Career change as a recruitment consultant

Career change paths

• Job application coach

  Also: Instructor in vocational further training

  With on-the-job training

  At training providers you coach jobseekers in writing applications and handling job interviews, lead groups in programs and support participants in their job search.

  What you bring:

  You know exactly what employers expect and why applications fail.

  How to get there:

  Training providers that run programmes for the Federal Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit) and the Jobcenter hire specialists with placement experience and train them in the concepts and documentation. You can also gain the trainer aptitude certificate (Ausbildereignung) under AEVO or a trainer course. Some jobs are tied to the duration of a single programme and are then fixed-term.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €5,254gross per monthMedian salary

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• Benefits clerk at a Jobcenter

  Also: Customer adviser at a health insurance fund

  With on-the-job training

  At a Jobcenter, health insurance fund or pension insurance provider you check applications, calculate benefits and advise insured people and benefit recipients.

  What you bring:

  You know the Federal Employment Agency, the Jobcenter and the life situations of jobseekers, and you are confident with forms and conversations.

  How to get there:

  Jobcenters and social insurance providers hire career changers with commercial vocational training (Ausbildung) and give them on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) in internal courses over several months. If you want a qualification of your own, you can do the vocational training as social insurance specialist (Sozialversicherungsfachangestellte), which some providers also offer to adults.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleIn an office

  €3,964gross per monthMedian salary

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• Job coach for people with disabilities

  Also: Integration specialist at a sheltered workshop

  With on-the-job training

  As a job coach or integration specialist you support people with disabilities during internships and in companies, look for suitable placements and stay in contact with employers and funding bodies.

  What you bring:

  You bring people and employers together and know the paths into training and work.

  How to get there:

  Sheltered workshops (Werkstätten für behinderte Menschen), integration specialist services (Integrationsfachdienste) and training providers hire specialists with placement experience and train them on the job. An additional qualification in special needs education is often expected, for example the further training as certified specialist for work and vocational support (Geprüfte Fachkraft zur Arbeits- und Berufsförderung), which you can do alongside a job. The employer sets the exact requirements depending on the position.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €4,350gross per monthMedian salary

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• Immigration office clerk

  Also: Skilled immigration case officer

  With on-the-job training

  In immigration offices (Ausländerbehörden) or central skilled immigration offices you check applications for residence permits, obtain approvals and advise applicants and employers.

  What you bring:

  You know the labor market, vocational qualifications and the questions of employers who want to hire skilled workers from abroad.

  How to get there:

  Municipalities and states hire career changers with commercial vocational training (Ausbildung) as employees under collective pay agreements (Tarif) and train them on the job in residence law and specialist procedures. Employers often let you take administrative course I (Verwaltungslehrgang I) alongside the job. Foreign languages are an advantage.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleIn an office

  €3,822gross per monthMedian salary

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• Relocation consultant

  Also: Support specialist for international skilled workers

  With on-the-job training

  As a relocation consultant you help skilled workers who have recently moved here, and their families, with finding housing, dealing with authorities, registrations and the start in the new job.

  What you bring:

  You help people through a professional fresh start and know employers, authorities and the processes around a hire.

  How to get there:

  Relocation service providers, recruitment agencies that recruit internationally and larger companies give new staff a few weeks of on-the-job training (Einarbeitung). Good English is almost always expected, and other languages are an advantage.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €4,238gross per monthMedian salary

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• HR consultant

  Also: HR process consultant

  With on-the-job training

  In a consulting firm or at a software vendor, you redesign HR processes for clients and support the rollout.

  What you bring:

  You know application processes, workforce planning and HR software from your daily work.

  How to get there:

  Consulting firms train experienced HR professionals in project methods, and certificates in project or change management help. Expect project work and travel.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleHome office possible

  €6,768gross per monthMedian salary

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• HR lecturer

  Also: Instructor in vocational further training

  With on-the-job training

  At chambers and training providers, you prepare adults for qualifications such as certified HR specialist (Geprüfter Personalfachkaufmann/Geprüfte Personalfachkauffrau) or teach job application training in funded programs.

  What you bring:

  You can explain recruiting, employment law and communication skills with real cases from practice.

  How to get there:

  Training providers look for experienced practitioners, often starting on a freelance basis. A trainer aptitude certificate (Ausbildereignung) or further training in adult education is welcome. Permanent jobs exist mainly at larger providers.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €5,140gross per monthMedian salary

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• Head of an employment services provider

  Also: Department head for vocational integration

  With on-the-job trainingPromotion

  At a training or employment services provider, you run vocational integration projects, manage teams and negotiate with Jobcenters and employment agencies.

  What you bring:

  You know the labor market, funding instruments and the situation of job seekers from your counseling or placement work.

  How to get there:

  Providers fill these positions with experienced specialists from counseling and placement. You learn funding law and provider approval on the job. Some projects are fixed-term and depend on tenders.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light

  €5,771gross per monthMedian salary

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• Employer branding manager

  Also: HR marketing specialist

  With on-the-job training

  As an employer branding manager, you develop campaigns, career pages and social media presence so that a company attracts suitable applicants.

  What you bring:

  You know why applicants choose an employer and where job ads fall flat.

  How to get there:

  Companies and agencies train HR professionals in marketing tools and campaign planning. Courses in online marketing usually take a few weeks. A good eye for text and images is an advantage.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible

  €5,385gross per monthMedian salary

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• Customer consultant for HR software

  Also: Pre-sales consultant for HR software

  With on-the-job training

  At an HR software vendor, you advise companies, demonstrate solutions and support customers from selection to rollout.

  What you bring:

  You know the processes and pain points of HR departments from firsthand experience.

  How to get there:

  Software vendors train HR professionals with product training lasting a few weeks, and you do not need an IT degree. In sales, part of the pay is often performance-based.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleHome office possible

  €6,745gross per monthMedian salary

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• Branch manager at a staffing company

  Also: Recruiting team leader

  With further trainingPromotion

  As a branch or team leader you lead staffing coordinators, are responsible for revenue and customer relationships, and decide on hiring and assignments.

  What you bring:

  You know sales, the applicant market, labor law and the collective agreements for temporary agency work from your daily business.

  How to get there:

  Staffing companies also fill management positions internally with experienced staffing coordinators. The trainer aptitude certificate (Ausbildereignung) under AEVO is helpful, as is the further training course for certified HR specialist (Personalfachkaufmann) at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK), taken alongside a job; the duration depends on the provider.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €7,885gross per monthMedian salary

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• Payroll accountant

  Also: Payroll clerk

  With further training

  In payroll accounting you prepare payslips, report to health insurance funds and the tax office, and clear up questions with employees and the HR department.

  What you bring:

  From temporary agency work you know employment contracts, working time accounts, pay supplements and the questions employees have about their payslips.

  How to get there:

  Take a payroll course at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK), a training provider or a software vendor alongside a job; the duration depends on the provider. Payroll specialists work at companies, tax firms and payroll service providers.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €4,010gross per monthMedian salary

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• Mediator

  Also: Corporate conflict consultant

  With further training

  As a mediator, you guide conflict resolution in teams, between management and employees or in family businesses.

  What you bring:

  You have had many difficult conversations and can mediate between different interests.

  How to get there:

  Training providers offer mediation training alongside work. Under the Ordinance on the Training of Certified Mediators (Zertifizierte-Mediatoren-Ausbildungsverordnung), you may only call yourself a certified mediator after a course of at least 130 hours of attendance and five supervised mediations. You can combine mediation with consulting or training or apply for permanent mediation jobs.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €7,208gross per monthMedian salary

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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.