Considering working in germany uni of westminster 01 02 2012

Editor's Notes

• #4: Those are the topics for today. They are all important when you think about going to Germany or to another country. Because if you leave your country you leave also the environment as well for example the kind fo social security, taxes and so on Please feel free to ask questions during the session. But we also have enough time at the end of my presentation
• #5: Let me tell you a few statistics at first. UK: 245.000 km² The population of the UK is around 62 Millions Einwohner with it‘s very big capital London with 8 millions inhabitants In comparision: Berlin 3,5 HH 1,8 Munich 1,3 Cologne 1,1 Bremen 550.000 at number ten in the range of the biggest cities in Germany Germany consists of 16 states (called Bundesländer). The most popular and best known „Land“without dout is Bavaria in the south. But also the north has it advantages. I live in the north, it‘s near the sea Deutschland Stand: Oktober 2011 Ländername: Bundesrepublik Deutschland Klima: Deutschland liegt in der gemäßigt kühlen Westwindzone zwischen dem Atlantischen Ozean und dem Kontinentalklima im Osten Lage: Die längste Ausdehnung von Norden nach Süden beträgt in der Luftlinie 876 Kilometer, von Westen nach Osten 640 Kilometer. Landesfläche: 357.050 qkm Hauptstadt: Berlin (3,5 Millionen Einwohner) Bevölkerung: 81,75 Millionen Einwohner, Ausländer 8,3% (Stand: Ende 2010) Landessprache: Deutsch; Minderheitensprachen Friesisch, Sorbisch, Dänisch und Romanes Religion: Evangelisch (33% der Bevölkerung); Katholisch (33% der Bevölkerung); Muslime (4% der Bevölkerung);  108.000 Angehörige jüdischer Gemeinden, u.a. Nationalfeiertag: 3. Oktober, Tag der Deutschen Einheit (Vereinigung im Jahre 1990). Staats-/Regierungsform: Demokratischer parlamentarischer Bundesstaat Staatsoberhaupt: Bundespräsident Christian Wulff, seit Juli 2010 Regierungschef: Bundeskanzlerin Angela Merkel, seit November 2005. Außenminister: Bundesaußenminister Guido Westerwelle, seit Oktober 2009 Parlament: Deutscher Bundestag, 620 Abgeordnete auf vier Jahre gewählt. Bundestagspräsident Norbert Lammert (CDU/CSU). Deutscher Bundesrat, Vertretung der 16 Bundesländer. Besteht aus Mitgliedern der Landesregierungen. Zum Bundesratspräsidenten wird jeweils der Ministerpräsident eines Bundeslandes für ein Jahr gewählt.   Regierungsparteien: Christlich Demokratische Union (CDU) und Christlich-Soziale Union (CSU), 237 Mandate Freie Demokratische Partei (FDP), 93 Mandate Opposition:  SPD 146 Sitze, Die Linke 76 Sitze, Bündnis 90/Die Grünen 68 Sitze Verwaltungsstruktur: Bundesstaat: Gliederung in 16 Bundesländer Mitgliedschaft in internationalen Organisationen: Vereinte Nationen (1973), NATO (1955), Europarat (1950), OECD (1961), EG (1957),  OSZE (1975) sowie in allen wichtigen Sonderorganisationen der Vereinten Nationen Wichtigste Medien: Öffentlich-Rechtliche Hörfunk- und Fernsehsender (ARD, ZDF, Deutsche Welle, u.a.) und eine große Zahl privater Radio- und Fernsehstationen (u.a. RTL, SAT 1, Pro 7, Kabel 1). Über 300 Tageszeitungen, darunter Bild, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Süddeutsche Zeitung, Welt und die Wochenzeitung Die Zeit. Mehrere nationale Nachrichtenmagazine (Spiegel, Focus u.a.)
