REALISTIC SALARY FOR YOUR FIRST IT-JOB IN GERMANY in 2023
What to answer to employer's question about about your desired salary
INDEX
Intro
How much money I will earn in Germany, in my profession, with my particular education and work experience?
It is a reasonable question. Expect to hear this question at your very first interview with the employer*. You should be well prepared to clearly speak out your salary expectation and not just mumble something.
At the BCA Relocation GmbH
where I work, most of our clients are continiously asking such questions.
Therefore I decided to write two articles about it.
The article #1 (this one) is for thouse who HAVE NOT WORKED in Germany YET.
I am already working on the article #2 - about salary negotiations with work experience in Germany. It is not yet ready, but you can get on my private list and I email you as soon as it published.
Talking about the salary - Your First Employment in Germany
Remember, I assume that you that YOU HAVEN'T WORKED in Germany YET.
PLAN A - Let the employer suggest your salary amount
When talking about the salary, try never be the first to name an salary amount.
PLAN B – Suggest the Blue Card Minimum Wage
If an employer insists that you name an amount, offer some leeway: "Depending on the area of responsibility, we could talk about 3,796 to 4,866 euros."
Why these two particular amounts?
These two amounts are linked to the minimum salary of the German Blue Card. Once you are working in IT industry, each of them would be enough for granting the Blue Card to you.
Why Blue Card has two minimum salaries, you will find out in this article.
Why minimum salary?
If the employer is not ready to give you a salary proposal (plan A) he is not convinced in your value. This doubt can have several reasons.
As an optimistic person it is not easy for me to reveal you a bitter truth: as a representative of another culture you have very low odds for employment. Don't rely to much on your professional skills and expericence. Let's imagine how a German employer see you.
Perspective of the German employer
1: Your education.
Your university is unknown and your degree remains very questionable in Germany.
In your country your university may be known as a prestigious one, but for
a German employer, it is not prestigious at all unless you graduated
in the UK, the USA, Western Europe or Scandinavia.
In other words,
for majority of German employers your previous education means nothing.
2: Your work experience.
You may have worked in your own country say for 15 years, and you are naturally
proud of it. But for the mindset of German employer
this might mean 15 years of work according to Third World corporate standards.
With a matching approach to work and the organization of the working process.
In other words,
your previous way of working probably isn't compatible
with the local corporate pattern.
3: Your German language skills.
Your German is most likely under B2 level. So
you can't understand or say anything at a weekly staff meeting.
Let's conclude. You have no employment experience in Germany. You are not familiar with German mindset and "unwritten rules" in the local corporate world. Unless you cannot show very convincing references** to hire you for a German employer it is like to "buy a cat in a sack".
In other words, you are a big risk factor for the German employer.
Help a German employer make a decision in your behalf
Suggest your future employer:
"I understand that as an employee you don't know me.
I'm ready to work for you for six months or a year at Bluecard minimum wage.
I hope this will be enough for you to see benefits of my work for the company".
By that, you are reducing his risk level. The employer will find it much easier to make a decision in your behalf after hearing your suggestion.
Conclusions
POWER TIP 1: Let the employer suggest your salary amount.
German employers might have doubts about your qualification, experience, mindset, communication skills. So be prepared for certain fears to hire you without matching work experience in Germany.
POWER TIP 2: Deliberate the idea to start your career in Germany with a minimum salary
There are two minimum salaries for Blue Card in Germany. IT professional can receive a Blue Card with each of them.
Even the "small Blue Card minimum salary" provides you with money amount which only a third of population in Germany earns. In other words, even a Blue Card minimum salary gives to you more income as to 63% of the whole population in Germany.
* - the term “employer” refers not only to CEO or CTO.
It can also involve to his representatives like HR, Headhunter, Recruiter etc.
** - from employers in Germany, Western Europe or Scandinavia.
23.07.22 - 13.03.23 ©️ Yarve (Jaroslav Plotnikov) All articles)