Between Studies and Work: Organize Your Time Properly

Graduates who hold a degree certificate can apply for an extension of their residence permit at the competent immigration office. The 18-month period only begins after the written announcement of the final exam and its result. Deregistration or the date of certificate issuance is not important at this stage.

During this period, international students are also allowed to work in Germany. So, for you, it's also best to find a suitable job to earn your living:

• Secondary work, temporary work, or transitional employment after graduation, such as jobs at trade fairs, office activities, restaurants, call centers, product testers.
• Temporary work offers the opportunity to explore different fields; versatile candidates can improve their skills there. If you don't know where to go, you can explore different fields and get valuable advice. With a side job, you can earn money and gain practical experience while waiting to find your first real job. If this job is also related to your desired field, in that case you're killing two birds with one stone.
• Work contracts (Werkvertrag): This type of contractual relationship is a form of free cooperation: while an employment contract is concluded for a clearly defined project and ends with its implementation, freelance contracts provide the basis for regular assignments without an employment contract being established. These work relationships not only serve to reduce unemployment but are also sometimes an introduction to a permanent position or self-employment later.
• Second internship: It can be beneficial to do a second internship after graduation, for example if you haven't acquired specific skills during your studies and are having difficulty starting your career. Or if as a graduate you still have no idea what you want to be and you're looking for direction. For people who finish their studies because they realize they don't want to work in this field, an internship also offers the possibility of changing direction.
• Volunteer activities, such as helping refugees, visiting elderly people in institutions, and participating in education projects. Volunteering and social engagement look great on any CV. It's much more convincing than describing yourself in the cover letter as a team player, conscientious and socially competent, without being able to prove it. The chances of being hired by an NGO also increase.

The possibilities are many

The following points should be considered during your job search:

• What degree did you obtain?
• What internships did you complete?
• What qualifications did you acquire? (scholarships, IT skills, training, foreign languages, publications)
• What interests you?

The majority of graduates are interested in direct access to the labor market, but this isn't the only option you have. Here are the choices you can make after the 18-month period:

Direct Access

This access corresponds to the classic method: you look for a suitable job, apply, get the position, and hopefully pass the probationary period. Temporary work is currently very popular and should be considered. As a graduate, your primary goal is to get a suitable job with acceptable pay. It doesn't matter if you're offered a fixed-term contract — usually for one or two years. This way, the probationary period will be extended and the workforce will be more flexible, meaning that securing the job at the end of the deadline is far from guaranteed. After all, no one can take away the experience you've gained.

Trainee Position

A trainee position is also considered a direct entry but should follow a well-defined plan to serve the purpose of being able to hold management positions later. To this end, trainees are professionally trained in the company and go through all important departments to get the most comprehensive overview possible, but they're generally paid less than direct employees.

Further Education

If you still can't find a job after completing your Master's degree with good results, you're in a privileged position. As an associate researcher at your university during a doctorate, you'll be paid according to the public service contract of the states (TV-L), in which doctoral students belong to level E13, meaning a full-time position at a university in North Rhine-Westphalia, you can earn about €3,500 gross per month.

Self-Employment

It's permitted; however, it must be related to the qualifications acquired during your studies. So in this case, your livelihood must be guaranteed. To start a self-employed activity, you need to apply for a residence permit at the competent immigration office (legal basis: § 21 para. 2a AufenthG). You need to register the business (at the business registration office or the public order office to apply) or get a tax number from the tax office. You should also inform yourself at the founders' advisory center or chambers of commerce about the permits you need to submit.

After finding a job, the previous residence permit can be converted to a residence permit for employment purposes (legal basis: §18 AufenthG). The work must be suitable for the qualifications you obtained, so it must be a job that requires a university degree. The income should be sufficient to ensure your livelihood. Graduates are expected to hold a decent job that guarantees them a livelihood. This only becomes problematic when you apply for social benefits. That would endanger your residence permit.

After two years of work under certain conditions, a settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) is issued, meaning a permanent right of residence. If all prerequisites are met (including good German language skills), you'll be entitled to naturalization (Einbürgerung) after eight years. The study period in Germany also counts in most federal states.

3. Attention! No Priority Check Required!

Although a German, EU, or EEA (European Economic Area) person is eligible for employment, employers can hire foreign graduates. Because graduates from German universities with a recognized university degree are approved for employment corresponding to their qualification without a "priority check." This means there's no need to ask the Federal Employment Agency if another person is eligible for the job. (Legal basis: Article 2, paragraph 3, BeschV). In this case, the foreign authority decides itself whether the Federal Employment Agency needs to be involved or not.

Foreign university graduates who earn a salary below the required amount for the Blue Card* can also take a job without the approval of the Federal Employment Agency.

"*" A common EU high-level residence permit (European Blue Card) was included in the Residence Act for foreign nationals with university qualifications or equivalent and a minimum gross annual salary of €53,600. Exception: the issuance of a European Blue Card to natural science specialists, mathematicians, and engineers as well as doctors and IT specialists is based on a lower salary threshold of €41,808.