Career change as a restaurant server

Career change paths

• Restaurant manager

  Also: Restaurant operations manager

  With on-the-job trainingPromotion

  As restaurant manager you plan shifts, lead the team, and are responsible for guests and revenue.

  What you bring:

  You know every process in service, from setting tables to billing, and know how to run a full house.

  How to get there:

  You move up within the business through station and service management. Alongside your job, you can take the further training course for certified senior specialist in hospitality (Fachwirt im Gastgewerbe) at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK), which requires work experience.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workLots of contact with people

  €3,956gross per monthMedian salary

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• Banquet manager

  Also: Conference and banquet planner, Event assistant

  With on-the-job trainingPromotion

  In banquet and event planning you organize all of this in advance with customers and the kitchen.

  What you bring:

  You have worked at celebrations, conferences and banquets, and you know what matters for the schedule, drinks and guest wishes.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) in the banquet department of a hotel or at a caterer, often starting as an assistant. If you want a qualification, you can do retraining (Umschulung) as event management clerk (Veranstaltungskaufmann), which usually takes two years.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Lots of contact with people

  €3,497gross per monthMedian salary

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• Receptionist

  Also: Hotel front desk employee

  With on-the-job training

  At the reception you need exactly this at check-in, check-out and on the phone.

  What you bring:

  You deal with guests in a friendly way every day, even when it gets hectic, take requests and complaints, and settle bills at the cash desk.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) at the reception and in the hotel software, usually lasting a few weeks. English skills are almost always expected.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €3,034gross per monthMedian salary

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• Field sales representative for the catering trade

  Also: Commercial agent for beverages

  With on-the-job training

  In field sales for a brewery or beverage wholesaler you advise exactly these businesses.

  What you bring:

  You know restaurants, beverage ranges and the concerns of innkeepers from daily work.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) at the manufacturer or wholesaler, usually lasting a few weeks to a few months. A class B driving license is almost always required.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Fixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people

  €4,456gross per monthMedian salary

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• Bartender

  Also: Barista

  With on-the-job training

  At the bar or in the coffee bar you mix cocktails, prepare coffee specialties, and are responsible for drink quality and order at the counter.

  What you bring:

  You know drinks, the cash register system and guest contact, and you keep track of things during rush periods.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) in the business, often supplemented by bar or barista courses from private providers lasting a few days to a few weeks. Evening and night work are common at the bar, while in the café early and day shifts are more usual.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demandingLots of contact with people

  €2,857gross per monthMedian salary

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• Team leader in customer service

  Also: Call center trainer, Quality coach in customer service

  With on-the-job trainingPromotion

  As team leader or trainer you coach colleagues, listen in on calls, plan shifts and train new people.

  What you bring:

  You know conversation skills, systems, key figures and difficult customer conversations from your own experience.

  How to get there:

  This is an internal promotion after some time in customer service, often starting as team coordinator or mentor for new colleagues, with management training in the company. You can earn a recognized qualification through vocational training (Ausbildung) as dialog marketing clerk (Kaufmann für Dialogmarketing), which takes three years. After four and a half years of work experience, you can also take the exam at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) without training under § 45 para. 2 BBiG.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €4,604gross per monthMedian salary

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• First-level IT support specialist

  Also: IT specialist for system integration

  With on-the-job training

  In IT support you help users with access, software and devices, at first on the phone and in the ticket system.

  What you bring:

  You take in requests in a structured way, ask targeted questions and explain patiently, step by step.

  How to get there:

  You start in first-level support at a company or IT service provider, with on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) that usually lasts a few weeks. Basic IT knowledge makes the switch easier. For more advanced tasks, retraining (Umschulung) as IT specialist for system integration (Fachinformatiker für Systemintegration) is the usual route. It mostly takes two years and can often be funded through an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleIn an office

  €4,400gross per monthMedian salary

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• Clerk in insurance inside service

  Also: Customer service employee in an insurer's inside service

  With on-the-job training

  In the inside service of an insurer you process contracts, changes and claim reports, and clarify questions with customers and intermediaries.

  What you bring:

  You explain contracts, rates and processes clearly on the phone and work confidently with customer databases.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) at an insurer, often starting in telephone customer service and then moving to casework, usually lasting several months. For a recognized qualification there is vocational training (Ausbildung) as insurance and financial investments clerk (Kaufmann für Versicherungen und Finanzanlagen), which takes three years, also as retraining (Umschulung).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

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

  €4,797gross per monthMedian salary

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• Customer adviser at a health insurance fund

  Also: Social insurance specialist (Sozialversicherungsfachangestellte)

  With on-the-job training

  At a health insurance fund or pension insurance provider you advise insured people, take in applications and process benefits such as sick pay or medical aids.

