40-year-old Master’s student with 10+ years of experience – am I overqualified for Werkstudent jobs in Germany?
Hi everyone,
I’m 40 and will soon start a Master’s degree in Berlin. Before returning to university, I worked for more than 10 years, mainly in product/project management in the tech/hardware industry.
I’ve been applying for Werkstudent positions for about two months, but so far I’ve received only rejections and zero interviews.
My German is still quite limited (around A2), so I’ve mainly been applying for positions where English is accepted. Some friends suggested that my previous experience might actually work against me because employers may see me as overqualified for a Werkstudent role, while my German is not good enough for many regular positions.
I genuinely don’t mind starting again in a more junior/student role. My goal is to gain experience in the German job market while studying and, of course, earn some income to help cover my living expenses.
For people familiar with hiring in Germany:
• Would 10+ years of previous experience make employers reluctant to hire someone as a Werkstudent?
• Is being 40 unusual enough for Werkstudent positions that it could affect my chances?
• Or is A2 German / the current job market more likely to be the main problem?
• Would you recommend continuing to apply for Werkstudent positions, or targeting other types of part-time roles instead?
I’d really appreciate candid opinions, including criticism. I’m trying to understand whether my strategy is wrong and what I should change.