Hanover provides many work opportunities in different fields. This means that finding a job in Hanover is relatively straightforward. At the same, the work-life balance in the city is exceptional thanks to the many green spaces dotted around the city, including Europe's largest city forest, Eilenriede, and family-friendly leisure activities on offer.
In addition, the city is well-connected with an airport, and its vibrant city center is served by trains traveling to and from Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Munich, Dresden, Dusseldorf, and Hamburg. Overall, a city like Hanover offers professional opportunities thanks to its international profile, affordable cost of living, and creative atmosphere, which encourages new ideas.
About Hanover
Hanover (or Hannover as it's written in German) is the capital of the Lower Saxony region in northern Germany, and after Hamburg and Bremen, it is the region's third-largest city and part of the Hanover-Brunswick-Göttingen-Wolfsburg metropolitan region. Lower Saxony's population amounts to just over 8 million inhabitants, with a significant percentage being expatriates and people of non-German origin. Hanover itself has 538,000 inhabitants, making it the 13th largest city in Germany. In the 19th century, Hanover was among Germany's wealthiest cities, but today it is mostly known for its multicultural atmosphere, cultural events, and promising student life, as the city is home to six universities.
Hanover's economy
Since 2013, Hanover's growth has been consistent. However, like many parts of the world, the Lower Saxony, too, witnessed a significant decline in foreign business and exports during the COVID-19 pick years of 2020 and 2021. In fact, compared to 2019, pre-pandemic times, exports dropped by 11 percent, which amounts to almost 76 billion euros. Nevertheless, the region is centrally located and has excellent infrastructure, which means it has returned to normal levels of trade in almost all sectors.
Besides being home to several higher education institutions, Hanover is home to the head offices of many large German companies, such as Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Continental, TUI, DHL, Deutsche Bahn, Pelikan, and Sennheiser, among others. In addition, Hanover hosts a bloom of startups, and together with the metropolitan region, Hanover Braunschweig Göttingen Wolfsburg plays a significant role in scientific, economic, and cultural development. Hanover's economy is mainly based on automotive manufacturing, energy solutions, optical technology, information and communication technology, creative industries, and production and engineering fields. These fields have had significant collaborations with several countries, including Turkey and India. What's more, Hanover is home to many insurance companies, such as Hannover Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance groups.
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The labor market in Hanover
Hanover remains the region's leading job provider due to the presence of many major firms. Jobs are available in various fields, such as the manufacturing and automotive industries, information and communication technology, healthcare, and financial services. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism had begun to experience significant growth, and it actually became one of the region's main recruiters. However, the more sought-after jobs in Hanover are those in electronics and electronic engineering, administration, IT, healthcare, and architecture, to name a few.
Hanover is also a very attractive destination for international students in Germany. The city has several high-ranked universities, such as Leibniz Universität Hanover, Medizinische Hochschule Hanover (Medical University Hanover), Tierärtyliche Hochschule Hanover (University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover), and Fachhochschule Hanover (Hanover University of Applied Sciences), all offering great opportunities for academic careers in the fields of medicine and science.
Finding a job in Hanover
You can start your job search through our dedicated platform for jobs in Hanover, or if you are already in the country, you can start by asking your network if they know of any job positions. Of course, it is always possible to send spontaneous applications to the firms that interest you the most and check with the HR team whether there are any positions open that match your skills and expertise. As long as you present yourself in a professional and respectful manner, organizations will most likely appreciate the initiative and interest in their work.
We highly recommend reaching out to expat.com's community in Hanover via the friendly Hanover forum to expand your social network in Germany. Also, do not shy away from networking events, business fairs, or local job recruiters, as it is the best way to increase your chances of finding a job in a relatively small city. If you are a student, contact your university career services, which can advise you and help you with finding a starting position in Hanover.
When applying for jobs, keep in mind that showing recruiters that you continuously work on improving your level of German is an asset. Also, speaking one additional European language is valued in Germany, as well as having a master's degree and international work experience. Last but not least, Hanover is a hub for startups, and plenty of organizations help new companies and connect individuals by organizing information and scholarships for attractive projects.
Good to know:
The professions that are in shortage in Lower Saxony are elderly care, civil engineering, tax consultancy, healthcare and nursing, architecture, automotive and aerospace, and naval engineering.
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