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Questions to ask before signing a German employment contract
Useful language for clarifying probation, working hours, place of work and duties before you commit.
An employment contract should be read carefully, even when you are eager to accept. The goal is not to challenge every clause; it is to understand what you and the employer are agreeing to. For legal interpretation, consult a qualified adviser. For the conversation, prepare direct questions.
Duties and place of work
Compare the listed “Tätigkeiten” with the role discussed in the interview. If the wording is broad, ask which duties will take most of your time. Check whether the “Arbeitsort” is one site, several locations or partly remote, and whether travel is expected.
Hours and overtime
Find the weekly hours, break rules and any statement about “Überstunden.” Ask how additional hours are recorded and compensated in practice. A useful neutral opening is: “Können Sie mir bitte erklären, wie diese Regelung im Arbeitsalltag gehandhabt wird?”
Probation and notice
Mark the “Probezeit” and “Kündigungsfrist.” Do not rely on a remembered conversation if the written term differs. Say: “Im Gespräch hatte ich sechs Monate verstanden. Hier lese ich eine andere Frist. Können wir das bitte klären?”
Write your questions before the call. You are more likely to ask all of them when the conversation switches quickly between salary, start date and paperwork.