Possible apprenticeships without a school-leaving certificate

Germans love rules and titles and documents... Without a school-leaving certificate (or one that is recognized in the country!), looking for a job or apprenticeship can be very tough and exhausting, as if all possibilities were excluded.

In Germany, the school-leaving certificate is an important step on the educational path, but not everyone reaches this milestone, whether due to personal challenges, a difficult start or simply other priorities - there are many different reasons why the school-leaving certificate is not achieved. 

But don't hang your head! Even without a school-leaving certificate, there are numerous opportunities to start an apprenticeship and embark on a successful career. Still not convinced? Find out everything you need to know about possible apprenticeships without a school-leaving certificate and how you can start directly as a career changer without training. 

What training can you do without a school-leaving certificate?

Did you know that although a school-leaving certificate is "desired" by many companies, it is not legally permitted in Germany to exclude someone from an apprenticeship because they do not have a school-leaving certificate? This means that you have good chances even without a school-leaving certificate - it just depends on your motivation, skills and willingness to learn!

Here are some apprenticeships that are possible without a school-leaving certificate:

• Warehouse clerk: A profession with many entry opportunities and promotion prospects. You can find out more about the tasks of a warehouse clerk here: What does a warehouse clerk do?
• Road and traffic engineering specialist, civil engineering specialist or bricklayer: there are more than enough open entry-level positions without special previous knowledge!
• Specialist for gastronomy or the hotel industry, service staff or housekeepers - in the gastronomy or hotel industry you have a very good chance of starting directly without a school-leaving certificate. 
• Specialist salesperson / retail specialist: with this apprenticeship, you have very good opportunities to work in many different sectors, for example in bakeries, supermarkets or butchers.
• Landscape gardener: If you're interested in plants, trees and flowers, you've come to the right place!
• Janitor: Not a classic apprenticeship, but one with very good opportunities: a job that combines technical understanding and organizational talent. You can find more information on the exact activities here: Janitor jobs.
• Building cleaner: a job that is needed everywhere! Not only the "simple" cleaning work falls within your remit, you can also have your adventures cleaning the glass facades of a high-rise building from the outside!

High demand for training without a school-leaving certificate

There are many apprenticeships, particularly in the skilled trades, for which a degree is not a mandatory requirement and yet there are hardly any applicants. There are a particularly large number of unfilled apprenticeships in these areas:

• Plumber: An unusual but very important apprenticeship. This profession is incredibly future-proof, as digitalization, AI and the like cannot replace this true manual work!
• Specialist salesperson in the food trade: Whether in the countryside or in the city, you are in demand everywhere and can also find flexible work anywhere.
• Butchers and butchers: Small but subtle differences - butchers tend to work in smaller businesses with possible customer contact. On the other hand, butchers tend to work in large companies and are very familiar with the different types of production and processing of meat products.
• Concrete and steel workers, pipe fitters and scaffolders: you will be in high demand in these specialized trades.
• Chef or baker: If you like being in the kitchen, you can prove yourself here.
• Warehouse logistics specialist: Particularly in demand in times of booming online trade.
• Professional driver: A profession with good prospects and often quick training. Find out what you can earn as a driver here: What does a truck driver earn?

There may also be certain specific sectors and industries in your region that are also urgently looking for trainees, but are not represented on average across Germany. For example, if you live near a large industrial port, you can easily get started there as a port logistics specialist or port skipper ! 

Well-paid apprenticeships without a school-leaving certificate

Even without a degree, you can find an apprenticeship that is not only fun, but also pays well. Professions such as professional driver or warehouse logistics specialist often offer above-average starting salaries, and skilled trades can also be lucrative. As a scaffolder , for example, you can look forward to a starting salary of 2,300 to 2,900 euros per month (source: Ausbildung.de). There are also many well-paid opportunities in nursing and care - the demand for skilled workers is particularly high here.

Find jobs on WorkerHero

Are you looking for a job that is possible without a school-leaving certificate or training? At WorkerHero, you will find numerous job offers for career changers and other support jobs that you can easily do without a school-leaving certificate if your training doesn't work out or you don't feel like going back to school. Whether in logistics, skilled trades or catering - WorkerHero offers you suitable job opportunities to get straight into working life and gain initial experience. 

Find out more about suitable professions for career changers without training and find the job that suits you now. Take the opportunity to take your professional future into your own hands and find your personal path, even without a traditional school-leaving qualification. Start your job search now with WorkerHero and discover exciting opportunities!