• #6: most things are formalized, for example you have to register with the local authority when you want to stay in Germany -You need to register yourself at the town hall or community service center in the city/village you live. You‘ll choose a gas, electricity and telekommunication provider and wastebin (size depends on persons in accomodation) we have law not really for everything but for a lot. For example you have to have a badget at the window of your car if you want to go into a special area mainly to the city centres, it‘s called „Feinstaubplakette“ (fine particles) and the aim is to protect the environment from air pollution The hurdles to home entertainment As in most countries, television is a part of everyday life in Germany. But there are a few peculiarities that you might not expect. you have to pay broadcasting fees from the moment you plug a television or radio into the wall. The money is used to finance Germany’s public TV and radio stations and has to be paid even if you never watch public shows and rarely listen to the radio. Even the radio in your car has to be registered with the responsible authority.   in short: shows that you will never find on a commercial program.     The authority collecting the fees is called Gebühreneinzugszentrale (GEZ). A TV and radio together will cost €17.03. if you share an apartment, every tenant owning a TV has to register separately. Registration forms are available at banks. You can also register on-line at www.gez.de.   People who don’t register their TV or radio, however, face fines.   leisure is an important thing for Germans (as for Britains as well?) There are plenty of possibities to spend your leisure time. Almost everything is possible from growing rabbits and show them at an exibition to playing cards, going to the cinema, theatre, clubs etc living outside the cities might be cheaper in terms of costs for housing – that might be the same in the UK. And it depends on your needs. It might be more difficult? Normally our transport system is very good and efficient a strange thing for foreigners normally is our „recycling system“ or waste sorting system it has spread to other countries as far as a know also to the UK it is different in every region, I have to separate my waste in 5 different categories: organic material, paper, plastic, glas, recyclables
• #7: You need to register yourself at the town hall or community service center in the city/village you live. You‘ll choose a gas, electricity and telekommunication provider and wastebin (size depends on persons in accomodation)
• #8: Some figures abour money and costs of living. Roughly you could say it‘s almost the same as in Britain
• #9: We don‘t have the system of 1, 2 or 3 bedrooms but of m² and a number of rooms. Kitchens, bathrooms and toilets are not included in the room count Unfurnished is the most common, i.e. without lamps, curtains - you even have to buy your washing machine or kitchen sink As I mentioned before you have to register at the local authority within one week with the prove of your landlord that you have rented the accomodation
• #10: Some reasons why you should consider working in Germany there are other reasons naturally for example „love“ and an interesting place to be
• #11: in brackets der Vorjahreswert You can find more and very detailled information at our website www.abeitsagentur.de this is were I found that map
• #13: That doesn‘t mean that other occuations don‘t have a chance and it also depends where in Germany you want to work and live. Normally it is easier to find a job in the south, At the moment we have a lot of spanish and greek people looking for work
• #15: And that are the professions who have difficulties to find appropriate jobs in Germany – most in study field of Humanities – that might be the same in the UK? I am also working with German Graduates who are looking for word abroad and so I am familliar with their problems
• #17: -444.000)Foreign nationals other than European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals may reside in Germany for the purpose of taking up gainful employment if they have the required residence permit. To work in Germany they must in principle have a residence permit that explicitly authorizes them to do so. Australian, Israeli, Japanese, Canadian, South Korean, New Zealand and US citizens may obtain such a residence permit from the relevant foreigners authority also after their arrival in Germany. It is important to note, however, that they may not commence their intended employment until they have the permit. All other foreign nationals must apply for a work visa from their local German mission before coming to Germany. Abgestufte Gehaltsschwellen Für rund 60 Mangelberufe in den Sparten Mathematik, Informatik, Naturwissenschaften und Technik soll künftig eine Gehaltsschwelle von 33 000 Euro im Jahr gelten. Ab 44 000 Euro dürfen Akademiker ohne Vorrangprüfung angeworben werden. Sie erhalten dann nach drei Arbeitsjahren eine unbefristete Niederlassungserlaubnis. Bei Jahreseinkommen von 48 000 Euro und darüber ist für die Zuwanderer von Anfang an ein unbegrenztes Aufenthaltsrecht vorgesehen. Bundestag und Bundesrat müssen dem Gesetzentwurf noch zustimmen. Weil das parlamentarische Verfahren erst noch beginnt, kann die Blue Card erst im Laufe des nächsten Jahres kommen. Die Grünen halten die Neuregelung für unzureichend. Deutschland ist mit der Umsetzung der Brüsseler Vorgaben aus dem Jahr 2009 in Verzug. Erst Anfang November hatten sich die Spitzen der schwarz-gelben Koalition darauf verständigt, die Gehaltsschwellen für das Mindesteinkommen von Akademikern aus Nicht-EU-Ländern für eine Aufenthaltserlaubnis zu senken. Derzeit liegt sie bei 66 000 Euro.
