There was a large turnout at the job and training fair for refugees on 19 November 2025 in the Rottenburg Festhalle. For three hours, companies and people from all over the world took the opportunity to talk about jobs, internships and training places. The event was organised by the Department of Integration at the Tübingen District Office. At the end, a number of promising agreements had been reached.
Half an hour before the start, the head of district administration, Landrat Hendrik Bednarz went out on a limb: ‘Many people say that foreigners are lazy and can’t do anything. If that were true, the hall would be deserted today,’ he said into the camera for an Instagram reel. Deserted? Not at all. Long before the official opening, the first job and training seekers had arrived at the hall. Twenty-two companies—from master painters to the district savings bank and from logistics companies to Bergfreunde—presented their offers. For the next two hours, the small information stands were crowded. An estimated 200 interested people took the opportunity to find out about jobs and training opportunities. The event was supported by the district of Tübingen, the Federal Employment Agency, the job centre and the city of Rottenburg.
Trial work in assembly
For some, it went really well. Farmalluah is 17 years old and came to Germany alone. He is still at school. But he will be able to do a trial work placement at the R&P-Montagen company in Kiebingen at the beginning of next year. ‘Are you afraid of heights?’ asks boss Peggy Enkelmann. Farmalluah shakes his head, as he does when asked if he would mind staying overnight when working away from home. Bernadette Löffler, a social education worker from the Diasporahaus who is accompanying her protégé, is delighted. Half an hour later, the formalities with the Jobcentre have already been sorted out.
Anna Neklesa is also hopeful. She is currently standing in a long queue to have a professional application photo taken by the trade fair photographer. Her shoulder bag is full of brochures. The trained masseuse from Ukraine, who came to Germany in 2022, is primarily interested in a job in nursing. However, she would also be willing to work as a sales assistant or do an apprenticeship.
The fact that interest in jobs in nursing remains very high was also evident at the Rottenburg Hospital Foundation stand. According to the stand, there was demand for both apprenticeships and jobs, with many people from Syria and Turkey as well as Ukraine expressing interest in this sector.
Internship with a painter
Apprenticeships are also available at Samuel Wöllper’s master painter and varnisher business. ‘We have found someone who wants to do an internship with us during the carnival holidays,’ says the master painter from Rottenburg. This could be a stepping stone, as good interns are shortlisted when applying for an apprenticeship. Other interested parties also found their way to the stand. In many cases, the problem is language, says Wöllper. A B2 level is required. Although it is possible to communicate with less German on a construction site, trainees without sufficient language skills will reach their limits at vocational school at the latest.
Teachers and electricians
The demand at the Randstad personnel service provider spans all sectors. A Ukrainian transport engineer with a recognised professional qualification, a teacher, a lorry driver and a Moroccan electrician—these are just a few of the people who stopped by the company’s stand and left their personal details. Marc Cramer, Randstad’s manager for labour market projects, is confident. The company offers a wide range of jobs, from warehouse workers to skilled workers and engineers.
Meva and his friend are still a long way from finding skilled work. But they wanted to look for a job anyway. The two have only recently arrived from India and have applied for asylum. They are aware that their prospects are not particularly good.
Amin exudes more confidence. He came from Afghanistan last year, where he worked as a hotel manager and later in the president’s office, as he explains. He stands confidently in front of the camera to have his passport photo added to his CV. He would also like to work in the hotel industry in Germany. He has no shortage of language skills. ‘I speak English, Persian and Pashto,’ he says in German. After just one year, he has already passed the B2 level exam.
Those who found the German language even more difficult were able to turn to interpreters. Sergey Heidebrecht alone supported around 15 visitors as a volunteer translator for Russian and Ukrainian. tuenews INTERNATIONAL had prepared a special service for the participating companies: they were able to present themselves in a video interview for the website.
These are now available on Instagram (tuenews.deutsch).
Organisers satisfied
Sven Jäger from the Integration Department of the Tübingen District Office is satisfied at the end of the event. ‘It was another great success,’ said the department head about the second job and training fair this year. Even at the opening, he was convinced ‘that many refugees are eager to work.’ The fair is an opportunity to find a job with low barriers to entry. District Administrator Hendrik Bednarz pointed out that as a prosperous region in Baden-Württemberg, skilled workers are needed: ‘We are also dependent on people from other countries.’ Manuela Beck, Mayor of Finance and Education in Rottenburg, reminded attendees that work is not just about income. ‘It also creates social contacts.’
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By Brigitte Gisel
tun 25112001