Career change as a foreign language correspondent
With your experience you can switch to 8 jobs in Germany: 6 with on-the-job training and 2 with training or a course.
In the job search you can sort by what matters to you, save jobs and see where they lead.
Career change paths
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Executive assistant to the managing director
Also: Team assistant in international sales
With on-the-job trainingPromotion
As an assistant to the management you prepare meetings and presentations, handle correspondence, organize trips, and coordinate projects.
- What you bring:
- You write confidently in several languages, organize appointments and documents, and keep in contact with business partners abroad.
- How to get there:
- Companies like to hire foreign language correspondents with work experience in assistant roles and give them on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) in their processes. Alongside your job, the further training course for certified senior specialist for office and project organization (Fachwirt für Büro- und Projektorganisation) at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) prepares you for more demanding tasks. It can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications).*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an office€3,810gross per monthMedian salary
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Export clerk
Also: Import and export clerk
With on-the-job training
In the export department of an industrial or trading company or at a freight forwarder you process foreign orders, prepare shipping and customs documents, and keep in contact with customers and freight forwarders.
- What you bring:
- You write business correspondence confidently in foreign languages and work precisely with quotes, orders and delivery documents.
- How to get there:
- Companies usually give foreign language correspondents a few weeks of on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) in export processing and merchandise management. You can add customs and foreign trade knowledge in courses at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) or at training providers. Later, alongside a job, you can take the further training course for certified senior specialist for foreign trade (Fachwirt für Außenwirtschaft).*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an office€3,917gross per monthMedian salary
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Clerk in international purchasing
Also: Buyer
With on-the-job training
In the purchasing department of an industrial or trading company you collect quotes from suppliers at home and abroad, order goods, monitor delivery dates, and clarify complaints.
- What you bring:
- You negotiate and correspond confidently in foreign languages and work precisely with quotes, orders and deadlines.
- How to get there:
- Companies usually give foreign language correspondents a few weeks of on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) in merchandise management and purchasing processes. Alongside your job, you can later take further training in purchasing at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK).*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office€4,200gross per monthMedian salary
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Trade fair and event manager
Also: Project assistant for international trade fairs
With on-the-job training
At trade fair companies, agencies or companies you plan trade fair appearances and events, look after exhibitors and guests, and coordinate service providers.
- What you bring:
- You organize carefully, write confidently in several languages, and keep in contact with partners abroad.
- How to get there:
- Trade fair companies and agencies usually give career changers with organizational talent and language skills on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) during a running project. You can earn a qualification through retraining (Umschulung) as event management clerk (Veranstaltungskaufmann), which usually takes about two years.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Lots of contact with people€4,165gross per monthMedian salary
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Language trainer for business English
Also: Course instructor at a language school
With on-the-job training
As a language trainer you teach employees in companies, at language schools or at adult education centers (Volkshochschulen) business language and correspondence.
- What you bring:
- You speak and write foreign languages confidently in business life and can explain what matters in emails, phone calls and negotiations.
- How to get there:
- Language schools and adult education centers often take on trainers directly after a trial lesson. Courses in teaching methods for adult education take a few weeks. Work is also done on a fee basis, and separate admission rules apply to German integration courses.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people€3,890gross per monthMedian salary
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Tour operator employee
Also: Travel consultant for business travel
With on-the-job training
At tour operators or business travel agencies you plan and book trips, negotiate with hotels and partners abroad, and take care of changes and complaints.
- What you bring:
- You communicate confidently with partners abroad, work precisely and keep track of many details.
- How to get there:
- Tour operators and business travel agencies give career changers with language skills a few weeks to a few months of on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) in booking systems. You can earn a qualification through vocational training (Ausbildung) as tourism clerk (Tourismuskaufmann), which usually takes about two years as retraining (Umschulung).*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleIn an office€3,291gross per monthMedian salary
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Translator
Also: Specialist translator for business and technology
With further trainingPromotion
As a translator you translate specialist texts from business, technology or law into German or into the foreign language, research terminology, and work with translation software.
- What you bring:
- You have mastered at least one foreign language at a high level and translate business letters, contracts or product texts confidently.
- How to get there:
- Without a university degree, the way in is a state exam for translators, which is offered in some states, or the exam at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) to become a certified translator (Übersetzer). Preparation courses usually run alongside a job over several months. You can also work freelance, and for certified translations you also need to be sworn in or authorized under state law.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible€3,730gross per monthMedian salary
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Marketing officer
Also: Certified senior specialist for marketing (Fachwirt für Marketing)
With further trainingPromotion
As a marketing officer you plan campaigns, look after the website and social media, manage agencies, and evaluate what the advertising brings.
- What you bring:
- From casework you know advertising materials, ads, and how to coordinate with agencies, print shops and media.
- How to get there:
- Alongside your job, you can take the further training course for certified senior specialist for marketing (Fachwirt für Marketing) at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). It usually takes one to two years and can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). You are admitted with a commercial qualification and work experience, or with five years of relevant work experience. Some employers require a university degree for these jobs.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible€5,385gross per monthMedian salary
Salary: median of all full-time employees in the job, gross per month excluding special payments, as of April 2025. Half earn more, half earn less. Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), table 62361-0030, license dl-de/by-2-0. Assigned to the jobs by quereinsteiger.de. No guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently asked questions
Which jobs can I do as a foreign language correspondent without vocational training or retraining?
Without a new qualification, often with on-the-job training: Executive assistant to the managing director, Export clerk, Clerk in international purchasing, Trade fair and event manager, Language trainer for business English and Tour operator employee.
Which retraining or further training suits me as a foreign language correspondent?
With vocational training, retraining, further training or a course: Translator and Marketing officer.
What promotion options do I have as a foreign language correspondent?
Promotions include, for example: Executive assistant to the managing director, Translator and Marketing officer.
Which of these jobs pay the most?
According to official statistics, the highest median full-time salaries are: Marketing officer (€5,385 gross per month), Clerk in international purchasing (€4,200 gross per month) and Trade fair and event manager (€4,165 gross per month). Half of employees earn more, half earn less; when you start it is often lower. Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), April 2025. No guarantee of accuracy.
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