There is a high influx of students seeking overseas education nowadays to get the best education possible, gain global exposure and experience different cultures. As of 2019, more than 6 million international students were studying abroad. Germany itself has over 400,000 overseas students enrolled in various programs at German universities. While studying abroad has many perks, the cost incurred to live and study in a country like Germany is relatively high. However, there are plenty of options for part-time jobs in Germany for international students. Part-time jobs help students save up and manage their finances, taking the burden off education loans and day-to-day expenses.
Source: Zippy Writers
There are many advantages of working while studying abroad. Here are some of the main perks of having part-time jobs in Germany for international students.
Part-time jobs will help you improve your knowledge, interpersonal skills, communication skills, time management, competence to carry out a task, and ability to learn and grow. The everyday interaction and communication with your colleagues, customers, and managers will also enhance your confidence level. You will become confident and competent to work with Germans and people from other cultural backgrounds. Work experience will improve your overall skills that will be helpful when you start your career after graduation.
The primary benefit of having a job is the money that comes with it. Germany has strict minimum wage law that requires employers to pay a minimum of 9.60 euros an hour, irrespective of the job type. On average, students earn between 10 to 15 euros an hour and a minimum of 450 euros a month. This amount is a substantial sum you can use for day-to-day expenses, keep aside as savings or even pay off your education loan. The money you save up will be an added financial security to fall back on in times of need.
Part-time jobs will provide you with an opportunity to experience German work culture, rules, regulations, and ethics followed at work. German work culture is different from other countries, and you will get to experience that firsthand. You can learn how they interact and communicate with each other and the passion and perfection with which they carry out a simple task. This invaluable experience will certainly come in handy when you pursue your professional career in Germany.
Another major benefit of working in a part-time job is the number of people you will meet and interact with every day. Your colleagues, managers, subordinates, people you meet with when you travel to work, etc., will become familiar with and provide you with an opportunity to expand your network. With more interactions at work, your acquaintance will grow into camaraderie, which is very much required in a foreign nation. You can socialize and bond with your colleagues after work and seek their help for job recommendations when you kick-start your professional career.
In Germany, if you consistently surpass your monthly student earning of 450 euros, you are required to get an income tax number. A certain amount would be deducted from your salary every month automatically as taxes and pension money. If you earn more than 450 euros, you will learn about taxes, managing taxes, pension insurance, claims, and other technicalities. Irrespective of your earnings, you will still become cautious with spending your money and learn valuable lessons on handling money, budgeting and financial management.
According to German Law, international students have to block a monthly amount of 861 euros, amounting to 10,332 euros a year in their blocked account. This blocked amount is to prove sufficient funding to support your stay when studying in Germany. If your part-time job takes care of your monthly expenses, you can avoid using this fund and carry it over to the following term.
Now that we are aware of the advantages of working in part-time jobs, let us look at the type of jobs an international student can find in Germany. We can categories them as on-campus, off-campus and online jobs, which are all equally popular among students.