Weaving a Professional Network in Germany as an Expat

Published on January 17, 2026 and written by Cyril Jarnias

Moving to Germany for work means entering a world where networking is neither built by chance nor through endless “small talk.” Here, they talk about Vitamin B – the famous “B” for Beziehung (relationship) – and it’s not an empty phrase: over 80% of jobs are never advertised, and about 70% of employed people say they found their job through their network. In other words, for an expatriate, succeeding professionally in Germany inevitably requires a strong, credible network… one that’s adapted to the local culture.

Understanding the Playing Field: Networking Culture in Germany

Before multiplying business cards and LinkedIn invitations, you must grasp how Germans conceive professional relationships. Unlike cultures where contacts are accumulated like trophies, the German approach favors depth over quantity.

The network is first and foremost a system of trust. The concept of Vitamin B illustrates this: a recommendation is worth almost more than an exceptional resume. But this recommendation must be based on patiently built relationships, where reliability, punctuality, and consistency count for more than charm or quick wit.

Direct, Factual, Structured: The German Style

In Germany, professional communication is direct, rational, and not very emotional. Saying “no” without frills is neither impolite nor aggressive: it’s synonymous with clarity and seriousness. A vague “maybe” is, on the contrary, suspect. Explicit criticism, sometimes harsh to the ears of some expats, is seen as a tool for progress, not as a personal attack.

Exchanges revolve around facts, figures, and deadlines. Humor is still possible but very coded, and in a business context, it’s often considered that “you work first, joke later.” To network, you need to prepare solid arguments, precise examples, and avoid embellishing your achievements too much: exaggeration is quickly perceived as a lack of reliability.

Advice for an expatriate in a German professional context

Formality, Hierarchy, and Titles

Initial interactions remain very formal. One systematically uses the formal Sie and titles: Herr Müller, Frau Dr. Schmidt, Herr Professor Weber, etc. Switching to the informal du is only done at the initiative of the German person and often marks an important step in the relationship. Similarly, respecting the hierarchy is essential: you address the right level, you don’t bypass superiors, especially in traditional large companies.

Punctuality and Seriousness: From Appointments to Follow-up

In Germany, arriving five to ten minutes before the scheduled time is being “on time.” Arriving exactly on time already starts to border on being late, and arriving late without notice sends a very negative signal. Deadlines are treated with the same rigor: asking for an extension at the last minute, or worse, missing a deadline without explanation, quickly ruins trust.

For networking, this translates to carefully planned appointments, prepared meetings with documents in order, and systematic follow-up within 24 to 48 hours after an important meeting. It’s often in this follow-up phase that the difference between a fleeting contact and a lasting relationship is made.

The Weight of Networking in the Reality of the German Job Market

The numbers speak for themselves: about 85% of positions are filled through networking, and more than four out of five job openings are simply never advertised. For an expatriate looking for a job or wanting to advance their career, ignoring networking in Germany is equivalent to excluding themselves from the bulk of the market.

Major Cities, Epicenters of Networking

The main networking hubs for expatriates remain the major cities: Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, but also more specialized centers like Ingolstadt or Essen. Berlin attracts startups, creatives, and tech; Munich combines cutting-edge industry and finance; Frankfurt concentrates banks and financial services; Hamburg shines through its port and logistics.

These cities are home not only to corporate headquarters (Zalando, N26, Delivery Hero, Merck KGaA, etc.) but also a multitude of coworking spaces, professional associations, expat clubs, and local communities – all gateways for building connections.

Building Your Digital Footprint: LinkedIn, XING, and Beyond

In Germany, the digital handshake happens through a solid online profile. Before meeting you, many recruiters, managers, or potential partners will type your name into LinkedIn or XING. Your profile then becomes your first “pitch“.

LinkedIn and XING: Complementary, Not Competitors

LinkedIn dominates the international scene, with over 700 million users worldwide and rapid growth in the German-speaking sphere. It’s the go-to platform for large corporations, tech, startups, consulting, and international profiles.

XING, on the other hand, remains the stronghold of the German-speaking world, especially for DACH and more traditional sectors. With over 17 to 19 million members, almost all based in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland, it remains essential for targeting the Mittelstand, industrial SMEs, or jobs very much rooted locally.

Platform	Main Strength	Preferred Language	Dominant Types of Actors
LinkedIn	Global reach, tech, large corporations	English + German	Multinationals, startups, consultants, international profiles
XING	DACH anchor, local recruitment	German	SMEs, Mittelstand, local recruiters, traditional sectors

Perfecting Your Profile: Your Living Resume

On both platforms, some elements are non-negotiable:

– A professional, sober photo, adapted to rather conservative German standards.

– A clear headline, rich in keywords, in German on XING (e.g., Marketingleiter rather than Marketing Manager), bilingual on LinkedIn if possible.

– A structured, factual “About” section that tells your career story and your quantified results.

