Applications for the apprenticeship program are currently closed.
Our apprenticeship program
We select candidates for vocational training and offer German language preparation. This enables their application to the German employers in our network. The jobs are usually in blue-collar or caregiving occupations such as electrician, mechanical engineer, kindergarten teacher or nurse.
These opportunities require a knowledge of German language at a level of at least B1, and usually B2. Therefore, we look for candidates who are eager to learn the language. We offer language classes to help prepare candidates for interviews.
Eligibility criteria:
High school degree (KCSE for Kenyan candidates) is required.
Language: German language preparation can be an advantage.
Other requirements such as KCSE subjects and grades depend on the specific apprenticeship.
What is “Ausbildung“
Apprenticeships in Germany
Apprenticeship in Germany consists of on-the-job training at a company and classes at a vocational school (Berufsschule). You work for your company, while also learning the theoretical basics of your industry.
During training, you receive a monthly compensation from your company. Programs usually last between two and three and a half years, at the end of which you are a qualified professional in your chosen field. The compensation depends on the specific training course. The minimum wage for vocational training candidates from abroad is 964 Euro, enabling apprentices to cover their living expenses. This income rises during the course of the training.
Accommodation: typically, you will have to pay for your room or apartment in Germany. This can cost around 400 Euros per month.
What Deraja does for our trainees:
We help you with paperwork, for example registration in Germany and application for the government housing assistance.
We can help you find accommodation. We can also offer a short-term loan for the first month of rent, if needed.
We organize meetings of our trainees and advise them on how to make themselves at home in Germany.
After training:
Following the training, more than 70% of graduates stay at their company and become full-time employees. Most others find jobs with other firms in Germany. In the longer term, you have the opportunity to pursue further education in Germany, for example to become a master artisan in your chosen field. You can also study at a technical college in Germany to become a technician or engineer.
EXAMPLES of
apprenticeship opportunities
Industrial Mechanic
Industrial mechanics assemble, install, program and dismantle all kinds of machinery. Many large and small German firms train mechanics for their production equipment.
Vocational training in industrial mechanics and similar industrial careers often takes 3.5 years. The German labor market offers excellent opportunities for trained mechanics.
Electronic technician
Electricians are in high demand in Germany, for example for the installation and servicing of energy efficient heating and cooling systems. Solar energy generation is also a booming sector.
This career is suitable for you if you are interested in technology and if you are skilled in handicrafts. Following your apprenticeship, you can work as a qualified electronic technician, and you can pursue multiple additional qualifications, including becoming a master and business owner in your craft.
Kindergarten Teacher
There is a shortage of Kindergarten Teachers in Germany, and recently became possible to enter this career through a dual apprenticeship.
Hospitality professional, cooking
During the apprenticeship, hospitality professionals get to know all areas of work in a hospital. You will work at the bar and in the restaurant, at the reception, in event planning, and with the kitchen and cleaning teams. You will also learn the management side of the hospitality business.
Other apprenticeships in technical fields
Textile care specialists clean and maintain textiles such as the workwear used in hospitals and kitchens. If you are interested in textiles, chemistry, and home sciences, this could be a suitable career for you.
Machine operators adjust, control, maintain, and retool production facilities. Many different manufacturing companies in Germany require this type of work. This career could be for you if you have a strong understanding of technology and enjoy practical work to smooth production processes.
Medical technicians work with patients but also with technical equipment, for example with radiology or laboratory equipment.
Nursing
Due to its aging population, Germany has a shortage of nurses, particularly in geriatric care. The job profile of a nurse in Germany is slightly different from that in other countries and includes more physical care tasks.