25.06.2025

Germany needs your expertise.
The figures speak for themselves: according to the VDI (Association of German Engineers), there are currently around 150,000 unfilled positions in STEM professions in Germany. The proportion of foreign STEM professionals has risen dramatically between 2012 and 2024 – more than tripling in academic STEM professions. The additional foreign employees in academic STEM professions alone contribute around sixteen billion euros per year to German value creation. This development shows that Germany is dependent on international talent and values their contribution.

The reality of the German labour market.
Despite globalization and although Germany is the world's leading exporter, English is by no means the dominant language of communication in German companies, contrary to what many international applicants expect. While 44 percent of German employees use a foreign language at work, according to Indeed, this is mainly in written correspondence. German continues to dominate in verbal meetings and everyday work.

German companies are particularly insistent on German language skills compared to other European countries: while 7.8 percent of job advertisements in the Netherlands do not require knowledge of the local language, this figure is only 2.7 percent in Germany (source: MiGazin.de). This linguistic flexibility is mainly limited to low-wage sectors and software development. German remains the primary working language for qualified STEM positions.

The decisive psychological factor.
This is where a psychological phenomenon comes into play that has a significant impact on your career opportunities: first impressions. HR managers and colleagues form an opinion about you within a matter of seconds. Your voice and manner of speaking play a key role in this. People who speak without an accent are automatically perceived as more trustworthy, intelligent, and competent.

Studies even show concrete financial implications: people who speak with a strong dialect or accent earn around 20 percent less on average than people who speak standard German – even if they have the same skills and qualifications. These unconscious prejudices have a direct impact on your job application chances, salary negotiations, and career prospects.

Your talents are the best proof.
If you have successfully completed a demanding STEM degree, you already have all the cognitive skills you need to learn accent-free German pronunciation. The same analytical thinking, precision, and perseverance that guided you through complex mathematical formulas or technical problems will also help you learn a language.

In summary: the strategic advantage of accent-free German.
Build trust: In job interviews, project meetings, and daily collaboration, you will immediately appear more professional and competent. Your technical arguments will come across clearly, without language barriers distracting from your content.
Maximize career opportunities: German companies prefer to invest in employees who can take on all communication tasks in the long term – from customer service to team management. With excellent German skills, you will qualify for management positions and challenging projects.
Expand your network: Technical discussions, informal contacts in the coffee kitchen, and participation in important meetings will become second nature. 
You will no longer be perceived as “the foreign colleague,” but as a full-fledged team member.
Long-term integration: Germany should become your new home. Accent-free German not only facilitates professional success, but also social participation and the feeling of truly having arrived.

A proven approach.
It is interesting to note that even political leaders have recognized the importance of linguistic excellence. Years ago, Turkish President Erdogan advised his compatriots in Germany to learn accent-free German—a remarkable recommendation that shows how important linguistic integration is for professional and social success.