Germany is going through a difficult phase with the economy now, and most people who come here are finding it really hard to find a job. Especially if you’re new to the country or applying from abroad.
And in such cases, knowing where to look becomes just as important as what you’re looking for.
I’m going to walk you through some of the main platforms where you can search for a job in Germany. And towards the end, I’ll also share a list of some lesser-known job portals. The ones most people don’t talk about.
1. Stepstone: The Premium Option
Let’s start with one of the biggest names out there StepStone.
Now, this platform has been around for over 20 years in Germany. And in that time, it’s built a pretty solid reputation. Most top companies when they want to hire, they go straight to StepStone.
So if you’re someone aiming for a stable, well-paid role at a big company whether it’s in engineering, IT, finance, or sales this is a great place to start.
It’s also super simple to use. Just type in the kind of job you’re looking for, add your city, and it pulls up everything that matches.
And then you can filter based on your preferences. You can also make a profile, upload your CV, and even let companies reach out to you.
But there is a catch. StepStone gets over 67 million visits a month. Even though that means more jobs, there is also a lot of competition for those jobs. And since it’s expensive for companies to post here, smaller businesses and startups often skip it.
So while you’ll see plenty of high-paying jobs from big names… you’re not really seeing the entire job market.
2. Indeed – The Web Crawler
Now, if StepStone is where the big companies hang out, Indeed takes the opposite approach. It crawls the internet pulling job openings directly from company websites and other job portals. So, you’ll see more listings on Indeed than you would on StepStone.
But then, because it pulls information from everywhere, the results can get a little messy. For example, you might be searching for a tech job in Berlin… and suddenly you’re looking at a bartender role in some village you’ve never even heard of.
But if you’re someone who doesn’t want to miss any opportunity and you’re okay with doing a little cleanup Indeed is a great place to start.
3. LinkedIn: The Match Maker
Now let’s talk about LinkedIn. This is less like a job portal and more like a professional network. Once you set up your profile with your skills, experience, past jobs, and all that LinkedIn quietly starts working in the background and starts recommending jobs that actually match your profile.
And sometimes, recruiters might even reach out to you directly. It’s super useful especially if you’re short on time or prefer a more passive way of job hunting.
But here’s the thing if you want to actually get noticed, your profile has to stand out.
Most people just fill in the basics and forget about it. But if you can put together a strong, well-optimized profile, then LinkedIn will do the rest.
4. Monster – The Fit Checker
Monster’s been around for a while. It’s actually one of the oldest job platforms out there, not just in Germany, but globally. And with around 35 million visits every month, is still going strong. Here you’ll find jobs across all kinds of industries tech, sales, healthcare, pretty much everything.
And there’s one cool feature that really makes Monster stand out. “Job-Fit Scoring.” When you look at a job post, Monster gives you a quick match score based on your profile. When you check out a job post, Monster gives you a quick match score based on your profile.
It shows how well you fit the role or how well the role fits you. It’s super helpful and saves you from wasting time applying to jobs that clearly aren’t the right match.
They’ve also got resume tools, job alerts, and career tips built right in. So even if you’re not 100% sure what you want yet, Monster gives you enough to get started.
5. Xing – The German Network
Now if you’ve heard of LinkedIn, think of Xing as its German cousin.
It’s also a professional networking platform like LinkedIn, but more focused on Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
So if you’re trying to break into the local job market or build connections with professionals here, Xing is definitely worth checking out.
You set up a profile, add your skills and experience, and from there, recruiters can actually find you. The platform is not about applying to 1000 jobs.
It’s more about showing up in the right searches. So if you prefer a more chill, low-pressure job search Xing might just be your thing.
Even though it’s catered to the German market, the platform supports English. So even if your German isn’t perfect yet, you can still use it and apply for jobs.
I actually found my job in Germany through Xing, so yeah… I’ve always had a soft spot for it and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to find a job here.
6. Arbeitnow – The Expat Platform
Arbeitsnow’s founding story is interesting. It was actually started by an expat who got tired of all the job portals that only catered to those who knew German. So he built something different something that helps internationals find jobs in Germany.
Most of the jobs posted here are in English. And the whole experience is super clean. No sign-ups. No spammy popups. You just land on the site, and click what you’re looking for.
Now, Arbeitnow leans a bit more toward tech, design, and digital roles but it’s still a general job board.
