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Germany has a robust employment infrastructure. Millions of foreign migrants live and work in the country. They regularly send remittances to their home nations via trusted channels such as the Ria Money Transfer App. There are many employment opportunities for international students as well. German law makes it easy for foreign students to find part-time employment. Here is a look at some job options which have expanded since COVID-19.

Home delivery

International students can earn EUR 12-18 per hour working as home delivery executives. Because of the necessity of working from home most Germans are asking for things to be delivered to them. Restaurants, grocery stores, and other retailers are hiring staff for making deliveries. Applicants should ideally be proficient in English and German. International students can explore job portals like TheLocal.de or Monster Germany for such jobs. It also helps to inquire with local stores and restaurants directly.

Home delivery work requires a valid driving license. Driving licenses from other EU nations are valid in Germany. Licenses issued from countries outside the EU and the EEA are valid for up to 6 months. Licenses in any language other than English or German must be translated into German. The General German Automobile Club (Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil Club or ADAC) does this for EUR 40-60. Within 6 months foreigners must have their foreign licenses converted to German permits. This costs another EUR 35.

Pet sitting

This is suitable for those who love being around furry friends. The average hourly rate is EUR 10.36. International students working as pet sitters can make up for limited working hours on weekday s by working full days during the weekends. Get listed on community sites like Petbacker.com or Pawshake.de to find jobs like these. Join local Facebook job seeker groups. Dog walking is another job option. Germany introduced a new law this year regarding dog walking. It makes it compulsory for pet owners to walk their dogs twice a day. Dog walking pays EUR 5-10 for two walks per day. Combining it with pet sitting might be a viable option.

Tutoring

International students are often bilingual. One part-time job option for students with great language skills is tutoring. Most universities offer language classes. Yet, many newcomer students opt for additional tutoring to learn at their own pace and convenience. One can find clients by advertising on university notice boards. Tutoring is also possible in other subjects. It can earn EUR 10-15 per hour per student. Working as an online tutor is a practical new option in the time of social distancing.

Digital marketer

In addition to language proficiency the only real requirement for this job is a thorough knowledge of social media marketing. Conventional marketing has declined. Big retailers and large organizations have shifted almost completely to digital marketing. Small shops and small scale businesses which relied on footfall are struggling. They require cost effective digital marketing services. International students who study digital marketing are perfect for this job. Gigs are available on freelance job platforms such as Fiverr and Upwork. These jobs pay anywhere between EUR 5-8 per hour to start with. For skilled marketers this can quickly turn into a high paying job.

Twitch/YouTube streamer

Watching video game streams or ‘passion channels’ on Twitch and YouTube is now considered a legitimate source of entertainment. There is no such thing as too many streamers. Students can earn from their hobbies by starting a Twitch stream or a YouTube channel. It could be about video game walkthroughs, compilation of internet videos, and the like. Revenue is generated from monthly subscriptions and donations from viewers. Depending on the number of hits streamers can earn EUR 200-300 every month. If the channel becomes popular there is almost no upper limit to the income.

Graphic design

International students with great graphic design skills should consider working freelance. Graphic designers are in high demand on platforms like Upwork, Truelancer, and Freelancer. Small businesses and stores require logos, artwork, illustrations, and other graphic work done for their websites. Build a portfolio on one or more of these sites and earn EUR 6-10 per hour regularly while gaining some experience.  Creative agencies on LinkedIn are also good options to get part time or full time work during term breaks.

Eligibility and criteria

International students in Germany can legally work for up to 20 hours per week. This translates to 120 full days or 240 half days per year. German employment regulations define a ‘full day’ as 8 hours for work, and a ‘half day’ as 4 hours. There is also a tax-free upper limit of EUR 450 monthly. Anything earned over EUR 450 attracts tax deductions. Depending on the surplus you must also contribute to pension payments. Students earning less than EUR 8,130 in a year can get their taxes refunded.

Focus on language skills. Ideally get certified at German level B2 or higher before arriving in Deutschland. The employability of international students dramatically improves with German language proficiency. Fluent speakers of German can further widen their job options by contacting their local Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit).

About the author:

Hemant G is a contributing writer at Sparkwebs LLC, a Digital and Content Marketing Agency. When he’s not writing, he loves to travel, scuba dive, and watch documentaries.