• #19: So when I get familiar with the idea „why not look for a job in this interesting country“ how can I find the vacancies? I am sure it ist not very different to the british way of searching. Somehow confusing and you can got lost A very good start as always is to look into the www I will show you some portals later on Get in touch with my british colleagues, they are keen to help you in this matter Register with the German employment agency. I brought with me a copy in english how to do that. Im am sorry that I couldn‘t bring more copies but I am travelling with Ryan Air ……….. You can look up vacancies without beeing registered but when you are into this an employer could find your profil an could get in touch with you if he is interessted If you want it via Email please fill in your name and email address in the form Connecticum is the biggest fair for Graduates in Germany 10. Internationale Firmenkontaktmesse Deutschlands große Karriere- und Recruitingmesse für Studenten, Absolventen und Young Professionals 3 Tage, 3 Messehallen, 350 renommierte Unternehmen aus ganz Deutschland, Europa und Asien Praktika · Studentenjobs · Abschlussarbeiten · Traineeprogramme · Direkteinstieg 24. bis 26. April 2012, Flughafen Berlin-Tempelhof Another good idea could be to check the websites of the Universities For example Career Centers, some of you have studied in Germany an have contacts with people at the university. It is always a good idea to go back to the system or even talk to someone from the Career Section. Last but not least „Social media“ facebook xing linkedin
• #20: 10. Internationale Firmenkontaktmesse Deutschlands große Karriere- und Recruitingmesse für Studenten, Absolventen und Young Professionals 3 Tage, 3 Messehallen, 350 renommierte Unternehmen aus ganz Deutschland, Europa und Asien Praktika · Studentenjobs · Abschlussarbeiten · Traineeprogramme · Direkteinstieg 24. bis 26. April 2012, Flughafen Berlin-Tempelhof At the website you can find real jobs for Graduates at „Jobbörse“
• #21: it is the largest in Germany, you can see it in English but when you get to the jobs the description ist in German and you also have to type in the german occupation. It‘s not very convinient für you and I apologize for that.
• #22: I mentioned EURES before-In order to get information and advice concerning living and working in another European country the European Commission hat established the EURES network. More than 700 EURES advisers work for this network. There is also a function to search for jobs in all european countries which are published by the federal employment agencies. There is a facility to upload your CV
• #26: Did you ever hear about regulated professions? Each country has it‘s own. Mostly they can be found in the medical sectot, nurses doctors and so on. But there are lots of others. for example if you are a teacher and you want to teach at a public school you have to register with an authority. They check of you have the right kind of education and/or expirience. All other professions don‘t need a recognition. They employer is the only one who decides if you are teh right person
• #27: If you are unsure how to apply you could use the EUROPASS CV which is promoted by the EU
• #28: Photo: not a snapshot sitting on the beach in spain I have brought with me an example. it looks very different from an english one. Please have a look afterwards
• #29: Be clear as to why you would like to work in Germany The cover letter should comprise one DIN A4 page and should briefly and concisely explain why you are looking for a job, why you are interested in the work offered and why you consider yourself the most appropriate person for the job. Try to point out why you want to work in Germany. Conclude the letter with the hope of being able to introduce yourself in person – and of course with: “Mit freundlichen Grüßen” (“Yours faithfully”).
• #30: In Germany, the curriculum vitae, which should be no longer than two pages, lists your education and training, professional experience and the successes you’ve achieved. The sequence should be in reverse order, i. e. the latest data should be mentioned first. Although most personnel managers are quite proficient in English, it is better to write in German. Always begin with your contact details and then structure your CV according to your school and vocational education and professional experience. The CV should be clearly laid out with complete information. Don’t just list the corresponding years for your previous occupations (e. g. 2001–2005) – you need to list the months as well (e. g. 01/2001– 06/2005). You will also need to list periods of unemployment and other periods when you have not worked (e. g. due to military service, illness, sabbaticals, etc), since gaps in the CV will be viewed critically. At the end, it is a good idea to list the languages you can converse in well. The usual categories are: ‘Muttersprache’ (native speaker), ‘verhandlungssicher’ (business fluent), ‘fließend’ (fluent) and ‘Grundkenntnisse’ (basic knowledge). The person reading your application will also want to learn about you as an individual. Thus your personal interests can also project a positive image of yourself. For instance, your can highlight your social commitment. Your certificates and references provide testimony to your expertise and experience. You will need to include all certificates in your application that qualify you for the job you are applying for. If job references are not usual in your own country, then it is best to mention that in the corresponding sections in the CV. Don’t forget to include any  further training