Working student jobs in Germany: CV, cover letter and rules for international students
A working student job (Werkstudent) combines your studies with real work experience. The application is shorter than for a full-time role, but it still matters: employers want to see that you are reliably available, that your degree fits the role and that you can get up to speed quickly.
The short answer first: a convincing working student application consists of a one-page, clearly structured CV, a short cover letter or motivation text and, if requested, a current certificate of enrolment (Immatrikulationsbescheinigung). Your documents should answer three questions: what are you studying and how far along are you? How many hours per week can you work? And which skills from your studies, projects or part-time jobs do you bring to this specific role?
Working student positions exist in almost every field: software development, marketing, controlling, HR, research, logistics and customer service. For many students – especially international ones – they are the most important entry point into the German job market, because they provide German work experience, a reference letter (Arbeitszeugnis) and often a direct path to a first full-time job.
This article is written for international students who want to work in Germany for the first time. It is not legal or tax advice. If you are unsure about working hours, social insurance or your residence permit, check with your university's International Office, your health insurer or the immigration office (Ausländerbehörde).
What is a working student job?
Working students are students enrolled at a university who work for a company alongside their studies. Studying remains the main activity. The job is usually related to the degree, although that is not a legal requirement.
Compared with a mini-job, a working student job typically offers more hours (often 10 to 20 per week) and higher pay, and it is treated differently for social insurance. Compared with an internship, it is not limited to a few months: many working students stay with the same employer for several semesters.
Working student, mini-job and internship compared
| Feature | Working student | Mini-job | Internship |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | Often several semesters, alongside studies | Flexible, often open-ended | Usually 3 to 6 months |
| Typical hours | Usually up to 20 hours/week during term | Limited by the earnings cap | Often full-time |
| Link to your degree | Usually closely related | Often unrelated | Related, sometimes mandatory |
| Value for your CV | High: ongoing work in your field | Low to medium | High, but shorter |
The exact limits depend on your situation. If in doubt, ask your employer or health insurer to confirm how your job is classified.
The 20-hour rule in brief
During the lecture period, working students generally work no more than 20 hours per week. Below this limit they usually pay no contributions to health, long-term care and unemployment insurance, while pension insurance contributions generally still apply. Exceptions are possible during semester breaks and for evening or weekend work.
For your application this means: state your availability clearly and realistically, for example “16 to 20 hours per week, more during semester breaks”. Employers plan their teams around this and value reliable information more than an unrealistic maximum.
What international students need to know
Students from the EU, the EEA and Switzerland can generally work under the same conditions as German students. Students from other countries are covered by the German Residence Act: with a residence permit for study purposes, you may work a total of 140 full days or 280 half days per year; student assistant jobs at the university are treated separately.
How working student hours count towards this allowance depends on how your working time is distributed. Clarify this with the immigration office or your International Office before you accept an offer. A short note on your CV such as “Residence permit for study; employment possible under Section 16b Residence Act” answers a question recruiters often have.
Keep your certificate of enrolment up to date as well. Many employers ask for it before the contract starts and again every semester.
Legal text (German): Section 16b Residence Act
Official information: Make it in Germany
Which permit fits? Which visa do I need?
Your CV for a working student job
A working student CV usually fits on one page. Its most important section is not work experience but your studies, so place it near the top, right after a short profile.
For your degree, list the programme, university, current semester, expected degree and graduation date and – where relevant – two to four focus areas, modules or projects. A grade average is optional; include it if it is good or explicitly requested. If you studied abroad before, add a brief German equivalent of your previous degree where possible.
Under practical experience, list earlier working student jobs, internships, student assistant roles, part-time jobs and relevant university projects. Add two or three concrete points to each: what you did, which tools you used and what the result was.
- Header with name, city, phone number, email and optionally LinkedIn
- Two- to three-sentence profile that includes your availability
- Studies with current semester and expected graduation
- Practical experience and projects with concrete results
- Skills: software, programming languages, methods
- Languages with realistic CEFR levels (e.g. German B2)
Example: profile before and after
Before
Motivated student looking for a new challenge.
