In German, we do not speak of professional retraining but of “lateral entry”, as if to signify that this type of change is a simple translation, an alternative mode of arrival in a sector of activity. However, professional mobility only concerns one in six employees, according to a study by the Institute for Research on the Labor Market and Vocational Training (IAB), quoted by The time. This is less than in the United Kingdom, for example, where it concerns one in three workers. Nevertheless, if you work in Germany or plan to settle there to change your life, it is quite possible for you to retrain.

The time stresses that, for many trades, there are accelerated training courses that allow retraining. The Munich psychologist Madeleine Leitner advises to think carefully before starting and to ask yourself regarding the reasons for your professional dissatisfaction: “After a few conversations, a lot of [mes patients] realize that they really like their job and that it’s just the terms and conditions that don’t suit them.” Disagreement with colleagues, difficulty in reconciling personal and professional life, feeling of exhaustion often recur. And if you can’t resolve these issues internally, and you also want to change paths and not just companies, then retraining can be a solution.

Here are six sectors that are hiring and what you need to know before getting started:

  • Elder care: According to the German Federal Employment Agency, the need for workers in this sector will become increasingly important. To work as a nurse you will need three years of training, partly in a school and partly in a company. To become a “generalist” caregiver, the training is shorter and only lasts two years. To apply for these courses, you must have a secondary school leaving certificate and a medical certificate attesting to your physical and psychological capacity to work in the health sector.
  • Primary education: According to the Bertelsmann Foundation, there should be at least 26,300 vacancies in primary education by 2025, especially in the so-called MINT : maths, computer science, natural sciences and technology. You must be able to attest to having followed a university course in these fields. Please note, however, that the criteria vary from one Land to another. In Berlin, for example, it is possible to obtain a grant of 500 euros per month for training on condition that you then commit to working in Berlin for three years. The starting salary is approximately 3,400 euros gross per month.
  • Childcare: According to estimates by the Bertelsmann Foundation, 106,500 additional jobs are needed in crèches and kindergartens. It takes two years of training for childcare and three in general to have the status of educator, but there are variations in duration from one Land to another.
  • Hotel and catering : In this sector, it is often necessary to invest large sums for renovations and the purchase of equipment. It may seem simpler to take over a business that is already working. The website of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy dedicated to business creation gives some clues.
  • Computer science : You can of course try to train yourself in the different programming languages, but this is difficult. There are paid training courses, internships and also internal company training.
  • Immovable : The training recognized by the German state lasts three years, but is not compulsory and everyone can call themselves a real estate agent. However, a commercial license is required to be authorized to work. The municipal authorities issue it following bank checks and obtaining a police certificate. Be careful, you will obviously need to be up to date on German law, especially with regard to leases, contracts and construction. Chambers of commerce and industry offer training in this area.