Find a postdoc position in germany

Of course nobody here will be able to tell you why you were unsuccessful (without knowing you, your applications and the needs of the institutes you applied at).

But one very common issue is language: How good is your German?

English is often expected as an addition to, but never a replacement for German. (And French is not usually an asset.)

And also: Did you check (in the ANABIN database) whether your degree is recognised here?

I wish you more luck in your future attempts!

@Nolwen D.

As beppi says its hard to know where you went wrong with your application.

Applying for jobs may well be different from what it's like in France. For example, I know it's different to the UK, like including a picture of yourself on your CV, so just that alone might eliminate you straight away.

Explain in your cover letter why you want to work in that specific field and lab. Highlight how your expertise can help them achieve their research goals (e.g., using your skills to solve their specific problems).

Ensure you explicitly meet the required and preferred qualifications listed in the vacancy.

While many positions may be in English, knowing German can be a significant advantage.

Tips for a successful postdoc application

I got my PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in USA and got a postdoc position in Germany (even though now I have a different job).  I don't think that there is a different "code" to get a postdoc position in Germany. It really depends on how your application looks and if it fits to their needs at the moment. If you are looking for a postdoc position in academia, you don't need to speak German even though you are going to have to learn German eventually to be able to live here. In academia, everyone speaks English. In case of getting a job in industry, you have to be able to speak German.

Many labs are very careful with hiring a new postdoc since their funding is limited, so you have to really  fit into their needs, In my case, the lab needed someone with the skill that I had for their project at the moment, so I was lucky. You also need a strong recommendation. And I did not speak German at the time. I think you just have to keep trying different labs and write in your cover letter how your skill and knowledge can help their current ongoing projects.

@beppi

Thank you for your response. Actually, I don't speak German. I thought English would be sufficient for academic research or an R&D structure, but after your response, I realized it will not be. I will ask the laboratory that rejected my application if language was involved in their decision. Thanks a lot and best wishes !

@SimCityAT

Thank you very much for the advice. I will add my picture on my CV and follow your advice for improving my cover letter. Thanks a lot and best wishes !

@ohphoto

Thank you very much for your response. It's interesting to hear from someone with the same background.

Actually he "research market" appears under pressure, but I was worried that I would miss specific requests in Germany.

As for recommendations, I have one from my thesis supervisors, but do you think it has to come from someone in a German lab?

Thank you in advance and best wishes !

@Nolwen D.

I would say recommendation from your PhD advisor. In my case, my previous boss from US was well-known in our field, so the boss from the German lab directly called my previous boss and talked over the phone instead of a written letter. But I still did a Skype interview with the German boss and then also came to Germany to give a talk in front of people from the lab.

@Nolwen D. Of course language is only one of the factors an employer considers (and, as others correctly pointed out, probably less important in academia as for industrial jobs or daily life in Germany) - but you should realize that every negative aspect has to be compensated for elsewhere: You thus would have to be BETTER than local applicants in technical knowledge, experience or some other aspect.

And, they are not looking for you - on the contrary: You have to convince them (with a well-written application and conduct during interviews) that it is in their interest to hire you - over all the other applicants they review (with all of them trying the same).