– Experience descriptions oriented towards “Zahlen, Daten, Fakten” – numbers, data, facts – rather than a vague list of duties.

– Skills aligned with terms used in Germany, particularly for technical or engineering functions.

Being Active Rather Than Passive

A well-filled profile is not enough. German recruiters and decision-makers are increasingly paying attention to activity: comments, participation in groups, publications. Joining relevant groups like “IT Jobs Germany,” “Marketing Professionals in Berlin,” or career-oriented expat communities makes you visible and shows your understanding of the local market.

Getting involved in these groups – asking precise questions, responding with useful information, sharing analyses – counts for more than just reading. The logic remains the same as in face-to-face meetings: to be perceived as someone serious, factual, who adds value.

Getting Off the Screen: Events, Trade Fairs, and Local Scenes

Germany is the land of trade fairs. More than 160 major international trade fairs are organized there each year, attracting nearly 180,000 exhibitors and over 10 million visitors. About two-thirds of the world’s leading trade fairs take place in the country. For an expatriate, these events are true network accelerators.

Major Trade Fairs as Relationship Hubs

Events like Hannover Messe (industry and innovation), Medica in Düsseldorf (medical), ITB Berlin (tourism), DMEXCO in Cologne (digital marketing), or the Frankfurter Buchmesse (publishing and media) bring together thousands of decision-makers, engineers, salespeople, and startup founders in a few days.

Participating – even just as a visitor – allows you to:

– get a feel for a sector,

– identify key players,

– engage in targeted conversations about concrete solutions and projects,

– spot profiles and companies open to working with internationals.

Chambers of Commerce, Stammtisch, and Professional Associations

Outside of major events, networking life plays out largely at the local level:

For an expatriate, joining a German sectoral association, even as a junior member, allows you to be identified as an “insider” rather than just a foreign observer.

Coworkings and Startup Ecosystems

Coworking spaces and innovation hubs play a growing role in the German network. In Berlin, places like Factory Berlin, betahaus, St. Oberholz, Impact Hub, or Ahoy! host events, meetups, hackathons, workshops – often in English. Acceleration programs like Techstars or Startupbootcamp, events like Berlin Startup Week or Tech Open Air, create bridges between German founders, international investors, and talent from elsewhere.

Even if you don’t work in tech, frequenting these circles can open surprising doors: an industrial SME in the Ruhr might be looking for a data scientist there, a Berlin scale-up will need an international lawyer, a Frankfurt fintech a specialist in your home market.

Relying on Expat Communities Without Getting Trapped in Them

Expat communities often constitute the first safety net upon arrival: practical information, mutual aid, socialization. In Germany, these networks are particularly developed in major cities.

Clubs, Meetups, and Platforms Dedicated to Expats

Groups like Berlin Expats, Hamburg Expats, Munich Expats, Stuttgart Expats, Cologne Expats, Frankfurt Expats regularly organize meetups: hikes, game nights, barbecues, cultural outings. Platforms like InterNations bring together tens of thousands of members in their German communities, with subgroups by city or interest (improv theater in Berlin, art in Munich, language tandems in Frankfurt, etc.).

Here is a simplified overview of what you can find:

City / Community	Types of Activities Offered	Interest for Professional Network
Berlin Expats, Berlin Expat Meetup	Pub crawls, hikes, game nights	Initial contacts, sector scouting, informal exchanges about the local market
Hamburg Expats, Munich Expats, Frankfurt Expats	After-work events, relocation advice, outings	Discovering the local ecosystem, meeting other foreign professionals
InterNations Groups (Berlin, Munich, Cologne…)	Business meetups, language tandems, thematic workshops	Building connections with international and local executives open to foreign profiles

Other clubs target women more specifically (Berlin International Women’s Club, International Women in Business Düsseldorf, Be Building Abroad in Hamburg and Munich) or certain circles (Newcomers Network in Frankfurt for internationals, Entrepreneurs Stuttgart for business founders).

The Risk of the Expat “Ghetto”

Relying on these communities facilitates emotional and social integration, but staying only among expatriates quickly limits professional opportunities. In Germany, the majority of positions require German skills, and the most influential networks remain those of locals, professional associations, alumni of German universities, and Chambers of Commerce.

The challenge for an expatriate is therefore to use these groups as a springboard, not as a permanent refuge: start by getting recommendations for professional events, contacts at IHKs, sectoral trade fairs, workshops in German, then gradually step into German-speaking circles.

The Often Underestimated Lever: Mentors, Tandems, and Sponsorships

A powerful shortcut to accelerate your network in Germany is to enroll in a mentoring, sponsorship, or “tandem” relationship. The country has an incredibly rich ecosystem in this area, whether it’s social programs for newcomers, university schemes, or startup-oriented mentoring.

