Germany Information
Joined: 21 Oct 2006
Posts: 27
Home Country: germany
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 Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 10:43 am Post subject: EMPLOYMENT IN GERMANY/ GERMANY EMPLOYMENT GUIDE |
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EMPLOYMENT IN GERMANY (Getting a Job)
THE JOB MARKET
For many foreigners, Germany has amazing working conditions. German employees enjoy some of the highest salaries in the world, generous benefits and state-mandated job protection. In some industries, working hours have been reduced to 35 hours/week and holiday of up 30 days/year is not uncommon.
On the downside, Germany suffers high unemployment (around 12%), which is mostly structural due to strict labour market regulation and the changing nature of the German economy. Today, the country has around 5 million unemployed, many of whom will find it impossible to re-enter the job market. High unemployment means finding a job is difficult, especially for foreigners not speaking fluent German.
There are large regional differences in the German labour market. Employment levels are higher in the West of Germany than the East (with the exception of Berlin and the South of the former German Democratic Republic). Unemployment is generally more widespread in rural areas than cities. Traditional German heavy industries such as mining, construction and ship-building have high structural unemployment, while jobs are more plentiful in service industries.
Finding a job as a foreigner
If you're a native English-speaker, don't expect it to be a big advantage in the job market (of course, apart from teaching). Most Germans study English in school so jobs requiring this skill will have ample candidates (although don't expect all Germans to speak fluent English as this is not the case). Languages other than English can often be an advantage, as Germany is one of the largest exporters in the world. There is demand for "exotic" language skills, especially some Asian languages.
As in any foreign country, speaking the local language is a must. Obviously the environment at a multinational, compared to a small family-owned company, will probably be more suited to foreigner. Keep this in mind when looking for a job. For professionals, German operations of large foreign corporate or the international areas of very large companies may be promising targets.
A remarkable range of occupations are regulated in Germany, with many jobs requiring formal qualification. The country has an apprenticeship system that requires most young workers to pass a 2/3 year training program before entering the real labour market, which ensures they have first-hand experience in the job. For foreigners this can mean you might be prevented from working in a job in which you have experience at home, e.g. electrician, computer technician, etc. If you do have a formal qualification (such as for doctors, teacher and nurses, etc.), it will need to be certified by a competent German authority (usually a guild, trade or professional association).
JOB SEARCH
There are lots of places to look for jobs in Germany and many can be contacted before you arrive.
Newspapers & Magazines: Job offers are posted in the classified sections of daily newspapers (often on Wednesdays and Weekend issues), in weekly newspapers, monthly magazines (city magazines) and specialised trade magazines and journals. If you are looking for a highly qualified or academic job at a national level, you should consult the Saturday edition of national papers such as the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Süddeutsche Zeitung, Die Welt, Handelsblatt and Frankfurter Rundschau.
For less senior positions, look at local newspapers, such as the Westdeutsche Zeitung, Stuttgarter Zeitung or Berliner Zeitung, which often also carry positions on Wednesdays. For a fee, you can also place a job wanted advertisement in the jobs section. Find different newspapers on this site: www.zeitung.de.
Internet: The last few years have seen huge growth in the online job market and Online-Bewerbungen is now the most popular way to apply for work, especially among younger people and graduates. Online recruitment websites (Jobsbörsen) allow you to search according to your criteria, such as sector, salary and region. You can also post your CV on websites so that companies looking for specific skills can find you.
Labour offices ( Arbeitsamt): There are more than 800 Arbeitsämter (jobcentres) throughout Germany and EU/EEA nationals are entitled to use their services, look at their website for more details - www.arbeitsagentur.de. Jobcentres have extensive listings of vacancies, which are free to look at (even without a work permit). The majority of these offers are for un- and semi-skilled work. Positions at professional and executive levels are usually advertised by the company or filled by a recruitment agency. For foreigners seeking work in Germany, the Arbeitsamt has an international department called ZAV (Zentralstelle für Auslandsvermittlung). The address of the nearest Arbeitsamt will be listed in the telephone directory and yellow pages (Gelbe Seiten).
EURES: The EURES network is a partnership between the employment services in the EEA to support the free movement of workers. It facilitates the circulation of vacancies and enables online access to up-to-date information on living and working conditions in each EEA member state. EURES staff specialize in the practical issues surrounding employment in member states. They assist people who wish to work abroad and help employers find suitable employees from other EEA countries. They can be contacted via the Arbeitsamt, of which 50 centres are linked to the EURES network - for more go to www.europa.eu.int/eures.