certificates. Depending on the situation (for example when applying to smaller companies), it is worthwhile having your references and certificates translated into German. When you make an application, you are advertising yourself Normally it is sufficient to provide your school-leaving and university certificates, as well as references or certificates of employment for companies or establishments where you previously worked. However, if you have any other aces up your sleeve – such as other certificates, awards, foreign internships – then don’t hesitate to mention them. After all when you make an application, you are advertising yourself. It is a good idea to include a certificate supplement describing your vocational qualifications. The Europass certificate supplement (www.europass.cedefop.eu.int) outlines the course content and the typical range of occupations accessible with each certificate. It also includes information on the type of vocational training, the grade scale and the knowledge, skills and competencies you have acquired. The Europass website also provides useful templates that enable you to structure your CV and describe your language skills and international work experience in an internationally comparable style. This enables you to shape your application in a more informative manner. If you have an academic background, it is worthwhile contacting your university or college first. These will frequently provide you with more detailed information and explanations of the certificates. If you include these with your job application, this will help your prospective German employer make a more precise assessment of your skills and expertise
• #31: Things to consider: you should have a serious (respectable) email address use a significant and short subject matter use key words use a signature use or send as pdf file no more than 3 Mb at the end an attachment list (not only the names) so that the employer can see at first glance if ist important for him to open it test it with a friend If there is mentioned a form in the advertisement you should use it Wird ein Bewerbungsformular zur Verfügung gestellt, so empfiehlt es sich, diese Art der Kontaktaufnahme auch zu nutzen. Das erleichtert dem Empfänger die Bearbeitung. Unternehmen, die Online-Bewerbungen erwarten, fühlen sich häufig von postalisch zugesandten Bewerbungen genervt, da diese nicht so richtig in ihre normalen Arbeitsstrukturen passen 2. Wenn das Unternehmen eine E-Mail-Adresse aber kein Bewerbungsformular in der Stellenanzeige anbietet, ist es durchaus erwünscht (wenn nicht in der Stellenanzeige anders beschrieben), eine Kurzbewerbung per E-Mail zuzuschicken. Diese beinhaltet in der Regel ein Anschreiben, in dem Sie sich kurz vorstellen und Ihre Fähigkeiten und Kenntnisse darstellen, sowie einen detaillierten Lebenslauf. Bieten Sie auf jeden Fall an, ausführliche Unterlagen per E-Mail oder Post nachzusenden. Alternativ können Sie natürlich auch eine komplette Bewerbung per E-Mail senden. Sie sollten auf jeden Fall die Referenznummer der Anzeige sowie die Fundstelle (z.B. Jobware) nennen, damit Ihre Bewerbung schnell der richtigen Anzeige zugeordnet werden kann. Art der Anlagen: Bei den Anlagen gelten dieselben Regeln, wie bei allen anderen Teilen Ihrer Bewerbung. Ihre Anlagen sollen Ihre Präsentation bei dem Unternehmen unterstützen und zusätzliche Informationen liefern, so dass der jeweilige Personalverantwortliche Ihre Stärken und Ihre Eignung für die Stelle noch besser einschätzen kann. Anschreiben: Wenn bereits in der Online-Bewerbung eingefügt, dann das Anschreiben bitte nicht mehr als Dokument anfügen. Lebenslauf: Ihren Lebenslauf sollten Sie wenn möglich immer anfügen. Foto: Nie gesondert anfügen, nur innerhalb eines anderen Dokuments. Zeugnisse: Optional möglich, jedoch lediglich eine passende Auswahl.
• #32: If you are able to understand German you can find a tutorial at our website, it is free of charge. There are other useful websites as well for example at monster
• #36: German social insurance consists of five strands and offers financial protection against the major risks in life as well as their consequences. Overview of the social security system The statutory unemployment insurance guarantees basic existential security in the event of unemployment, The statutory pension insurance provides security for members in their old age as well as in the event of being unable to exercise their profession or work and those left behind in the event of their death, The statutory health insurance supports the maintenance and restoration of health and lessens the impact of illness, The statutory accident insurance restores the earning capacity in the event of a (work-related) accident, The statutory long-term care insurance provides financial support to people requiring long-term care. Entry into the social insurance system is effected in Germany through a health insurance provider. People whose primary professional occupation is that of freelance employment can choose between voluntary, statutory or private health insurance provision. In the case of workers or employees, the employer arranges for the registration with the health insurance provider selected. This means they are also automatically registered in the long-term care insurance scheme. The health insurance provider also arranges registration for unemployment and pension insurance. The various forms of social insurance in Germany are overwhelmingly financed from contributions made by employees and employers and, as a usual rule, are equally paid for by both sides. You can learn more about this at www.deutsche-sozialversicherung.de.
