Germany, as a country, has an abundance of job opportunities owing to their population structure and advanced state of diverse industries and sectors. Such opportunities open up for individuals, especially foreigners, on the job hunt. However, understanding the work culture in Germany can go a long way in helping you settle and hit the ground running without any difficulties.
A new work adventure in Germany portends a blank page in terms of knowing the nitty-gritty details about the working scene over there. In the opinion of the experts from Do My Homework Now, preparation is always essential in understanding and stemming expectations, especially on the work front. So for you to fully understand what it means to work in Germany, here are some crucial facts that will help make that job decision wisely.
- Salary – You need to understand that you will remit a massive proportion of your salary to mandatory insurance and taxes, although it will payback on the long haul. Further, wages in Germany generally rank lower than in other countries as much as the living costs are considerably lower than in the same countries.
- Perfection – Germans have a particular interest in details, and everything you do will get intensive scrutiny. It, therefore, means that you can’t take anything for granted, and you must engrain a detail-oriented culture for you to have a successful career in Germany. Compartmentalize and finish your work with absolute perfection, including proposals, projects, etc.
- No Shortcuts – Working in Germany requires you to prepare and back every idea you pitch with convincing and logical information as you can’t use gut feelings or make shortcuts. You must always have a presence of mind and undertake the work needed of you.
- Regulations and Rules – It would help if you learned the work and general life expectations in Germany as the country believes in strict adherence to regulations, laws, and rules.
- Titles – Germans take certifications and titles seriously, and therefore you must address superiors at work using formal titles and pronouns unless you get directions stating otherwise.
- Professionalism – It would be best if you remained respectful and professional at work in Germany besides having a direct personality in addressing issues.
- Criticisms – Germans are never interested in issuing compliments for work done well, and therefore, you can’t bank on that to keep you motivated at your job. Consider this before deciding on settling for a career in Germany.
- Small Talk – Avoid unnecessary things like smooth-talking your bosses or colleagues as it can backfire fast. It’s almost natural and conventional for employees to crack a joke or make small talk in easing into a meeting in other jurisdictions. However, please don’t attempt to do this in Germany, as most of them consider it superficial.
- Punctuality – The work culture in Germany demands punctuality as most Germans are inherently sticklers to time. You will find most Germans at the office very early in the morning.
- Privacy – You won’t find many open-space office plans in Germany as most of them value their privacy, and this gets entrenched in their work culture. They carefully partition their work life from private life, and it’s so tricky to find after-work socialization with colleagues.
- German Language – It would help if you also learned some primary German language to assist you in making conversations at the workplace. Most Germans, whenever in a small group, will revert to German besides their capability to speak some little English.
Conclusion
Working in Germany can prove a fulfilling experience with adequate preparation and information concerning their work culture and general way of life.
