the language part of the equation is solved
Hi, I am in a management position, not in finance, but in corporate world. I agree, that language is a must. Even for IT, language is a must if you want to climb the career ladder. I think your best chance is to work in an international company/bank in your own country and try to find a position in Germany inside the same company.
Job first, moved once signed. No visa, i have citizenship. I clicked because of my network, and I came in highly recommended because of an extremely successful project in the country i was living in, and they wanted me to help such big successes in europe too. Yes, my cv and cover letters are always tailored to each individual role i have ever applied to. It took about 7 months from application to starting the job in germany.
The current state of the job market is extremely tough even for native Germans and those who speak the language fluently. Your chances get better if you spoke C1 German and were based out of Germany.
Skip Duolingo and learn the language through language centres like Göthe as that would lead you to a certificate recognised here.
Don’t beat yourself up if you haven’t received any interview calls yet as it is unlikely to happen when the above criteria are not satisfied. Your profile would not be the issue at the moment. If you do have a job then the best option would be to keep working while you get your German up to C1 and then think of coming to Germany on a Chancenkarte when the markets look better than what it is now. All the best!
Applied in 2015 from an EU country, showed a c/o German address (didn’t ask for relocation help), had no German but a very solid professional background, including Big4. Targeted only English-speaking companies, set my target to learn German. It took ~6 months to land my first job. Since then, I have changed jobs, but with one exception, have always stuck with international companies. Simply like the environment better. I would say – set your goal, prioritize (you want the certificate or not? You want to be B2? Then private lessons (e.g. italki) is the way). Don’t half-ass it. Dedication and hard work pay off, if you have a clear vision where you want to be.
I moved with A1 German and found a job within 3 months but this comes with a load of caveats:
– I am a software developer, and while I didn’t have job experience (I did a boot camp before moving), it was a very good market at the time (2019).
– I moved for a German girl, so I had someone to help me navigate the ausländerbehörde, which is a nightmare.
– I moved to Hamburg where there are many English speaking jobs (in tech).
– I am American so English is my native language and I was able to travel to Germany visa free for 3 months
– it was before COVID and I went to every tech related meetup I could and that’s how I met my first boss.
– it was insanely stressful even with all that working in my favor.
For you it seems unlikely that you would find a job working in English. As others have said Duolingo will never get you anywhere close to the B2/C1 language level you’ll need.
That being said, if you do find a job, they will help you with the visa. You should try and enroll in an immersive German course if you can. You also might want to try and find an Ansprechpartner online. Somebody that wants to practice English, or your native language, and then they will also speak German with you.
Also lots of people have success watching shows in German which can give you a better feel for the natural flow of the language. The Germans dub everything so if you have a favorite American show try re-watching in German as you’ll already have context.
And while you’ll see lots of gloom and doom on this sub, for me Germany is totally worth it. I got my citizenship in October, which I’m very proud of and have no plans to ever leave.
Nowadays there is also a job seeker visa that allows you to come and look for work in situ (Chancenkarte). That would help in the context of a gap year thing, where you come to learn / practice the language to C1/C2. But I recommend you do the courses and diplomas abroad as they are super expensive in Germany.
I moved to Germany in the end of 2023. If you don’t need a visa sponsorship – better to learn German asap and make efforts to start speaking German. Even with B1 certificate you can’t find any job if you can’t speak German.
If you need a visa sponsorship – you can’t skip learning German because the most of local companies are trash and pays peanuts. 99% companies don’t hire abroad. The best companies here use English as main language and provide sponsorships.
No chance if your are not near native in German. The job market is shit even for highly skilled and educated Germans or perfectly fluent EU citizens.
As many people here have already pointed out, the German language is quite important to any career here.
I’d be happy to be a sparring partner when it comes to German and Germany in general, just send me a DM
It’s massively easier to get a job when you’re in the country. I had no success applying from outside but once I moved here I had a job in like 2 months. I’m a civil engineer so YMMV.
1. get proper language certificates C1 from a recognized institute. Even if the job you get doesn’t need German at all, don’t waste time with apps.
2. CV must be in the German style unless the company specifically said otherwise.
no point sending applications without those imho, especially in the current job market situation.
You have to see that companies here don’t like to take chances, so I don’t see them taking a risk of hiring someone who isn’t already here and “integrated” (not impossible though)
In my case, it took about a year to get an offer, though I’m pretty sure the whole thing could have concluded sooner had I not been so adamant about my salary expectation. I was still living abroad. Tens of phone & video interviews, seven in-person interviews. I actually knew B2+ German, but had not spoken in years, so the interviews were mostly in English, with a few minutes where we would chat in German. By the last interview, it had all come back to me and we spoke German throughout. That was the one that worked out, which I don’t think was a coincidence.
What made it click and got me the interviews in the first place, was, again, that I already knew German.
Questions a German hiring manager will have in their heads when interviewing a foreign candidate will be:
“I have no idea about the work culture in Morocco, will they be able to adapt to ours?” You have to remember, most Germans have an orientalistic view of Muslim societies.
“Will they be able to adapt to life in Germany or will they decide it’s not for them after a few months, quit and go back?” This is often overlooked. They are not just trying to gauge whether you can do the job, but also whether you will stay on. They don’t want to start the whole thing over six months after you start.
Requiring a sponsorship will be deal breaker, but you should not need one. Look up the EU blue card, learn the basics and educate HR departments and hiring managers about it.
I have come through a public Hochschule and did my master, had a good amount of odd jobs to germanize my experience and I ended up finding my current place, and now I am permanent resident and soon citizen.
Unless you speak some other major language, it will be impossible to find a job if you don’t speak German. You definitely need a level of B2 minimum. My husband „made it“ cause he speaks Japanese and he was lucky they needed someone for Japans market.
I „made“ it cause I studied German in the university, so I speak it quite fluently, together with many other languages.
Your first step, get German language certificates.
Then try to make connections. There are a lot of job expos for example that you can check out. Having a CV in German is also very important (check out all the rules they have how to write them, they’re very picky).
1) I came to Germany back in 2020 on a student loan and a scholarship and found a Werkstudent job about a month and a half after settling here.
2) Difficult to say and it does depend on sector. All I can say that it depends on your level of German and your pad experience.
3) thankfully as an EU citizen I never ever had to deal with that bullshit. My heart does go out to you if you have to visit the Ausländerbehörde.
4) Obviously – remember, this is Germsny, they have different ways of CV and cover letter than, say, Greece – where I come from.
5) I had a job lined up before graduation but that was in 2022.
The only thing I can tell you – learn German. I can’t stress this enough. The German labour market is not as bad as in Greece or France BUT it’s stagnant and it’s getting more competitive out there. You will face an uphill battle. Aim for the C2 level in German but even at the C1 you should have chances.