Finding jobs while travelling, with no experience abroad? The search becomes manageable once you split it into fixed steps. This guide shows where to look, how to filter offers and which official contacts are available. It covers general job searching while travelling. Seasonal jobs with their own process are described in the guide on seasonal work abroad.
Short answer: Job searching for Work and Travel runs through three routes: official job portals with a profile, advice from the Central Placement Service for Abroad (ZAV) of the Federal Employment Agency, and the European network EURES for jobs in the EU as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Last updated: November 2026. Sources: Federal Employment Agency, EURES guide dated 21 May 2026.
The most important points at a glance
- Set a goal first: country, period and field. A broad search produces many rejections.
- The job portal of the Federal Employment Agency shows jobs abroad and lets you create an applicant profile.
- The ZAV advises on job search and applications, and once a target country is chosen, on working conditions and social security.
- According to the EURES guide, the network has more than 900 advisers as a first point of contact for jobs in Europe.
- For jobs in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, EURES is the suitable entry point.
Where do you find jobs abroad?
The Federal Employment Agency refers to its job portal, where jobs abroad can be searched. There you can create an applicant profile that employers can see. For jobs from EU countries as well as from Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, the EURES network is the right starting point.
Besides official portals, national job boards, hostel noticeboards and traveller groups can help. Check each offer for clear details on registration, social insurance and contract terms. Treat offers that ask for upfront payments with caution.
| Route | What it offers | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Job portal of the Federal Employment Agency | Jobs abroad, applicant profile | Early, to review offers |
| ZAV of the Federal Employment Agency | Advice on search, applications and target country | Once you have chosen a country |
| EURES | Advisers for jobs in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland | For work in Europe and questions about moving |
| Direct application | Contact with employers on site | When you are already there |
Why EURES is useful for beginners
The EURES guide dated 21 May 2026 describes working in other EU countries as easier than ever and names the network with more than 900 advisers as the first point of contact. For beginners, this is useful mainly because the advisers can answer questions on living conditions, taxes and labour law without you needing prior training.
The guide also mentions the Targeted Mobility Scheme, which provides targeted financial support for moving abroad. Whether and under which conditions you can use it, you clarify directly with EURES, because the conditions are not set out in the guide.
How do you filter offers without experience?
Without experience, a clear filter helps. Write down three criteria: country, period and type of work. If you leave all three open, you get offers that fit no plan. If you fix only one, such as the country, you get too few options.
Check each advert for language requirements, working hours and accommodation. What an employer asks for, such as languages, flexibility or experience, is stated in the individual advert. Check it for every offer before you apply.
How do you run the search step by step?
- Set the goal: write down country, period and type of work in a list.
- Create a profile: set up an applicant profile on the job portal of the Federal Employment Agency so employers can find you.
- Request advice: ask the ZAV or an EURES adviser about the target country.
- Send applications steadily: a fixed number each week across different routes.
- Check offers: clarify registration, social insurance and contract terms before you accept.
Which questions should you clear before accepting?
An offer can look attractive quickly, but a few questions belong on the list before you accept. Clarify whether the employer registers you and which social insurance applies. Ask about working hours, probation, accommodation and notice periods. If taxes apply, find out early which deductions will affect you. These points are not formalities, because they decide whether the offer fits your travel plan.
For questions on social insurance, taxes or labour law, contacting an EURES adviser is worthwhile. The Federal Employment Agency notes that EURES advisers help cross-border commuters with these topics. Write the answers down and keep the contract with all annexes, because a verbal promise is hard to prove in a dispute.
Job searching while travelling often changes with your route. If you stay flexible, you can still accept offers late. Keep a list of open applications and replies up to date, so you always know where you stand. A fixed weekly slot for this prevents replies from getting lost.
How much time should you plan?
The search takes time before departure begins. Plan several weeks for research, applications and replies. A buffer matters because employers often reply slowly.
Example (assumption): you want to leave in June and start searching in April. If you send ten applications a week and about one in five leads to a conversation, you would have around sixteen conversations in eight weeks. This figure is a calculation assumption, not a statistic.
Frequently asked questions
Can I find a job abroad without experience?
That is possible. Whether a position requires experience is stated in the advert. It helps to name your language skills and availability clearly, so that employers can quickly judge whether you fit.
Do I need a CV for Work and Travel?
Yes, a CV is among the usual documents. EURES describes a strong CV and a good cover letter as important for job hunting and points to Europass, which the European Commission offers free of charge in 31 languages. The guide on writing a CV after Work and Travel explains how to present time abroad.
What is the ZAV?
The Central Placement Service for Abroad is the unit of the Federal Employment Agency for placement and advice abroad. It advises on searching and applying and, once a target country is chosen, on employment and living conditions.
Are offers on social networks safe?
Check every offer beforehand for employer, contract details and registration. If someone asks for advance payments or unclear fees, be cautious. The Federal Employment Agency and EURES are official points of contact.
What to do now, step by step
- Set a goal and note it in a list.
- Set up the job portal and applicant profile.
- Request advice from the ZAV or EURES.
- Send applications weekly and record the replies.
Related guides
- Work and Travel: an overview of countries, visas and budget (in German)
- Seasonal work abroad: jobs for students and how it works (in German)
- After Work and Travel: how to explain the gap on your CV (in German)
- Work and Travel checklist: what to sort out before departure (in German)
- Abroad internship or Work and Travel: what suits you? (in German)
Sources: Federal Employment Agency, working abroad (German, no date given); EURES, jobseeker guide on working across Europe (German, dated 21.05.2026)
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
