German · Jobcenter / Arbeitsagentur
You have started a mini-job and report it to the Jobcenter: what to say in German
You have taken a mini-job and report it to the Jobcenter.
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How it's done. You must report any work or earnings to the Jobcenter at once: part of the income stays free, the rest is counted against your benefit; you must not hide earnings.Prepared by the Movko team, November 2026. This is language help, not legal or medical advice: check the rules with the office itself.
Cheat sheet for your visit
The first phrase is open: tap ▶ to listen, or “Show” to show it to the other person. The rest of the dialogue is in the course in the app.
1
THEY SPEAK FIRST
THEY SAY
Guten Tag. Was kann ich für Sie tun?GOO-tayn tahk. Vahs kahn eekh fyoor zee toon?
Good day. What can I do for you?
They might also say:
Guten Tag. Worum geht es?
GOO-tayn tahk. Voh-ROOM get es?
Good day. What is it about?
YOU REPLY
Ich habe einen Minijob angefangen. Muss ich das dem Jobcenter melden?
Eekh KHAH-beh IGH-nayn MEE-need-zhop AHN-geh-fahn-gayn. Moos eekh dahs dem DZHOB-sayn-tehr MEL-dayn?
I have started a mini-job. Do I have to report that to the Jobcenter?
Or say:Ich habe eine Arbeit angefangen und möchte das melden.
Eekh KHAH-beh IGH-neh AHR-bight AHN-geh-fahn-gayn oont MYOKH-teh dahs MEL-dayn.
THEY SAY
Ja, jede Arbeit und jedes Einkommen müssen Sie sofort melden. Haben Sie den Arbeitsvertrag dabei?Yah, YEH-deh AHR-bight oont YEH-des IGHN-koh-mayn MYOO-sayn zee zoh-FORT MEL-dayn. KHAH-bayn zee dayn AHR-bights-fehr-truhk duh-BIGH?
Yes, you must report every job and every income at once. Do you have the employment contract with you?
They might also say:
Ja, das ist Pflicht. Bringen Sie bitte den Arbeitsvertrag mit.
Yah, dahs eest pfleekht. BREEN-gayn zee BEE-teh dayn AHR-bights-fehr-truhk meet.
Yes, that is a duty. Please bring the employment contract.
2
YOU REPLY
Den Vertrag habe ich dabei. Die Gehaltsabrechnung bekomme ich erst nächsten Monat.
Dayn fehr-TRAHK KHAH-beh eekh duh-BIGH. Dee geh-KHAHLT-suh-brekh-noong beh-KOH-meh eekh ehrst NEKS-tayn MOH-nuht.
I have the contract with me. I'll only get the payslip next month.
THEY SAY
Dann geben Sie uns den Vertrag jetzt und die Abrechnung später. Füllen Sie bitte dieses Formular aus.Dahn GEH-bayn zee oons dayn fehr-TRAHK yehtst oont dee AH-brekh-noong SHPEH-tuh. FYOO-layn zee BEE-teh DEE-zes for-moo-LAHR ows.
Then give us the contract now and the payslip later. Please fill in this form.
3
YOU REPLY
Wird mein Bürgergeld dadurch weniger?
Veert mighn BYOOR-gehr-gelt duh-DOORKH VEH-nee-guh?
Will my Bürgergeld become less because of it?
THEY SAY
Ein Teil des Einkommens bleibt für Sie frei. Den Rest rechnen wir an.Ighn tighl des IGHN-koh-mayns blighpt fyoor zee frigh. Dayn rest REKH-nayn veer ahn.
Part of the income stays free for you. The rest we count against it.
4
YOU FINISH
Verstehe. Vielen Dank für die Erklärung!
Fehrsh-TEH-eh. FEE-layn dahnk fyoor dee ehr-KLEH-roong!
I see. Thank you very much for the explanation!
The course is in the app
This dialogue is part of the course “German for life in Germany”: 416 situations with audio, a pronunciation guide and spaced review.
On the website the first dialogue, the 112 category, the rescue phrases and the “Basics” are fully open.
Words worth knowing
Guten
GOO-tayn
adjective
good (in greetings)
Tag
tahk
noun
day
kann
kahn
verb
can
tun
toon
verb
to do
habe
KHAH-beh
verb
I have
Minijob
MEE-need-zhop
noun
mini-job
60 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?
KYOH-nayn zee dahs BEE-teh vee-dehr-KHOH-layn?
Can you repeat that, please?
Können Sie bitte langsamer sprechen?
KYOH-nayn zee BEE-teh LAHNG-zuh-muh SHPREH-khayn?
Can you speak more slowly, please?
Was bedeutet das?
Vahs beh-DOY-tet dahs?
What does this mean?
Similar situations
You go to the Jobcenter to apply for benefitJobcenter / Arbeitsagentur · A2 in the app
→You are asked to bring documents to the appointmentJobcenter / Arbeitsagentur · A2 in the app
→You say you are looking for work and ask for helpJobcenter / Arbeitsagentur · A2 in the app
→You cannot come to the appointment and let them knowJobcenter / Arbeitsagentur · A2 in the app
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