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Eighty percent of Germans apply for jobs online

Looking for a new job? Applying over the internet is fast, simple and inexpensive. Germany's well-known platform - jobpilot.de - lends some sound advice for successful online applications.

Published: 11 May 2013 07:20 CEST
Eighty percent of Germans apply for jobs online

Company name: jobpilot.de/Monster Worldwide Deutschland GmbH

Interviewee: Elke Guhl, Vice President Marketing Central Europe

Tell us a little bit about your company and your background.

In 1994, Jeff Taylor founded Monster Job Board in the US, the first internet-based recruitment platform. Monster became available in Germany in 2000 and four years later, it overtook the market leader – jobpilot.de. In the meantime, Monster has developed its local presence around the world and is available in 40 countries.

How important is job searching via the internet in 2013?

Over the last several years, the internet has become an increasingly important tool in recruiting.

Our most recent studies clearly demonstrate that internet-based recruiting channels are far ahead of other sources when it comes to job searches and placements. Internet job portals have become the most popular.

When searching online for a suitable job or candidate, the quality of the results is far more important than the quantity.

Our semantic search – currently available as a beta in Germany – finds jobs based not only on traditional criteria such as title, qualifications and industry, but is also capable of interpreting the search terms in such a way as to find appropriate results based on context.

This allows user to find jobs that may not even contain the terms they initially searched for. As a result it is no longer necessary for users to tediously input multiple job titles when performing a job search.

And moreover, results can also be filtered to only show those available in a specific city or region, for example, jobs in Stuttgart.

Monster has also released apps for several different mobile operating systems in order to accommodate the ever-increasing number of mobile internet users.

Furthermore, our Facebook application, BeKnown, is also available in a mobile version. It allows job seekers to inform themselves about new opportunities and to network while they’re on-the-go.

I’m a job seeker– where should I look online?

Candidates searching actively for attractive employers can use portals such as monster.de or jobpilot.de but they can also opt to search for a company’s profile on Facebook.

Other good sources of information on potential employers are platforms that allow workers to rate their employers or job fairs, such as the ones supported by Monster (CeBIT, for example), where potential employers introduce themselves to prospective employees.

More than 80 per cent of Germans prefer applying for jobs electronically because of the several distinct advantages it offers. Applying over the internet is fast, simple and inexpensive.

Can you give us your best tips for a successful online apply?

It is important to use a ‘neutral’ email address when sending applications – some email addresses that are intended for personal use may not resonate well with

employers. Photos should also be shot and edited professionally.

A candidate’s CV, references, writing samples and other documents should be systematically named and preferably, saved as PDF files. Email attachments should not exceed 3MB. By following these rules, you ensure that the recipient can open the email and that it will be displayed properly.

Generic applications are also a no-go online. As a job seeker, one should be able to clearly and individually formulate why they want a particular job in their motivation letter. They should also be able to convincingly outline why they think they are the best candidate for the job.

Visually appealing formats are recommended and one should also keep in mind that grammatical errors are taboo. It is all too easy to press the ‘send’ button so candidates are recommended to double-check everything. Have the right documents been attached? Has the application been addressed to the correct person? Is the subject line correct?

A standardized profile on an online job community doesn’t leave much room for error, as form and contents are usually predetermined. However, if you present yourself on a forum or your own web page, pay close attention to the design and other details.

Lastly, honesty is the best policy. Information that has been released onto the internet tends to stay there and can be read, questioned and commented on by anyone.

Can companies to search for employees abroad on jobpilot.de?

Jobpilot.de is a German portal which hosts online job postings. However, on monster.de, both companies and potential candidates can search worldwide for new opportunities or employees.

How will job searching develop in the near future?

Mobile apps are becoming increasingly important for the simple reason that mobile internet use is rising rapidly in conjunction with the rising use of mobile devices.

Smartphones and tablets have become omnipresent companions in the modern working environment. With its repertoire of mobile apps, Monster is actively catering to these demands.

The significance of social media in recruiting is also set to increase. The opportunity for employers and job seekers to exchange dialogue on the social web is a major development. Both companies and employees are likely to increasingly use social networks in their recruitment or job search efforts and we see social media as an ideal extension to online job portals.

Article sponsored by jobpilot.de/Monster Worldwide Deutschland GmbH

For members

WORKING IN GERMANY

Five things to know about salaries in Germany

Finding a job is typically a top priority when planning a move to Germany. The country boasts the third largest economy in the world and a continuing need for skilled professionals. 

Published: 2 May 2024 12:26 CEST
Five things to know about salaries in Germany

If you are moving to Germany, you might soon start looking for a job in the country. However, like many other aspects of living abroad, there are several cultural differences and specificities when it comes to job hunting in Germany – especially when it comes to salaries.

