Considering working inGermany?

Christine Schöttler – 2012

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Christine SchöttlerEURES Adviser, Careers Adviser

International Placement ServicesFederal Employment AgencyDoventorsteinweg 48-52

28195 Bremen

Tel.: 0049 421 178 1234

Fax: 0049 421 178 1558

E-Mail: ZAV-Bremen-Auslandsvermittlung@arbeitsagentur.de

Homepage: www. zav-auslandsvermittlung.de

BerlinBremen

DortmundErfurt

Frankfurt

Hamburg

Magdeburg

Nürnberg

Rostock

Stuttgart

Trier

DresdenBonn

ZAV –Auslandsvermittlung

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Facts about Germany

Labour market

Job searching strategies

Applying for a position

When you got the job

Social security

Taxes

Salary

Contents

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Surface area: 357.000 km²

Population: 82 Million

16 Federal States (Bundesländer)

Capital: Berlin

with 4.3 million inhabitants

Largest cities:

Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Cologne,

Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf

Facts about Germany

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Formalities

Law for everything

Leisure

Living outside the city

Recycling system

Facts about Germany

Something you should know about

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• Meal in a local restaurant € 14,- (without drinks)

• Softdrink in a restaurant € 2,50, Beer € 3,80 (0,5 l)

• BicMac € 4,50

• Cinema € 8,-

• Loaf of bread € 2,50 (biggest variety of bread and bakery

products worldwide)

• Butter 250gr € 1,40

• Cigarettes € 5,00 (smoking allowed only outside

or in private rooms)

Facts about Germany

Costs of Living

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€ 350 to € 600,- per month for 50 m² (1 bedroom, 1 living room, kitchen, bath), eastern and northern Germany cheaper

Mostly unfurnished (even without kitchen)

Register at town hall/local authority with your address after moving in

In cities parking space is often not included in rent (approx € 100,- for parking extra)

Renting is quite easy, landlords often ask for proof of work contract/income

Facts about Germany

Housing

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• International work experience

• Developing language skills

• Pleasant environment for living and working

• Learning new/other techniques and methods

• Very good reputation in quality, efficiency and R+D

• Very efficient public transportation system

Reasons for working in Germany

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Unemployment rate

December 2011: 6,6 %

2.7 million unemployed

people

About 467.000 job

vacancies

Labour market

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Mechanical and electrical engineers

Economic/ business engineers

others … (processing, robotic, plastics, bio etc.)

IT engineers (software development, network architects)

Specialized Doctors

Technical salesmen

R+D Posts (various)

Labour market

What are the jobs? – University graduates

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• Technicians (chemistry, mechanics, …)

• Skilled metal workers, welders (licensed)

• Nurses

• Chefs

• Salespersonnel

Labour market

What are the jobs? – skilled workers

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• Masters of arts and social sciences

• Geologists / Biologists

• Journalists

• Lawyers

• Architects

Labour market

Rare jobs – University graduates

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• Construction workers

• Textile industry

• Agricultural professions

Labour market

Rare jobs – skilled workers

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Access to the German labour market

Auswärtiges Amt - Studying and working in Germany

Without restriction-EEA (not Romania and Bulgaria) and Swiss nationals

Citizens from Australia, Israel, USA, Japan, Canada, NZ, South Korea follow a special procedure

-Graduates from other countries who have a degree from a German University have the right to look for work for one year

- Blue Card (law not yet passed ) will allow a special group to work in Germany- in certain professions – MINT (€ 33000)- Graduates in the field of their studies (€ 44.000)

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Migration CheckYou would like to work in Germany? This is to provide a first orientation as to whether you will be able to obtain a work permit in Germany.

