💡 When phoning a company first say who you are and why: Ich rufe wegen der Stellenanzeige an; the answer Moment, ich verbinde Sie means you are being put through.
💡 A German application usually includes a Lebenslauf (CV), Anschreiben (cover letter) and copies of Zeugnisse (certificates, diplomas); they are sent as a single PDF.
💡 You arrive for an interview on time, a few minutes early (pünktlich); if they phone, ask for the address in writing so that nothing gets mixed up.
💡 At an interview you shake hands, make eye contact and state your full name: Guten Tag, ich bin Olena Kovalenko.
💡 Useful words: Berufserfahrung (experience), Stärken (strengths), Teamarbeit (teamwork), Weiterbildung (further training).
💡 Salary in Germany is given brutto (before tax) and netto (take-home); the question Wie sind Ihre Gehaltsvorstellungen? is standard.
💡 In the contract look at Probezeit (probation), Kündigungsfrist (notice period), Arbeitszeit (hours) and Urlaubstage (holiday days).
💡 Vollzeit is full time, Teilzeit part time; befristet is fixed-term, unbefristet permanent.
💡 During the trial period (Probezeit, usually up to six months) the notice period is shorter: by law two weeks; read whatever was agreed in the contract.
💡 For a mini-job (Minijob) the employer asks for your insurance details in a form (Personalfragebogen); a mini-job does not give you health insurance by itself, so you need your own fund.
💡 On the first day colleagues are introduced, you are shown your place and given keys or a card; it is usual to shake hands and say your name.
💡 Asking for help is normal; the phrases Hast du kurz Zeit? (informal) or Haben Sie kurz Zeit? (formal) open the conversation politely.
💡 Many people spend the lunch break (Mittagspause) together; many companies have a canteen (Kantine). Everyone pays for themselves.
💡 In many German companies colleagues say du; formal Sie stays with management and clients. Usually the older person or manager offers du: Wir können uns gern duzen.
💡 Asking to repeat is fine and colleagues value honesty: Könnten Sie das bitte wiederholen? or Können Sie das schreiben?
💡 You have to tell your employer about illness as early as possible, usually in the morning; a longer illness is confirmed by a doctor (Krankschreibung), which is mostly sent electronically today.
💡 Leave (Urlaub) is usually agreed in advance with your manager or in a system; ask: Kann ich vom ... bis ... Urlaub nehmen?
💡 The doctor sends the sick note (eAU) electronically and you only tell your employer about the illness on the first day; after you recover you usually do not need to bring any paper.
💡 Brutto is before tax, Netto take-home; the slip has Lohnsteuer (income tax) and Sozialversicherung (social insurance).
💡 Überstunden are overtime hours; they are paid or compensated with free time (Freizeitausgleich) as set out in the contract or collective agreement.