STEP by STEP - Integration to the German Job Market

At the beginning of your studies or after your first months in Mannheim, we support you in getting in tune with German (working) culture. In intercultural training workshops you can discuss cultural differences, train for possible conflict situations and prepare for different communication situations in everyday student or working life.

STEP by STEP further offers language courses for levels A1.2, A2.1, B1.1, B1.2, and B2.1. All courses focus on communication in the workplace and job-related topics in order to also get your language skills ready for the job market. The German language courses include visits at local companies; these are always a highlight. They give you a fist impression of working life and provide the opportunity to meet potential employers early on.

In cooperation with the Federal Employment Agency Mannheim, we give you an introduction to the most important dos and don’ts of typical application procedures in Germany. We will also provide information on how employment can affect your status of residence and help you to adapt your visa, if necessary.

During the two-day application training workshops, you will learn everything you need to know in order to successfully apply for a job. Even though the workshops are held in English, they focus on German formalities and characteristics in order to prepare you for your career here in Germany. In hands-on group sessions, you can also tweak your application documents and practice important situations such as job interviews or assessment centers.

Once every semester, we invite international alumni who have gained a foothold in the German labor market to speak at the university. In short talks they tell their success stories and are available to answer any questions. You will thus have the opportunity to get useful tips first-hand from people who have once been in the same situation as you and to extend your professional network in a social setting.

We offer regular consultations in cooperation with the CareerNetwork of the University of Mannheim, during which experts from the Federal Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit) are available to check your application documents. There are English consultations for international students, but you can of course also attend one of the consultations offered in German.
You are also welcome to take advantage of the open consultation hours of the International Office (Mon 9-12 a.m. and Wed 2-5 p.m.) if you have any questions regarding your application documents, upcoming job interviews or issues such as residence permits, visa and the like. 
 

You will learn how to found an enterprise (not only) in Germany. A workshop provides you with the basics of founding a start-up and, subsequently, you will visit one of the Startup Lounges of the MCEI. In a laid-back atmosphere, different start-ups arisen from the University of Mannheim will be presented. Meet other students and creative minds and discuss your experiences and ideas.

Being an international student, do I have to submit a tax declaration? How do I create a tax declaration? When after starting my first job do I have to create this declaration? An experienced tax consultant will provide insight into the German income tax system. You will learn here how and when to create your first tax declaration and can subsequently receive specific answers to your individual questions.

How to find an internship in Germany? Which internship suits you best? How to get the most out of it? What in particular has to be paid attention to regarding the German job market? These and more questions will be answered by the author of a successful internship handbook. The author is responsible for selecting and coaching interns in a well-known German large-scale enterprise.

During your studies you have participated in the STEPs 1, 3 and 5? If so, the International Office is offering to issue for your application documents the STEP by STEP Certificate confirming your participation. Thus, you can make your intercultural commitment visible to potential employers.

• You want to register for one or several STEPs? All international degree-seeking students of the University of Mannheim will receive an email to their university account as soon as the registration period for each STEP begins. Registration is required for each STEP by STEP event in order to participate.
• You  would like to work more than 120 days a year? Internships and working student positions that relate to your program of study may be excluded from the 120-days-rule. The International Office can issue a confirmation for this purpose, if you present your internship contract or your contract for working students. The confirmation then needs to be submitted to the immigration office in Mannheim. Only then, your internship or working student job does not count towards the 120 days. Please note: This only applies if you have your main residence in Mannheim. Immigration offices in other cities may have different regulations.
• You are planning to do an internship and want to apply for an academic leave of absence? If you hold a residence permit for the purpose of studying, the foreigners’ office of the city of Mannheim unfortunately does not allow you to take an academic leave of absence for an internship. You must be regularly enrolled during your internship and also pay the tuition fees. Please note: This only applies if you have your main residence in Mannheim. Immigration offices in other cities may have different regulations.
• You hold a residence permit for the purpose of studying and are about to complete your studies? Then please be aware that your residence permit will become invalid two weeks after you have completed your program of study. Depending on your plans for the future, you will then have to apply for a different residence permit. We recommend that you contact us in good time so that we can support you.
• As part of their Soft Skill Program the University of Mannheim's Career Service is offering Assessment Center Trainings (in German) and CV-Writing Courses (in English). Here you can find the Career Service's complete range of coaching offers for the current semester (mainly in German).

Career Network - career service unit of the University of Mannheim

Absolventum - alumni network of the University of Mannheim

LinkedIn - international students and graduates of the University of Mannheim

Agentur für Arbeit - nationwide job board

Mannheim my Future - life and work in Mannheim

Make it in Germany - welcome portal of the Federal Government for international professionals

Welcome Center Rhein Neckar - regional welcome portal for international professional