How do you find your first internship or working student position?

Finding your first internship (Praktikum) or working student (Werkstudent) position requires proactive strategies and the right channels.

#When to Start Your Search

#Master's 1st Semester (October-March)

• Prioritize academic adaptation.
• Prepare your CV and portfolio.
• Be active on LinkedIn.

#End of Master's 1st Semester (March-May)

✅ Start applying for your first internship (for the summer period). ✅ Internships (Praktikum) typically last 3-6 months — summer break is ideal.

#Master's 2nd Semester (April-September)

✅ For a working student (Werkstudent) position, aim for a September-October start. ✅ Transitioning to a working student role is easier if you've completed an internship.

#5 Ways to Find Positions

#1. Online Job Platforms

#LinkedIn DE

✅ Most active (Turkish and international students) ✅ Filters: "Werkstudent", "Praktikum", location, industry ✅ Premium membership (29.99 €/month - 50% student discount) for InMail

#Stepstone.de

✅ Classic German job board ✅ Covers all sectors ✅ Filter: "Werkstudent", "Praktikum"

#Indeed.de

✅ Large pool of listings ✅ Company comparisons ✅ Easy filtering

#Stellenanzeigen.de

✅ More local German listings ✅ Small to medium-sized companies

#XING (German LinkedIn)

✅ German-speaking professionals ✅ Preferred by local German companies

#2. Company Career Pages

#Large German Companies (DAX 30)

• BMW Group Karriere
• Daimler Mercedes-Benz Karriere
• SAP Career
• Siemens Karriere
• Bosch Karriere
• Volkswagen Karriere
• Adidas Career

#International Tech

• Microsoft Career (Germany)
• Amazon DE / AWS Career
• Google DE Career
• Salesforce DE Career

#Consulting

• McKinsey Career (Germany)
• BCG Career (Germany)
• Deloitte Career
• PwC, EY, KPMG

#3. University Career Center

#Services

✅ Free CV check (German/English) ✅ Mock interview practice ✅ Career Fairs — 2-3 times annually ✅ Mentorship programs

#Career Fair Benefits

• Meet recruiters face-to-face
• Interact with 5-10 companies on the same day
• Submit CVs + preliminary interviews

#4. Networking and Referrals

#Direct Professor Communication

• Apply to professors for Hilfskraft (student assistant) positions
• Send an email + CV
• Small chats after class (networking)

#Alumni (Turkish)

• Search on LinkedIn
• Connect with people who graduated from the same university
• Request help (within ethical boundaries)

#DAAD Alumni Turkey

• LinkedIn group / events
• Former Turkish scholarship holders in Germany
• Job referrals + references

#5. Social Media + Forums

#Create LinkedIn Content

• 2-3 posts per week (industry/study-focused)
• Comment on target company posts
• Profile views increase 3-4 times

#Reddit Germany

• /r/germany — practical advice
• /r/de — local German perspective
• /r/wirklichgut (career-specific)

#Turkish Student Forums

• AlmanyaUni Turkish Community Telegram
• Facebook "Turks Living in Germany" groups

#Application Documents

#Lebenslauf (CV) — German Standard

✅ Tabular format (classic) ✅ Professional photo (mandatory) ✅ Max 2 pages ✅ All dates in DD.MM.YYYY format

#CV Sections (in order)

1. Persönliche Daten (Personal information)
2. Berufserfahrung (Work experience) — if any
3. Praktika (Internships)
4. Bildungsweg (Education — reverse chronological)
5. Sprachen (Languages) — A1-C2 classification
6. EDV-Kenntnisse (Software skills)
7. Auslandsaufenthalte (International experience)
8. Engagement (Volunteer work, clubs)
9. Interessen (Hobbies — show personality)

#Anschreiben (Cover Letter)

✅ 1 page in German/English ✅ Company-specific (no copy-paste) ✅ Structure: 1. Salutation (Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren) 2. Introduction (why this company?) 3. Your skills (with evidence) 4. Your contribution to the company 5. Request for an interview 6. Closing (Mit freundlichen Grüßen)