Please select: I am ...a citizen of an EU member statea citizen of Liechtenstein, Iceland, Norway or Switzerland a citizen of Andorra, Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino or the USA a citizen of another country

Migration Check - www.arbeitsagentur.de

Access to the German labour market

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• Internet

• Newspapers, magazines

• EURES adviser

• Private or public employment agencies

• Temporary employment agencies

• (Job) fairs (Cebit, Hannover fair, Connecticum)

• Direct contact with employer

• Social Media

Jobsearch

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• www.arbeitsagentur.de ( German employment service)• www.eures.europa.eu (EU-Commission/EURES)

• www.meinestadt.de (all about the German cities)

• www.careergardens.de (careers fairs)

• www.gelbeseiten.de (yellow pages)

• www.branchenbuch.de (company directory)

• www.connecticum.de (Germany‘s biggest career- and recruiting fair for graduates)

Useful websites

Jobsearch

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• Die Zeit academic professions (every Thursday)

• Die Welt

• FAZ – Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung weekends

• Süddeutsche Zeitung

• Handelsblatt for economists

• VDI-Nachrichten engineering professions

Jobsearch

Newspapers:

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• Very good German language skills

• Professional experience in the relevant sector

• Motivation and flexibility• Ability to work in a team

Applying for a job

What do German employers expect?

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There is no central institution for the recognition of qualifications in Germany (Education and trainings are controlled by the individual federal states)

Information about regulated professions and where to get the official recognition, can be found at:

www.kmk.org/zab/beruf12.htm

Applying for a job

Qualifications

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1. The application should be short and precise

2. Documents should indicate a differentiated picture of the applicant

3. Letter of application should be unique to the employer and the position

4. Last but not least: use German language

http://www.europass-info.de/EN/europass-lebenslauf.asp

Applying for a job

Basic rules

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Cover letter

CV/resume

Photo is usual and highly recommended (nice and serious looking picture)

Copies of school, university degrees and other professional trainings

The “Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen” can compare your academic qualifications (€ 100). http://www.kmk.org/zab/zeugnisbewertungen.html

Copies of written references (mentioning names of former employers is not sufficient)

Applying for a job

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Cover letter

not more than one page

refer to the source

explain why you are the right person for this job

explain why you are looking for a job in Germany

Applying for a job

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Name / address / date of birth / marital status

School

Training / university

Practical training

Work experience

Others (military service, voluntary work)

Languages

Other skills (computer skills, hobbies)

Location, date, signature

not more than 2 pages!

Applying for a job

CV

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Applying online

short application

online application forms

„Real‘“ application

Applying for a job

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• The employer registers the new employee with the social insurance institutions (public or private).

• health insurance,

• pension insurance

• unemployment insurance

• A work permit is not necessary for EEA citizens

• The employee registers his address at the local administration office

• The employee receives an income tax card from the local authorities and passes it to the employer

When you got the job

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• Health

• Unemployment

• Pension

• Care

• Accident

Social security

5 branches of the social security system:

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Employer – employee = 50 : 50

• Health insurance 15,5 %

• Unemployment insurance 3,0 %

• Pension 19,6 %

• Care insurance 1,95 %

• Accident insurance employer 100 %

• More details: www.deutsche-sozialversicherung.de (in English)

Social security

Social insurance rates:

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P. A. Y. E. (Pay As You Earn)

Automatically deducted from employee’s salary:

• Income tax 14 % - 45 %

• Church tax 8 % - 10 % of income tax

• Solidarity tax 5,5 % of income tax

Taxes

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In addition to your travel costs you will need enough money to cover your housing, food and other expenses until you receive your first payment from your employer

Even if you find a job immediately, you can expect to wait up to a month for your first payment

General information

Money matters

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Engineer ca. 3.000 - 4.400 € p./m.

Fitter (trade) ca. 1.500 - 1.600 € p./m.

Office clerk ca. 1.800 - 2.100 € p./m.

Nurse ca. 1.800 - 2.300 € p./m.

There is no official minimum wage in Germany.

Salaries are in general bound by a collective labour agreement (tariff).

General information

Gross salaries

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Zentrale Auslands- und Fachvermittlung (ZAV) - Info-Center in Bonn

00 47 228 713 13 13

E-Mail: zav-auslandsvermittlung@arbeitsagentur.de

Monday to Friday 8:00 – 18:00 Uhr

Contact details

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ANY QUESTIONS?

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What is the basis of “Sauerkraut”?

1. Cauliflower

2. Chicory

3. Brussel Sprouts

4. Cabbage

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Thank you very much for

listening to my presentation

See you again in Germany?