Career change as a gatekeeper

Career change paths

• Municipal public order officer

  Also: Traffic enforcement officer

  With on-the-job training

  In a city's public order service you check, for example, parking violations, noise, litter and youth protection and issue warnings.

  What you bring:

  You are used to going on patrol, enforcing rules and staying calm in conflicts.

  How to get there:

  Cities also hire career changers with experience in the security service and train them in courses of a few weeks to months. Some require administrative training or the administrative course after hiring. The job ad states exactly what applies.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workLots of contact with peopleLots of time outdoors

  €3,715gross per monthMedian salary

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• Emergency call and service center operator

  Also: Control center operator

  With on-the-job training

  In the emergency call and service control center you receive alarms, assess them and send out the response service, fire service or police.

  What you bring:

  You know alarm plans, radio traffic and the right procedure for burglary, fire or technical faults from property protection.

  How to get there:

  This is usually an internal move at security companies, with a few weeks of on-the-job training (Einarbeitung). The expertise exam (Sachkundeprüfung) under § 34a GewO and good German and PC skills are usually expected. The work is shift work, mostly at a screen.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleIn an office

  €3,685gross per monthMedian salary

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• Caretaker

  Also: Building services worker at an amusement park

  With on-the-job training

  As a caretaker, you look after buildings and outdoor areas, do smaller repairs, check technology and safety and coordinate craft businesses.

  What you bring:

  You know the processes in leisure facilities, theaters or event venues and pitch in reliably with small repairs, cleaning and checks.

  How to get there:

  You can start at amusement parks, municipalities, housing companies or caretaker services with on-the-job training (Einarbeitung). Manual skill is important, and depending on the job, a trade qualification is expected. Without a qualification, courses in building services or as an electrically qualified person for defined tasks (Elektrofachkraft für festgelegte Tätigkeiten) help. A driving license class B is usually required.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically demanding

  €3,260gross per monthMedian salary

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• Nursing assistant

  Also: Nursing assistant in elderly care

  With on-the-job training

  In nursing assistance, you support older or sick people with personal hygiene, meals and moving and work closely with the qualified nurses.

  What you bring:

  You deal with many different people in a friendly and patient way, pay attention to their safety and work reliably in the evening and on weekends.

  How to get there:

  You can start as a nursing assistant after a basic nursing course (Pflegebasiskurs) of a few weeks. For a qualification, you can do vocational training (Ausbildung) as a nursing assistant (Pflegefachassistentin/Pflegefachassistent). From 2027 this training is uniform nationwide and usually takes 18 months full-time, with training pay. Later it can be credited towards the training as a registered nurse.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demandingLots of contact with people

  €3,296gross per monthMedian salary

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• Aviation security assistant

  Also: Aviation security screener

  With further training

  At passenger screening you check passengers and hand luggage at the X-ray machine and with detectors according to fixed rules.

  What you bring:

  You know access control, searching people and bags and staying calm with people who are under time pressure.

  How to get there:

  Training takes at least 280 teaching units and ends with an exam and certificate. It is usually given by the security service providers that carry out the checks on behalf of the authority. Before that you must pass the reliability check. Shift work and good German are required.*Regulated by law (Aviation Security Act (LuftSiG) § 7, Aviation Security Training Ordinance (LuftSiSchulV) §§ 3, 6, Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1998).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workLots of contact with people

  €3,685gross per monthMedian salary

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• Correctional officer

  Also: Civil servant in the general correctional service

  With vocational training

  In the prison system you supervise and look after prisoners, check cells and oversee daily life in the institution.

  What you bring:

  You know checks, key and access rules and how to deal with difficult and aggressive people, and you can de-escalate.

