Germany’s static employment culture discourages workers from changing jobs frequently and it’s almost unheard of to change career tracks. This is also true among expats, since residency permits are tied to whatever job brought them here. Should you decide to find a new employer, you’ll also have to get a new residency permit. Residency permits are also tied to the length of a limited employment contract; when the contract expires, so does your right to live in Germany.

There are no anti-competition regulations, so don’t feel guilty about moving to a competitor. Poaching is even a preferred method of recruitment in some fields, including banking and advertising.