Lektionsüberblick

With some background knowledge of the kinds of industries and workplaces as well as the respective social safety nets that exist in German-speaking Europe, it is time to turn our attention to job advertisements (Stellenanzeigen). Most ads are organized into three parts: what you would be doing, what degree or experience you need to apply, and what advantages the employer can offer to you. They are not always organized in the same order. Many have each part labeled, but some do not. Some labels are more straightforward (Ihre Aufgaben = your tasks, Qualifikationen) and some are more descriptive. We will look at the vocabulary necessary to understand each of these parts. You will also notice that they also vary in register: Some address the job seeker with the formal you (Sie) and some with the informal you (du). In the end, by identifying 1) key elements in a job description, 2) the required qualifications, 3) the benefits meaningful to you, you will be able to read job listings to 4) identify a position with your specifications.

1) Die Stellenbeschreibung

We will first discuss the part of the job listing that lists what your tasks would be in that job. This may not always be the first category in the job listing, so it’s good to review the various ways this category may be labeled. It is also helpful to note whether the ad uses a more or less formal register (see above). This may give you a clue about the work culture (or the desired work culture) of the company or organization.

Let’s look at the various ways that job listings have labeled the category “Your tasks on the job”. Can you guess, which ones use a (more) formal register, and which ones use a less formal register? Do this by looking closely at each category name. Look for clues that tell you if a formal register is being used (e.g. Sie, Ihr(e)), an informal register (e.g. du), or no specific register (there are no clues, only a category name).

Now let’s read some key words you may find in this category.

Luxemburg im Blickpunkt

Luxemburg ist ein kleines Land in Europa. Die Hauptstadt heißt Luxemburg-Stadt. Es gibt drei offizielle Sprachen: Luxemburgisch, Deutsch und Französisch. Luxemburgisch spricht man vor allem im Alltag. Deutsch wird in der Schule und in Zeitungen benutzt, und Französisch ist wichtig für Behörden und die Arbeit. In Luxemburg-Stadt leben viele Menschen aus anderen nicht deutschsprachigen Ländern. Deshalb hört man dort auch oft Englisch. Viele Einwohner sprechen mehrere Sprachen. Hier kann man Luxemburgisch hören.

Luxembourg is a small country in Europe. The capital is Luxembourg City. There are three official languages: Luxembourgish, German, and French. Luxembourgish is spoken mainly in everyday life. German is used in schools and newspapers, and French is important for government offices and work. Many people from other non-German-speaking countries live in Luxembourg City. Therefore, you often hear English there as well. Many residents speak several languages.

2) Die Qualifikationen

A second category in the Stellenanzeige is a list of the qualifications that the company wants you to have. Sometimes the category will be called Qualifikationen, but you may also see:

The Stellenanzeige will typically list required qualifications and may mention desirable (wünschenswerte) ones. You will generally find a required level of education or training and a number of required hard and soft skills. Depending on the kind of position, you may also find required or desired work experience. Can you guess what these are called in German?

Now let’s sort these real qualifications taken from various Stellenanzeigen into the kind of qualification by dragging the items onto the correct translations. Pay attention to the different categories as you work through both slides.

3) Arbeitgeberleistungen

A final category in the Stellenanzeige is a list of benefits that the company is offering for this position. This list will not necessarily be comprehensive. This category can also have a number of different headings:

What type of workplace benefits (Arbeitgeberleistungen) are important to you? Vielleicht suchst du einen Arbeitgeber, der die Work-Life-Balance fördert, oder vielleicht ist ein Firmenwagen am wichstigsten. Employee benefits are considered quite good in German-speaking countries. The following cards present a number of Arbeitgeberleistungen (workplace benefits).

You will likely also find some intangible benefits such as:

4) Die Arbeitssuche

Consider what aspects of your future job are important to you. Read what Annika and Sebi have to say about their future jobs.

Nach dem Studium werde ich einen Vollzeitjob als Marketingmanagerin haben. Ich möchte bei einer kleinen Firma mit einem angenehmen Arbeitsumfeld arbeiten. Für mich ist die Work-Life-Balance sehr wichtig. Das heißt, ich möchte flexible Arbeitszeiten haben.

Nach dem Studium möchte ich als Software-Entwickler bei einem großen Unternehmen in Liechsteinstein oder in der Schweiz arbeiten. Es kann sein, dass ich zwischen den Ländern pendeln* muss, deswegen möchte ich Pendlerzuschüsse von meinem Arbeitgeber bekommen. *pendeln = to commute