How to Read a German Offer Letter Before You Reply
Base salary is only one line. Here is what to check on variable pay, probation, and start-date clauses before you send that thank-you note.
Guides
Notes from the negotiation table
Short articles on offer letters, Probezeit, variable pay, and clauses that show up in German employment contracts.
Probezeit, Notice Periods, and What They Mean for Your Ask
Your leverage in a salary conversation changes once probation and Kündigungsschutz enter the picture. Use timing deliberately.
Variable Pay in German Packages: Questions Worth Asking
Bonuses, Zielerreichung, and commission plans look generous on slides. These questions reveal what you will actually see on a Gehaltsabrechnung.
Nebentätigkeit and Side Clauses You Should Not Skim
Secondary-employment rules, IP assignment, and non-compete language often sit in the back half of a German contract. Skimming them is expensive later.