• #37: Health insurance in Germany. Who is insured? To prevent an illness from becoming a financial risk, the statutory health insurance funds cover members and their families in the event of illness. Anyone working in the Federal Republic of Germany is usually compulsorily insured, i.e. automatically covered by statutory health insurance. But to find out exactly who is insured, see: Who is insured under statutory health insurance? >> Employee contributions Statutory health insurance is financed through the contribution of employers and the insured. The contribution amount depends both on an employee's assessable income up to a defined contribution assessment limit, which is adjusted each year (2012: 45,900 Euro per year) and on the contribution rate. Like with unemployment or pension insurance, there is an uniform, legally stipulated contribution rate for statutory health insurance. The generally applicable contribution rate for statutory health insurance is 15,5 percent. Employer (7,3 percent) and employee (8,2 percent) each pay a different share of the contributions. Employees who are voluntarily insured because their income exceeds the upper limit are still entitled to a supplement towards their contributions from their employer. Contributions from employees and employers At present the contribution rate is set at 3,0 percent of the contribution assessment basis. The contribution assessment basis is usually the employee's wage or salary (assessable income), up to a certain contribution assessment ceiling (as of 2012: old Länder 67,200 Euro per year / new Länder 57,600 Euro per year). Employers submit these contributions together with the contributions to health, long-term care and pension insurance as an overall social insurance contribution to the health insurance fund (collection office). The collection offices then forward the contributions designated for unemployment insurance to the Federal Employment Office. Contributions from employees and employers The statutory pension insurance is funded mainly through the contributions of those insured. Employees and employers each pay half of the applicable contribution rate. The amount of contribution depends on the amount of assessable income earned by the insured person, the so-called contribution assessment basis. As of 1 January 2012 the contribution rate is 19.6 percent of the employee's gross monthly wage or salary. This is the same throughout the entire country. However, for 2012  the contribution assessment limit is 67,200 Euro per year in western Germany and 57,600 Euro in eastern Germany. An annual adjustment ensures that pensions are adapted to economic growth as measured by changing wages and salaries. Contribution payment The current contribution rate for the long-term care insurance is 1.95 percent of wages or salary. Employer and employee each pay one half, or 0.975 percent each. For more than two million beneficiaries, the long-term care insurance offers protection against the consequences of dependency and the need for continuing nursing care. The law clearly defines what constitutes a need for care and who is entitled to such care Since in all German states except for Saxony a holiday was removed from the calendar to help employers finance long-term care insurance, employers in that state pay a higher share of income: 1.475 percent. Employees pay only the remaining 0.475 percent. Childless people, if their minimum age is 23 and their year of birth is after 1939, pay an additional premium. The rate is 0.25 percent. 
• #38: Taxation of an individual's income is progressive. In other words, the higher the income, the higher the rate of tax payable. In 2011 the Germany tax rates for an individual are 14% - 45%. Germany individual income tax rates ,2011 Tax % Tax Base (EUR) 0 Up to 8,004 14% 8,005-52,881 42% 52,882-250,730 45% 250,731 and over Tax rate The rate of value-added tax (VAT) rate generally in force in Germany is 19%. A reduced tax rate of 7% applies e.g. on sales of certain foods, books and magazines, flowers and transports.
• #40: Working hours Although the working week mostly varies between 38 and 40 hours in accordance with collective agreements, the Germans work 41 hours a week on average. Flexible working time models are often available (flexitime arrangements Wages and salaries Industry-related minimum wages are offered in many economic sectors, for example in the construction industry. Otherwise the wages are negotiated as part of collective bargaining between trade unions and employers’ associations. If there is no collective agreement in your industry, you have to negotiate your salary with your employer yourself. Rates exceeding generally applicable pay scales are often paid for highly sought after specialists. Those who have worked longer in a company generally earn more than new recruits. The average gross monthly income for full-time employees is currently € 3,450. A qualified engineer earns on average € 4,340 a month before tax, a doctor between € 6,500 and € 8,000, and a hairdresser around € 1,500. Even 20 years after the reunification, the wages and salaries in Germany’s eastern federal states are still considerably lower than in the west, whereby the cost of living in the eastern federal states is also accordingly lower. Employers often pay additional Christmas bonuses and holiday pay; how high they are and when they are paid are specified in your employment contract. Some companies also pay commission and there is sometimes a 13th or even 14th monthly salary. Protection against dismissal Unless otherwise agreed in the employment contract or collective agreement, the employment relationship can be terminated by both sides with a minimum notice of four weeks (in the probation period: two weeks) to the middle or end of a calendar month. More stringent  employment protection legislation applies to companies with more than five employees. It restricts the dismissal of employees with particular rights of protection (e. g. during pregnancy or illness). Holidays  Every employee in Germany is entitled to paid holiday. The statutory minimum holiday duration each year is currently 20 days (with a regular five-day week) or 24 days (with a six-day week). However, the usual standard period in companies is generally longer than this and ranges between five and six weeks of regularly paid holiday. You only gain full entitlement to holiday time after being employed for six months. Nevertheless, you should not hesitate to ask your employer should you require a few days off work in advance for pressing reasons.
• #46: Now something very different because I don‘t want to be to serious. so just for fun ---- who knows the answer? Great, correct? Does someone love it?