#Documents (Attachments)

✅ Diploma / Transcript (latest education) ✅ Certificates (language + industry) ✅ Previous work references (if any) ✅ Passport / Aufenthaltstitel (residence permit) copy (visa status)

#Approach by Position Type

#Praktikum (Internship) — 3-6 Months

✅ Verpflichtendes Praktikum (mandatory internship — part of university program) ✅ Freiwilliges Praktikum (voluntary internship) ✅ 800-1,800 € monthly (depending on industry) ✅ Academic credits may be earned

#Werkstudent (Working Student) — Ongoing

✅ 1,000-2,500 € net monthly ✅ 20 hours per week (during semester) ✅ CV enhancement

#Hilfskraft (Student Assistant) — Academic

✅ 800-1,400 € monthly (5-10 hours/week) ✅ 12-18 €/hour (TV-L tariff) ✅ Professional networking

#Mini-Job — Flexible

✅ Max 538 € monthly ✅ Zero tax/insurance ✅ Low pressure

#Sector-Based Strategy

#IT / Software Engineering

• GitHub portfolio is essential
• LeetCode + Hackerrank profile
• Open-source contributions
• Sought-after: Java, Python, React, Node.js, SQL, AWS

#Engineering (Automotive, Mechanical)

• Technical certifications (AutoCAD, SolidWorks, MATLAB)
• Highlight previous internships/projects
• Sought-after: CAD, simulation, control systems

#Marketing / Digital

• Social media analytics examples
• Google Analytics + Facebook Ads certification
• Instagram / TikTok campaign examples
• Sought-after: SEO, SEM, email marketing, content creation

#Finance / Consulting

• Advanced Excel + Modeling skills
• Bloomberg/Reuters certification (advantageous)
• CFA Level 1 (if applicable)
• Sought-after: Data analysis, reporting, presentation

#Interview Preparation

#Phone/Video Interview (15-30 min)

• HR pre-screening
• General questions (introduce yourself, why this company)
• English/German proficiency check

#Technical Interview (45-90 min)

• Sector-specific questions
• Coding/problem-solving (for IT)
• Case study (for Consulting)

#HR Interview (30-45 min)

• Cultural fit
• Behavioral questions (STAR method)
• Salary + job conditions discussion

#Final Interview (Manager)

• Specific department manager
• Detailed position discussion
• Decision within 1-3 weeks

#Common Problems and Solutions

#Problem 1: No Prior Experience

✅ Highlight university projects (especially group projects) ✅ Open-source or personal project portfolio ✅ Hackathon / competition participation

#Problem 2: Insufficient German (A2/B1)

✅ Target international companies (IT, Berlin-based) ✅ Ensure your English is excellent ✅ Develop German in parallel

#Problem 3: Not Getting Many Interview Calls

✅ Revise your CV / Anschreiben (make it company-specific) ✅ Consult your university's Career Center ✅ Do mock interviews

#Problem 4: Getting Interview Calls But No Offers

✅ Improve your interview techniques ✅ Prepare answers using the STAR method ✅ Deepen your company research

#Practical Tips

#Apply Early

✅ Start at the beginning of your Master's 1st semester — don't be late ✅ Apply for jobs 6-12 months before graduation

#Use Various Channels

✅ LinkedIn + Stepstone + Indeed + company career pages ✅ Network + Career Center ✅ Don't rely on just one channel

#Rejection is Normal

✅ 1 interview for every 10 applications is normal ✅ 1 acceptance for every 5 interviews is average ✅ Patience + continuous improvement

#Important Notes

⚠️ For non-EU students, a visa sponsor can sometimes be an additional step. ⚠️ If your German is insufficient, prioritize international companies. ⚠️ Rejection is not personal — it's a system pre-screening.

Related: When to apply for a working student position | LinkedIn DE.