Jobsearch and career switch
Hello.
First I apologize for the long message.
I am an international student, graduated about a year ago, a masters degree. Whether the job market is really bad at the moment (from everything that i see and hear, it is), or I am not doing enough, or I am having the wrong approach, or the specific industries where I can work are doing badly (from what I see this is the case), or I am plain unlucky, the result is the same: i can't find a job.
My degree is in English, my best language. I have a B2 German language certificate. I asked for AVGS from the Bundesagentur für Arbeit, they granted me it twice. I worked with two coaches with very different approach to the jobsearch, they both added to my skills. They helped a bit as well through their own networks, but i never got a job offer.
I made hundreds of applications to different companies. I was a very good fit to many job adverts. Sometimes i only made it to the first application exam, sometimes i got to an interview, but never got a second interview. I also went to career fairs, not just the ones in my university, area or bundesland. I approached many headhunter companies, they were.. little help.
Out of desperation, after two years of dedicated jobsearching (i started applications before i graduated), i started applying to entry level positions in fields where there is a great gap (Nursing, Handwerks, IT, IT-sicherheit). I found the most positive feedback in cybersecurity, and found many contacts in my network whose companies are interested in hiring me if i have a cybersecurity background (at least 1 year). Cybersecurity is also a job that agrees with my personality, profile and curiosity.
Last week, I tried applying for a bildungsgutschein, after having found a very good weiterbildung (can give more details if required, it is AZAV certified, it brings many, many hard skills, and is remote, and has extensive jobsearch support) and passing their admission test with a perfect score. I had brought up the idea of a bildungsgutschein to my ansprechpartnerin in the Bundesagentur für Arbeit last October, she said she would prefer if i try further to get a job with my masters degree since it has not been one year yet since my graduation. Having heard nothing, I phoned someone at the Bundesagentur für Arbeit yesterday asking if my beraterin is on vacation or on sick leave, just to ask if she had received my email; I made it very clear I'm only asking about if she received my email and would like to know how long it can take, and I wished to be as patient as possible.
I got a phone call today (not from my Beraterin), that I am not eligible for a bildungsgutschein. The person who spoke to me was very irritated, impatient and disagreeable. I didn't really get a chance to make my case or whatever, the person just said i am not eligible. I'm not even sure this person even saw my email or the documents that I uploaded, it felt like this person did not really know or care.
I understand the logic behind "I have a degree, I should be able to get a job". But it's not remotely reflecting reality at the moment since many industries are struggling creating entry level jobs for everyone, whether it's for Germans, for Europeans or for people from outside the EEA: nobody can get a job (more accurately, very few can get a job). I want to divert my career path to something Germany needs, but all I have encountered were roadblocks. Through my previous job (not in Germany), I got used to bureaucracy, but this is more than just bureaucracy, or maybe it isn't I am not really sure. I'm not really sure what to think or what I should do anymore.
What I do know is I need help. I need advice. I want to complete my German language journey, I want to get a driver's license, I want to connect with my friends in Germany and Switzerland and connect with society. But I feel alone, and I feel nothing works.
Thank you for your time.
Hi! No worries about the long message. I’m really sorry you’re in this situation. You’ve clearly done so much and it’s incredibly frustrating to feel dismissed—especially after years of serious effort in a very tough job market. Your confusion and exhaustion are completely understandable.
Just to clarify the basics, because this often helps when dealing with the Agentur für Arbeit:
Because of that, please don’t give up on the Bildungsgutschein:
One quick question, if you’re comfortable sharing: what is your master’s degree specifically in? That can matter when arguing why further placement without retraining isn’t working.
I wish you the best of luck! Best regards, Violeta