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MY GERMAN CAREER

JOBS

‘Landing a start-up job is about contacts’

In this week's My German Career, founder of Berlin's Startupbootcamp Alex Farcet explains why he moved to the German capital from Denmark and how to succeed in the city's start-up scene.

Published: 25 November 2013 08:27 CET
'Landing a start-up job is about contacts'
Founder of Startupbootcamp Alex Farcet explains how he made it in Berlin. Photo: Submitted

Where are you located and what do you do?

My family and I live in Prenzlauer Berg and my office space is near Checkpoint Charlie. I co-founded Startupbootcamp in Copenhagen in 2010 and we now have seven programs in five countries.  

Startupbootcamp is a tech start-up accelerator. We select ten start-ups from 400 applicants and work with them for 90 days through a mentorship program which concludes with an investor demo day.  

Each team gets €15,000 in micro-funding, six months of free office space and access to over 100 mentors most of whom are serial entrepreneurs.  Out of the 10 start-ups we select, eight or more are usually international, i.e. they relocate from all over the world to join the program.

What brought you to Germany and how long have you been here?

We moved middle of last year from Copenhagen to launch Startupbootcamp here. Berlin had become such of hub of entrepreneurship in Europe that we simply had to have a program here.

When it comes to start-ups there's a real talent migration happening right now. The city is international, young, creative and inexpensive which are all ingredients of a great start-up ecosystem and it seems every other person I meet moved here within the last 12 months and is working on some kind of start-up. 

How did you land your job and do you have tips for anyone seeking similar work?

I didn't have to land any job since I launched the company but I did have to raise money to run the program which was more challenging than I initially anticipated.  

The Berlin start-up ecosystem is booming but there is still not nearly as much venture capital as in London which is the real capital of venture in Europe.  

As for landing a job at a start-up, that's even more relationship-based than a regular corporate job. The best tip is simply to get out of the house and join one of the myriad events going on each week, from hackathons to Start-up Weekend, and show what you can do.

Is it important for you to be able to speak German in your position?

Not at all. Our program is entirely in English (we have over 15 nationalities at a time) and the start-up language is English by default. I'm fortunate that my Danish wife is fluent in German which has certainly helped with institutions and government issues but in general I've found that starting with a polite apology and a smile opens up people and I've not had too many run-ins with grumpy Berliners.

What are the best and worst parts about working in Germany?

We moved to Berlin for a very specific reason, the strength of the start-up ecosystem which would support a new Startupbootcamp program.  

Berlinhappens to be in Germany but, from a professional perspective, it's incredibly international and it sometimes feels like everyone who doesn't fit in the rest of Germany, moves here. In general I love the creativity, youth and energy of the city. From an infrastructure point of view it has a way to go to catch up to other European capitals but it will get there.

Do you plan on staying?

Not forever, since our children are clamouring to move back to Copenhagen to catch up with their friends. If it was up to me we would certainly stay a long time since it is such an amazing city both at and away from work, I love it here.

Would you like to feature in My German Career? Email [email protected]

READ MORE: Ten points in defence of Berlin's start-up scene

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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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