  What you bring:

  You stay friendly even with upset callers and explain rules clearly.

  How to get there:

  Health insurance funds also hire career changers for service centers and customer advice and train them in-house, often for several months. Completed commercial training is usually expected. The recognized qualification is vocational training (Ausbildung) as social insurance specialist (Sozialversicherungsfachangestellte), which takes three years.*

  * 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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• Staffing coordinator

  Also: Temporary staffing recruiter

  With on-the-job training

  In staffing coordination you look for candidates, talk to them and plan their assignments at client companies.

  What you bring:

  You make many calls, quickly build rapport with people and work cleanly in the system under time pressure.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) at a temporary staffing or personnel services provider, usually lasting a few weeks to a few months. Switching in from sales and customer service is possible. The recognized qualification is vocational training (Ausbildung) as personnel services clerk (Personaldienstleistungskaufmann), which takes three years.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleIn an office

  €4,046gross per monthMedian salary

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• Travel consultant

  Also: Tourism clerk (Tourismuskaufmann)

  With on-the-job training

  In a travel agency or in the customer service of a tour operator you put trips together, book flights and hotels, and look after customers before and during the trip.

  What you bring:

  You advise on the phone, book in systems and stay calm with complaints.

  How to get there:

  Tour operators and online portals also hire career changers for telephone travel advice and train them on booking systems, usually for a few weeks. For travel agencies, a qualification as tourism clerk for private and business travel (Tourismuskaufmann für Privat- und Geschäftsreisen) is usual, which is a three-year vocational training (Ausbildung).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically lightLots of contact with peopleIn an office

  €3,291gross per monthMedian salary

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• Receivables management clerk

  Also: Debt collection clerk

  With on-the-job training

  In receivables management you clarify open invoices, agree on installment payments and process objections.

  What you bring:

  You can also lead unpleasant conversations objectively, listen, and find solutions both sides can live with.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) at a debt collection company or in the receivables department of a company, usually lasting a few weeks, with training in dunning procedures and legal basics.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

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

  €4,278gross per monthMedian salary

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• Flight attendant

  With training or an exam

  What is new are mainly the safety and emergency tasks, for which you are trained.

  What you bring:

  Service under time pressure in a tight space, friendly dealings with guests and selling food and drinks are part of everyday life on board.

  How to get there:

  You do basic training at an airline, usually lasting a few weeks, with an exam for the cabin crew attestation (Flugbegleiterbescheinigung). You also need an aviation medical examination and good English.*Regulated by law (Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011, Annex V (Part-CC)).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demandingLots of contact with people

  €3,307gross per monthMedian salary

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• Train conductor

  Also: Customer service employee in local transport

  With training or an exam

  On the train, you also handle ticket checks, announcements and tasks at departure.

  What you bring:

  You are used to working on your feet and on the move, answering questions in a friendly way, and staying calm even with difficult guests.

  How to get there:

  You qualify at the railway company, which usually takes a few weeks to a few months, with an exam and a medical fitness examination. Shift work (Schichtdienst) and weekend duty are part of the job.*Regulated by law (Railway Construction and Operating Regulations (EBO) §§ 47, 48).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workLots of contact with people

  €3,568gross per monthMedian salary

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• Cook

  With retraining

  In the kitchen you also learn the preparation itself.

  What you bring:

  You know the processes between kitchen and service, hygiene rules, allergens and the time pressure during rush periods.

  How to get there:

  You do vocational training (Ausbildung) as a cook, which takes three years, or usually two years as retraining (Umschulung), and can often be funded through an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demandingLittle customer contact

  €3,058gross per monthMedian salary

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• Office management clerk (Kaufmann für Büromanagement)

  With retraining

  In the office you use these organizational skills for orders, appointments and invoices, usually at fixed times of the day.

  What you bring:

  You take orders, settle bills, keep many things in view at the same time and stay friendly in customer contact.

  How to get there:

  You can do retraining (Umschulung) as office management clerk (Kaufmann für Büromanagement), which usually takes two years and can often be funded through an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an office

  €3,810gross 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.