You’ll find a mix of things if you dig deep enough. It’s fast, simple, and honestly, one of the best platforms out there.
7. Stellenanzeigen.de – The Local Platform
Next up is Stellenanzeigen.de a platform that’s been quietly doing a really solid job in the German job market. They’ve got over 700,000 registered users and get more than 3 million visits a month.
But what really makes it stand out is its reach. Stellenanzeigen doesn’t just post jobs on its own site it also partners with regional newspapers.
That means you’ll find a lot of local or region-specific roles that might not show up on bigger platforms. They’ve also got career tips and helpful tools to guide you along the way.
8. Jobvector – The STEM Platform
Jobvector is the platform for you if you’re in one of the STEM fields so if you’re into biology, chemistry, physics, medicine, engineering, or IT, this is where you should be looking.
Recruiters here actually expect applicants to have a scientific background so you’re not wasting time competing with people from unrelated fields.
The interface is clean and easy to use., and it’s one of the best places to start if you’re in STEM.
9. Jobs.de – The Straight Forward Platform
Jobs.de is a pretty straightforward platform. It’s a general job board that covers a wide range of industries. Now, it’s not the flashiest site out there but it gets the job done. You’ll find plenty of listings across different fields, and they’ve got built-in career tips and resume advice to help you out.
10. Zuhausejobs.com – The Remote Platform
If you want to work from home, then Zuhausejobs.com is one of the best platforms out there. The website is clean and easy to use, and most of the jobs posted here are fully remote. You can also browse through companies to see who’s hiring and what kind of roles they offer. So if working from your sofa or a beach café is your thing, this is a great place to start.
Now let’s talk about some of Germany’s government-backed job portals.
11. Arbeitsagentur – The Official One
Arbeitsagentur is Germany’s official job platform, run by the government and easily one of the most trusted out there.
Now, I’ll be honest it’s not as slick or user-friendly as StepStone or LinkedIn. But if you can get past that, it’s totally worth exploring.
It covers a huge range of sectors not just full-time jobs, but also vocational training, apprenticeships, and dual-study programs.
And other than just job listings, they offer career counseling, job placement support, and even training programs to boost your skills.
12. Bund.de The Government Job Portal
If you’re aiming for a job in the public sector, then Bund.de is the place to be. It’s the official portal for government job listings. So if you’re looking at administration, education, or other public service positions, this is where they show up.
Now, like most government sites, it’s entirely in German but that’s to be expected when you’re dealing with public-sector work. But if you’re someone looking for stable, long-term employment in Germany’s public system, Bund.de is perfect.
13. EURES – The European Portal
EURES is a solid option if you’re thinking beyond just Germany and looking across the EU. It’s the official European job portal, run by the European Labour Authority, and it connects job seekers with employers all over Europe.
So if you’re open to relocating or just exploring all your options within the EU, this is a great place to start. You’ll find job listings, info on living and working in different countries, and even support with things like relocation and visa processes.
14. Make it in Germany – The International Portal
If you’re an international skilled worker planning to move to Germany or you’ve already arrived Make it in Germany should be one of the first sites you visit.
It’s run by the German government and built specifically for people like you. To make your move and job search as smooth as possible. Along with job listings, you will also find practical info on visa rules, qualifications, and even tips on how to settle in once you’ve landed the job.
So yeah, if you genuinely want to make it in Germany this is where you should go.
15. Local Offers
Here’s something most people completely overlook in their job search your local city or municipal websites.
Almost every town, city, or district in Germany has its own little job portal. And these aren’t just for government jobs. You’ll find local public sector roles, school admin positions, city planning jobs, and even internships or apprenticeships.
And here’s the thing these jobs often don’t show up on big platforms like StepStone or Indeed. So if you’re only checking those, you’re probably missing out on a ton of local opportunities.
To find these portals, just Google your city’s name followed by “Stellenangebote” which means job offers. For example: “Berlin Stellenangebote” Yeah, most of these sites are in German.
But they’re regularly updated and give you access to verified openings especially if your job search is focused on a specific region.
So that was a quick breakdown of the best job portals in Germany and as you probably noticed, there’s no one-size-fits-all here.
It really depends on your situation, your field, your skills, and how flexible you want your work life to be. So don’t just stick to one platform.
Try a few. See what works for you. The more doors you knock on, the better your chances of finding the one that opens.