1. Living and Working in Germany
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Living and Working in Germany
EURES Germany
Ina Rosenow

2. Index Facts about Germany Labour Market Social Security Taxes
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Index
Facts about Germany
Labour Market
Social Security
Taxes
Job Searching Strategies
Applying for a position
When you have found a position
General Information

3. Facts about Germany Surface Area: 357.000 km² Population: 82.6 Million
Capital: Berlin
with 4.3 million inhabitants
16 Federal States (Bundesländer)

4. Labour Market Unemployment Rate 7,4 % West Germany: ~ 6 %
East Germany: ~ 12 %
 about 3,1 Million unemployed persons
Employed: 38,2 Million
About job vacancies
The current number of unemployed persons is further decreasing.

5. Labour Market Where are the jobs? – For University Graduates:
Economic engineers
Electrical engineers
Mechanical engineers
Specialized Doctors
Chemists
Specialists in Marketing and Sales

6. Labour Market Where are the jobs? – Skilled Workers:
Technicians (Chemistry Mechanics, …)
Skilled Metal Workers
Nurses
Cooks
Sales-Employees

7. Labour Market
The following jobs are hard to find – University Graduates:
Architects and Civil engineers
Masters of Arts and Social Sciences
Geographists and Geologists
Biologists
Journalists
Lawyers
Teachers
Assistant physicians

8. Labour Market The following jobs are hard to find – Skilled Workers:
Construction Workers
Skilled Workers in the Textile Industry
Agricultural Professions
Unskilled Workers

9. Social Security 5 branches of the Social Security System:
Health Insurance
Unemployment Insurance
Pension
Care Insurance
Accident Insurance
Please find detailed information in English and French as well on

10. Social Security Social Insurance Rates: Employer – Employee = 50 : 50
Health Insurance 15,5% (1st of January 2009)
Unemployment Insurance 2,8 % (1st of January 2009)
Pension 19,5 %
Care Insurance 1,7 %
Accident Insurance employer 100 %

11. Taxes P. A. Y. E. (Pay As You Earn)
Automatically deducted from employee’s salary:
Income tax  16 % - 45 %
Church tax  8 % - 10 % of income tax
Solidarity tax  5,5 % of income tax

12. Finding a Job in Germany
Job Searching Methods:
Internet
Eures - network
Private agencies
Temporary employment agencies
Job fairs
Direct contact with employer
Newspapers
Yellow pages

13. Finding a Job in Germany
Useful Internet Addresses
( German employment service)
(All about the German cities)
(Career fairs)
(Yellow pages)
(Information about companies)
(EU-Commission/EURES)

14. Applying for a Position
What do German employers expect from you?
Very good German skills
Sometimes English skills
Professional experience in the relevant sector
Motivation
Assertiveness
Able to work in a team

15. Applying for a Position
Basic-Rules:
Application materials should be short and precise
Documents should indicate a differentiated picture of the applicant
Letter of application should be unique to the employer and the position
No mistakes should appear in the application (grammer/spelling)

16. Applying for a Position
In a DIN A 4 folder (usually plastic) you should send the following:
Cover letter (typed)
CV/Resume (tabular)
Passport-Photo! (nice and serious looking picture)
Copies of School, University diplomas and any professional training
Copies of testimonials and letters of references (Only mentioning names is not enough!)

17. Applying for a Position
The CV/Resume should be written in the following order:
Name / Address / Date of birth / Marital status
Schooling
Training / University
Practical training
Work experience
Others (Ex. Military Service, voluntary work)
Languages
Other Skills (Ex. Computer, Hobbies)
Location, Date, Signature
 not more than 2 pages!

18. When you have found a position:
When you have found a job ...
... the employee:
Receives an income tax card from the local authorities and gives it to the employer
Registers with a health insurance institution and informs the employer
Receives a social insurance number and card (through the employer)
Registers the new employee with the social insurance institutions (public or private). Health insurance, Pension insurance and unemployment insurance

19. General Information Money Matters
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

20. General Information Do not forget…
Leaving your family & friends behind to find work in another country is a big step
Before deciding to move to another country, you could carefully consider all aspects of working in another country with your local EURES-Adviser
 EURES-Adviser-Search

21. ANY QUESTIONS?