Social Mentoring Programs for Newcomers

The federal program “Menschen stärken Menschen” lists numerous sponsorship organizations. The platform patenmatch.de allows you to find associations offering voluntary tandems, in German or English. Initiatives like “Start with a Friend” (present in over 20 cities), “Little World,” or projects run by migrant organizations (Turkish community, Muslim social services, associations for interculturality, etc.) connect locals and newcomers.

Academic and University Mentoring

German universities and grandes écoles have developed their own schemes: alumni networks, career centers, mentoring programs for doctoral candidates or young researchers (e.g., “KarriereWegeMentoring” between the universities of Greifswald and Rostock, or programs by the Max Planck and Fraunhofer Gesellschaft).

Mentoring for Entrepreneurship and Career

For entrepreneurial profiles, structures like German Accelerator rely on a network of over 1000 mentors across four continents, while WORLD FACTORY (University of the Ruhr in Bochum) offers a program with matching events, structured agreements, and six-month support. On the career side, programs like MentorMe (focused on women) or offers from certain professional associations (Business and Professional Women, bdvb, etc.) allow you to be coached by experienced professionals.

The benefits are multiple: refining your networking strategy, understanding sector codes, getting introductions to key contacts, avoiding cultural mistakes, gaining confidence in direct communication with Germans.

Getting into Major Sectoral Networks

Beyond the local dimension, Germany is structured by a multitude of federations and associations by industry: industry, digital, banking, health, renewable energy, etc. For an ambitious expatriate, carving out a place, even a modest one, gives access to a powerful network.

Among the major players, we can cite:

These structures organize congresses, information sessions, expert groups, sometimes accessible to non-Germans. The challenge for an expatriate is to identify the one that best matches their sector and to gradually insert themselves: by attending open events, joining a local group, proposing a talk on a subject where their international perspective adds value.

Learning German: A Decisive Boost for Your Network

You can survive professionally in Germany with English, especially in certain sectors (tech, consulting, large multinationals), but building a solid long-term network without German quickly becomes a handicap. Over 80% of job ads explicitly require German and almost all are written in the language.

German, a Signal of Seriousness and a Multiplier of Opportunities

Speaking German, even at an intermediate level (B1/B2), sends several strong signals:

– You envision Germany as a long-term project, not a temporary stop.

– You are making the effort to understand the local culture, its codes, its nuances.

– You can participate in informal exchanges – those where real decisions are sometimes made.

Using Networking to Learn – and Learning to Network

Language tandem programs, language cafes organized by municipal libraries or associations, conversation groups on Meetup or InterNations, allow you to combine German practice and building connections. In Munich, for example, the municipal library organizes language cafes where you can practice German but also Italian, Chinese, Arabic, or Spanish.

For an expatriate, this is a less intimidating way to meet people while improving an indispensable skill. Conversely, each linguistic progress opens the door to more “technical” events (conferences, association general meetings, IHK meetings…) previously difficult to access.

The Art of Follow-up: Turning a Meeting into a Lasting Relationship

One of the most underestimated aspects of networking, in Germany as elsewhere, is follow-up. Sending a message within 24 to 48 hours after a meeting – trade fair, conference, Stammtisch, workshop – is essential to anchor the contact.

How to Follow Up the German Way

The style of follow-up expected in Germany follows the already described codes: clarity, conciseness, fact-oriented. An effective message:

A well-structured email is better than an unsolicited WhatsApp message: instant messaging is often reserved for already established contacts. A LinkedIn or XING connection request must always be accompanied by a personalized note, not an empty invitation.

If the person doesn’t respond, a polite follow-up a few weeks later is acceptable. Beyond that, insisting can be poorly perceived. Regularity in contacts – a message every three or four months to give updates, share a relevant article, congratulate on a promotion – helps keep the link alive without giving the impression of “asking for something.”

Aligning with Non-Verbal and Relational Codes

Developing a network isn’t just about talking; it’s also about behaving in a way that conforms to local expectations, especially in a country attached to discretion and reserve.

Some useful guidelines:

Understanding that initial reserve isn’t disinterest but a form of respect helps avoid many misunderstandings. Often, once the “shell” is cracked, relationships become very loyal and long-lasting – which, in a long-term networking logic, is a considerable advantage.

Think Marathons, Not Sprints

In Germany, building a solid network isn’t a matter of a few weeks. The culture favors consistency, reliability, and the quality of connections. An expatriate who arrives with a mindset of a quick “hunt” for opportunities risks being perceived as opportunistic.

Conversely, the person who:

– respects communication codes,

– gradually learns the language,

– contributes in professional groups,

– invests in an association or mentoring program,

– ensures serious follow-up after each meeting,

In practice, developing your network in Germany requires as much strategy as endurance. But for an expatriate ready to play by the local rules – formal, direct, structured – the investment is largely rewarded: a solid economic environment, innovative industry, international career prospects and, above all, a professional circle you can truly rely on.