Recruitment agencies: Private recruitment agencies are listed in the telephone book and yellow pages under Arbeitsvermittlung. A number of them specialize in recruiting for temporary positions, such as Manpower and Adecco, which can sometimes be a useful step towards a full-time job.
Career fairs: A good place to get started is to visit a career fair. Fairs usually have a range of employers and concentrate on a specific sector. Usually you to apply by sending in your CV and employers decide who they want to meet in advance. As well as getting general information on employment perspectives in different companies, it is often possible to arrange interviews.
Speculative applications: If you a specific company is of interest you can send a speculative application. This is common in Germany and (unlike in many other countries) is worth trying, as applications are retained and checked against positions as they become available in some companies.
Chambers of Commerce: Contact the local chamber of commerce of your home country in Germany, as they are often asked for candidates and sometimes have a database of open job positions. Often a chamber of commerce will have a list of companies from your home country doing business in Germany, which can make good targets for speculative applications.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Many foreigners need some time to adapt to the German attitude to work. People don't tend to work long hours; in many offices, especially in the public sector, the day ends at around 4 pm.
However, there is a strong emphasis on efficiency, people tend to use their working time to be highly productive and there is little or no time spent socializing or chatting. The exception to this is during break periods, which are usually 15 minutes, with 45 minutes for lunch.
Management culture in Germany is usually highly hierarchical. Germans like to work on well-thought-out plans and make factually-based decisions. Orderly and well scheduled meetings form a large part of what tends to be a consensual, group approach to decision-making. Punctuality is expected and lateness is not tolerated, so be careful, especially if you're from a country where this is endemic!
Salaries
Salaries ( Lohn/Gehalt) in Germany are among the highest in the world. Most jobs for graduates start from €30,000/year. Student jobs or unqualified work is generally paid around €10-15/hour. Salaries are usually talked about gross ( Brutto), i.e. before deductions for tax and social security. Be aware that taxes, depending on your salary, can be more than 50% of your gross salary, so don't get gross and net figures confused!
Salary is stated monthly in your employment contract, which should also detail special benefits, bonuses and salary reviews. Many employers pay 13th monthly payment a year, which is normally paid out in December for Christmas or split between summer and Christmas. In some management positions, you might even get a 14th salary.
It's difficult to get exact salary data for specific jobs or positions, which can be useful for negotiating salaries. Personalmarkt ( www.personalmarkt.de) offers you a salary analysis for a fee that takes into account sector, education, work experience and the geographical region. This might be helpful for negotiating your future salary.
Labour law
To enter employment, you need a work permit (Arbeitsgenehmigung or Arbeitserlaubnis) or a residency permit that allows you to work (see our section on work permits). You also require a tax card (Lohnsteuerkarte) and a social security number(Sozialversicherungsnummer). Tax cards are issued by the city/regional authority where you are registered as living. Social security numbers are issued by pension insurance institutions.
When an employee first enters employment, the employer generally makes their registration for them and provides a social security number and identity card. Queries should be directed to your employer, your health insurance company or your state insurance institution.
Labour regulations
Germany has one of the most highly regulated labour markets in the world, with its Labour law designed to protect employees. Whether or not an employment contract exists, all employees have basic rights to:
* holidays
* sick pay
* chose to work part-time
* receive training
* receive maternity/paternity leave and related employment protection
Periods of notice are also laid down under law, but companies can agree longer periods of notice under individual or collective labour law agreements. Working conditions which do not reach the legal minimum standard are not permitted and are not legally binding.
Collective Labour Agreements
There is also a collective labour law which stems from the laws protecting collective labour agreements and the framework for the rights of employees at their place of work (Betriebsverfassungsrecht). The laws governing collective labour agreements allow both partners (trade unions and employers' federations or individual employers) to make their own labour agreements. Labour agreements regulate wages, working hours, holidays and notice periods. Most employees work under a labour agreement, although in recent years more companies have received exemptions in order to negotiate their own agreements.
Framework for Employee Rights
The Betriebsverfassungsrecht regulates the relationship between employee and employer in the workplace. Employees are represented by the works council (Betriebsrat) whose members are elected by the workforce. Among other things, it is responsible for protecting employee rights in the workplace. Management must also consult with the Betriebsrat about issues regarding staff or the company. If you have problems in your workplace, you should consult your Betriebsrat for advice and help.
In firms with 2,000 or more employees, the 1976 Codetermination or Worker's Participation Law (Mitbestimmungsgesetz) applies. This law requires that the company's supervisory board contains a certain number of employee representatives. The principle of Codetermination means that unions and employees have a say in company policy, as well as sharing responsibility for the firm. |
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