  How to get there:

  Training takes place as a civil servant on revocable status (Beamtenverhältnis auf Widerruf) and usually lasts about 2 years, depending on the federal state. The requirement is usually an intermediate school-leaving certificate (mittlerer Schulabschluss) or a lower secondary school certificate (Hauptschulabschluss) with a completed vocational qualification. You also need to pass a sports test and a medical examination and meet maximum age limits, which each state sets itself.*Regulated by law (Training and examination regulations of the federal states for the general correctional service).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demanding

  €4,041gross per monthMedian salary

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• Police officer (Polizeimeister)

  Also: Police officer in the mid-level civil service

  With a degree

  With the police, you also handle patrol duty, traffic accidents, arrests and taking reports.

  What you bring:

  You know operations at disturbances, access control and de-escalation and work shifts according to clear rules.

  How to get there:

  You can join without a degree at the Federal Police and in some federal states through the mid-level civil service; at the Federal Police the training takes 2.5 years. Age limits are strict: at the Federal Police you must be younger than 28 for the mid-level service. A sports test, aptitude test and medical examination are also required.*Regulated by law (Federal Police Career Ordinance (BPolLV) §§ 5, 6; career law of the federal states).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demandingLots of contact with people

  €3,669gross per monthMedian salary

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• Emergency medical technician

  Also: Paramedic

  With further training

  In the emergency medical service and patient transport you care for patients and take them safely to the hospital.

  What you bring:

  You know emergency situations, first aid and working with the police and emergency medical service from operations and events.

  How to get there:

  Emergency medical technician (Rettungssanitäter): a course under state law, usually 520 hours, which is about 3 months full-time. Paramedic (Notfallsanitäter): training of 3 years.*Regulated by law (Paramedic Act (NotSanG); for emergency medical technicians, the emergency services acts of the federal states).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demandingLots of contact with people

  €4,175gross per monthMedian salary

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• Store detective

  Also: Shop detective

  With further training

  As a store detective you work unobtrusively on the sales floor, catch shoplifters and document incidents for the police and court.

  What you bring:

  You observe attentively, recognize suspicious behavior and can speak to people calmly and firmly.

  How to get there:

  If you work for a security or detective service, the expertise exam (Sachkundeprüfung) under § 34a GewO at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) is mandatory for protection against shoplifters. Retail chains with their own in-house detectives often require it too. If you only have the briefing course (Unterrichtung) so far, preparation courses usually take a few weeks and can partly be funded with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). After that you are trained on the job in the store.*Regulated by law (Trade Regulation Act (GewO) § 34a, Security Services Ordinance (BewachV)).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift work

  €3,283gross per monthMedian salary

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• Corporate security manager

  Also: Head of plant security

  With further trainingPromotion

  As a security manager in a company you plan protection concepts, manage service providers and your own staff and take responsibility when incidents occur.

  What you bring:

  You know property protection, duty rosters, alarm routes and working with the police and fire service from practice.

  How to get there:

  This usually happens via shift or site management and further training as a certified master for protection and security (Geprüfter Meister für Schutz und Sicherheit) at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). It is possible alongside work and can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). You are admitted, for example, with training as a protection and security specialist (Fachkraft für Schutz und Sicherheit) or, without a vocational qualification, after 4 years of work experience. For the second exam part, another year is added.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically lightLittle customer contact

  €6,256gross per monthMedian salary

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• Industrial firefighter

  With further training

  In an industrial fire brigade at a chemical plant, an industrial site or an airport you fight fires, provide technical assistance, respond to hazardous substance accidents and maintain fire protection equipment.

  What you bring:

  You know plant sites, alarm plans, access control and working with the fire service and emergency medical service from plant and property protection.

  How to get there:

  Vocational training (Ausbildung) as an industrial firefighter (Werkfeuerwehrmann/Werkfeuerwehrfrau) takes 3 years, with training pay, at companies with their own industrial fire brigade. Some industrial fire brigades also hire career changers with a trade qualification and experience in a volunteer fire brigade and qualify them in courses under state law. Medical fitness, breathing apparatus fitness and a sports test are usually part of it.*Regulated by law (Ordinance on Vocational Training as an Industrial Firefighter (WFAusbV); fire protection and fire service acts of the federal states).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demandingLittle customer contact

  €4,118gross per monthMedian salary

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• Event technology specialist

  Also: Stage technician

  With retrainingPromotion

  As an event technology specialist, you set up stages, lighting, sound and video technology, operate them during the event and ensure the safety of audience and participants.

