If you want to get started in your career but still have to wait for your certificates to be recognized in Germany, for example, you can try to gain work experience in Germany with an internship. German language skills can also be improved during an internship in a company. In principle, anyone can apply for a voluntary internship in a company. This is probably easiest in small companies. You can find them on the Internet, for example, or while strolling around town. Why not ask in a boutique or carpentry shop whether they offer an internship? It might even lead to a real job later on. You can look for the contact person on the homepage and write an e-mail or call and ask for the person responsible. You can find information on what to look out for in internships on the website
https://praktika-berufsorientierung.de/
which is maintained by the Federal Employment Agency, among others. The website also lists other forms of internships apart from voluntary internships. The duration of a voluntary internship can be arranged flexibly.
Anyone who is registered as unemployed with the job center or employment agency must coordinate an internship and trial work with the placement specialist and have it approved. The Reutlingen employment agency points this out. This also involves insurance issues. Anyone completing a longer internship – i.e. more than three months – is subject to the minimum wage. It has been 12.84 euros since January of this year.
tun25042903
A view from Tübingen Castle over the old town in spring. Photo: tuenews INTERNATIONAL / Mostafa Elyasian.