Says nothing about your field, skills or availability.
After
Computer science student (B.Sc., 5th semester, TU Dresden) with project experience in Python and SQL. Available from 1 April for 18 hours per week, full-time during semester breaks.
Field, progress, skills and availability are clear in two sentences.
Cover letter or motivation text: short and specific
Many German companies no longer require a classic cover letter for working student roles and only ask for a few sentences in the application form. If a cover letter is requested, half a page to three quarters of a page is usually enough.
Structure it in three parts: why this role and this company? What do you bring from your studies and work experience? When can you start and how many hours can you work? Skip long life stories and generic phrases. One concrete example from a project is more convincing than any list of personality traits.
Should you write in German or English? Follow the job ad. If the ad is in German, apply in German if your level allows it; if your German is still developing, an English application with an honest language level can still work, especially in tech or international teams.
Example opening
In my Master's in Supply Chain Management at the University of Mannheim, I am currently analysing delivery times with Power BI. I would like to apply exactly this work in your logistics controlling team from May, for 20 hours per week.
The sentence links your studies, a tool and the role – and states your availability at the same time.
Not sure if your CV is ready for German recruiters?
Analyze your CV for free with Apply Germany and discover opportunities to improve it.
Free · Results in seconds
Where to find working student jobs
Good sources are company career pages, large job boards with the “Werkstudent” filter, the job portal of the Federal Employment Agency, your university's career service and job fairs, and LinkedIn. Professors and research chairs often know companies that regularly look for students from their field.
Apply early: many positions are filled at the start of the semester. Speculative applications work particularly well with mid-sized companies near your university that do not advertise every position.
Job hunting in Germany: the best job portals
Speculative applications in Germany
Optimising your LinkedIn and Xing profile
Official job portal: Federal Employment Agency
Common mistakes in working student applications
- No clear information about weekly availability
- Current semester and expected graduation date missing
- A two- or three-page CV including school internships from ten years ago
- Skills without level or evidence (e.g. only “Excel” instead of “Excel: pivot tables, VLOOKUP”)
- A generic cover letter where only the company name was changed
- For international students: no mention of residence permit and right to work
- Overstating your German level – it becomes obvious in the interview
Keywords and applicant tracking systems
Larger companies also process working student applications through an applicant tracking system. Use important terms from the job ad where they genuinely apply – for example “SAP”, “Python”, “social media analysis” or “accounts payable” – and use standard headings such as “Education”, “Experience” and “Skills”.
An ATS usually does not decide on your application alone, but a clearly readable CV makes it easier for recruiters to see that you fit the role.
Checklist before you hit send
- One-page CV with your studies near the top
- Current semester and expected graduation stated
- Weekly hours and start date clearly given
- Two or three concrete results from projects or jobs
- Relevant terms from the job ad included
- Residence permit and right to work clarified
- Certificate of enrolment ready as a PDF
- File named sensibly, e.g. CV_Firstname_Lastname.pdf
FAQ on working student applications
Do I need a cover letter for a working student job?
Not always. Many companies skip it or only ask for a few sentences. If one is requested, a short, specific half page is usually enough.
How many hours can a working student work in Germany?
Usually up to 20 hours per week during the lecture period. Exceptions apply during semester breaks and for evening or weekend work. Ask for confirmation if you are unsure.
Can non-EU students work as working students?
Generally yes, within the rules of the residence permit for study (currently 140 full or 280 half days per year). Check with the immigration office how your hours are counted.
Does the job have to match my degree?
Not legally, but a job related to your field is far more valuable for your later career start in Germany.
What should I put on my CV if I have no experience yet?
University projects, your thesis, part-time jobs, volunteering and skills with concrete examples. What matters is the link to the advertised tasks.
Read on
How well does your CV match the job?
Upload your CV and the job ad and see within minutes which keywords are missing – free and without signing up.