  What you bring:

  You know the operation of theaters, halls or amusement parks, work in a team following fixed routines and pitch in with setting up and dismantling.

  How to get there:

  Vocational training (Ausbildung) as an event technology specialist (Fachkraft für Veranstaltungstechnik) takes 3 years, and retraining (Umschulung) usually 2 years. The Federal Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit) or Jobcenter can fund retraining. Companies and venues also use temporary helpers for setting up and dismantling, and that is often how you find an entry. Evening, weekend and travel times are part of the job.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demandingLittle customer contact

  €3,740gross per monthMedian salary

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• Service technician for amusement rides

  Also: Mechatronics technician in an amusement park

  With retrainingPromotion

  As a service technician, you maintain, inspect and repair rides, drives and controls and make sure the facilities run safely.

  What you bring:

  If you operate amusement rides, you know their controls, safety bars, checks before operation starts and typical faults.

  How to get there:

  Amusement parks and manufacturers use skilled workers with a qualification for the technology, for example as a mechatronics technician (Mechatroniker/in), electronics technician for operations technology (Elektroniker/in für Betriebstechnik) or industrial mechanic (Industriemechaniker/in). Retraining (Umschulung) usually takes a good 2 years, and the Federal Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit) or Jobcenter can fund it. Some parks train people themselves. Maintenance often takes place outside opening hours and in the winter break.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demandingLittle customer contact

  €3,800gross per monthMedian salary

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• Event management clerk

  Also: Event assistant

  With retrainingPromotion

  As an event management clerk (Veranstaltungskaufmann/Veranstaltungskauffrau), you plan concerts, trade fairs or company events, calculate costs, book service providers, look after guests and settle the accounts.

  What you bring:

  You know events, admission, visitor guidance and processes on site from practice.

  How to get there:

  Vocational training (Ausbildung) as an event management clerk takes 3 years and can be shortened on request with the Abitur (upper secondary school-leaving certificate) or a completed vocational training. Retraining (Umschulung) usually takes 2 years, and the Federal Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit) or Jobcenter can fund it. Jobs are offered by agencies, venues and trade fairs. Evening and weekend work are usual.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsLots of contact with people

  €3,438gross per monthMedian salary

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• Sign and illuminated advertising maker

  Also: Advertising technology specialist

  With vocational trainingPromotion

  As a sign and illuminated advertising maker, you design and make signs, lettering, vehicle wraps and illuminated advertising and install them at the customer's site.

  What you bring:

  If you put up posters and outdoor advertising, you know advertising media, foils, mounting on walls and working on ladders.

  How to get there:

  Vocational training (Ausbildung) as a sign and illuminated advertising maker (Schilder- und Lichtreklamehersteller/in) in the crafts takes 3 years. Advertising technology companies also hire helpers for installation and foiling and give them on-the-job training (Einarbeitung). After 4.5 years of practice, the Chamber of Crafts (Handwerkskammer) can also admit you to the journeyman exam (Gesellenprüfung) without training (§ 37 para. 2 HwO) if it recognizes your work.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsPhysically demanding

  €3,117gross per monthMedian salary

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• Warehouse specialist

  Also: Warehouse logistics specialist

  With retrainingPromotion

  In warehouse logistics, you receive goods, store them, pick orders and prepare shipping, usually with a scanner and forklift.

  What you bring:

  You work reliably, pitch in physically and keep to fixed routines.

  How to get there:

  Retraining (Umschulung) as a warehouse specialist (Fachlagerist/in) usually takes about 16 months, and as a warehouse logistics specialist (Fachkraft für Lagerlogistik) usually 2 years. The Federal Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit) or Jobcenter can fund retraining if the requirements are met. Warehouses also hire people without a qualification and give them on-the-job training (Einarbeitung). You get the forklift license in a course of a few days.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workPhysically demandingLittle customer contact

  €3,235gross 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.