Here are five things to know about salaries in Germany.

There is a minimum wage in Germany

Germany’s minimum wage of €12.41 per hour, pre-tax came into effect at the start of this year. This amounts to a monthly salary of €2,054 which ranks ninth in the world. The minimum wage will rise again in 2025 to €12.82 per hour before tax deductions.

There have been calls recently to hike the salary up higher to €14 per hour.

READ ALSO: Millions of workers in Germany ‘earning less than €14 per hour’

Find out salary expectations

Germany does not require companies to list salary ranges for listed positions. But that may be changing soon. The EU parliament passed a wage transparency law to require companies to publish annual reports detailing wage and wage discrepancy information. The rules, which are set to go into effect in 2027, are intended to help close the gender pay gap. 

In the meantime, employees can utilise online resources to find industry averages and expectations for different roles:

  • Gehalt.de offers users access to salary information on more than 800 professions
  • Online platform, Kununu provides compensation information and employer reviews to users in the DACH region  
  • Berlin residents can utilise REDSOFA’s salary survey for an overview of salary averages in the country’s capital city

As of April 2023 the average gross monthly salary was €4,323 according to Germany’s Federal Statistical Office.

Two-thirds of full time workers make less than this average monthly salary and one-third of workers earn more than this average monthly salary.

While wages after deductions may be less than similar roles in other countries, it is also important to take into consideration what other benefits come with a salary. Paid holiday leave, pension contributions, long notice periods and annual bonuses can help make up some of that difference. 

READ ALSO: How much do employees in Germany typically earn?

Check your payment schedule

Internationals can usually expect their salary once a month when working in Germany. Many German companies choose to pay employees either on the 1st or 15th of the month. It is also important to note that most employees can expect to receive their first pay check within 30 or 45 days of starting. 

For positions that offer yearly bonuses, these payments are included in a 13th pay check which are subject to income tax.  

A person works on a laptop.

A person works on a laptop. Image by Bartek Zakrzewski from Pixabay

How many hours do you work?

When looking for a job, don’t forget to check how many hours you can expect. Job descriptions will include expectations for time commitments. 

Mini-jobs, as expected from the name, are limited in hours and pay. Employees can expect up to €538 per month. Mini-jobs do not provide social security because they do not require social security contributions. Employees are also not automatically covered by health and nursing care insurance. 

Teilzeit, or part time jobs, are defined as any job where working hours are less than a full time position.

A common misconception is that part-time work requires working 20 hours or less a week. But an employee working five days a week for 30 hours, at a position that is typically 40 hours when full time can also be defined as a part time worker. 

READ ALSO: The rules in Germany around ‘mini’ and ‘midi jobs’

In fact, Germany has a term for workers who work between 28 and 36 hours a week. Vollzeitnahe Teilzeit, or nearly full time part time workers, can be a popular choice for some people, including parents. These positions can give employees more flexibility to balance work and family responsibilities. It is important to note that these workers are paid according to their time worked, so it will still amount to less than full time.

Depending on the work schedule, part time employees can earn the same amount of vacation as their full-time counterparts. That’s because holiday leave is calculated based on days worked, not hours. If a part time worker comes in five days a week, they will be eligible for at least 20 days of holiday. If that same part time worker comes in three days a week, they will be legally entitled to twelve days of vacation, even if they worked the same hours as the other employee. 

In most companies, weekly working hours between 35 and 40 hours are considered full-time employment or Vollzeitbeschäftigung. 

Watch out for the gross v. net difference

Before you sign the dotted line, it will be important to check how much of your gross salary you’ll be able to keep come pay day. Companies that include salary expectations in descriptions include gross salary (Bruttoeinkommen) – not the net income after taxes and deductions (Nettoeinkommen). The amount deducted will depend on how much you earn, the tax class you’re in and on other factors such as how much you’re paying for healthcare but it is usually around 40 percent. 

Salaried employees can find information on the deductions on their pay slip. Some to expect to see include:

  • Taxes are deducted directly from the gross pay. The amount is based on the tax bracket your salary falls within 
  • A percentage of your gross salary is also deducted for your pension / retirement contributions
  • Church taxes between eight and nine percent of your salary will also be due if you are affiliated with a religion
  • Unemployment insurance amounts to a 2.5 percent deduction from your gross salary. It is important to note that the insurance covers a salary up to €90,600 
  • Health insurance contribution rates are typically split between employers and employees. The rate depends on the provider. In 2024, the TK contribution rate to health insurance is 15.8 percent of the gross income

READ ALSO: What you need to know about your payslip in Germany 

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