Glossary: how to read a German job ad

Most ads share the same skeleton: an introduction to the company (Über uns / Wer wir sind), the tasks (Ihre Aufgaben / Das erwartet Sie), the profile they are looking for (Ihr Profil / Das bringen Sie mit), the benefits (Wir bieten / Unser Angebot) and finally how to apply (Bewerbung / Kontakt). Knowing where each part sits saves a lot of reading time.

Tip: requirements under "Ihr Profil" are usually listed in order of importance. Words like "wünschenswert", "von Vorteil" or "idealerweise" mark something desirable, not mandatory — do not skip an application because of those items.

• (m/w/d): male/female/diverse. It appears in every job title because of legal neutrality requirements; it says nothing about the profile they want.
• Vollzeit / Teilzeit: full-time / part-time.
• unbefristet / befristet: permanent / fixed-term contract.
• Festanstellung: permanent employment, as opposed to freelance work (freiberuflich).
• Werkstudent: an enrolled student working reduced hours during the semester.
• Praktikum: internship. Ausbildung: dual vocational training (school + company), a full career path of its own in Germany.
• Quereinsteiger willkommen: career changers welcome.
• Minijob: a low-income job with its own contribution rules.

• abgeschlossenes Studium: completed university degree.
• abgeschlossene Berufsausbildung: completed vocational training.
• Berufserfahrung / mehrjährige Berufserfahrung: work experience / several years of experience.
• Kenntnisse: knowledge of (for example, "gute SAP-Kenntnisse").
• Führerschein Klasse B: driving licence for cars.
• Reisebereitschaft: willingness to travel.
• Teamfähigkeit, Eigeninitiative, selbstständige Arbeitsweise: teamwork, initiative, independent working style.

• Grundkenntnisse: basic knowledge.
• gute Kenntnisse: good level (usually B1/B2).
• fließend: fluent.
• verhandlungssicher: business fluent — confident in meetings and negotiations (close to C1).
• Muttersprache / muttersprachlich: native speaker.
• Arbeitssprache Englisch: the working language is English.

• Gleitzeit: flexitime with core hours.
• Vertrauensarbeitszeit: trust-based working time; nobody tracks your hours.
• Homeoffice / mobiles Arbeiten: remote work, full or partial.
• Schichtarbeit: shift work.
• Urlaubstage: annual leave days (many companies offer 25 to 30, above the legal minimum).
• Tarifvertrag / nach Tarif: pay follows a collective agreement.
• betriebliche Altersvorsorge: company pension scheme.
• Weiterbildung: training and development.
• Jobticket / Deutschlandticket: public transport subsidy.

• Bruttogehalt / Jahresbrutto: gross salary / annual gross. Salaries in Germany are almost always negotiated as an annual gross figure.
• Probezeit: probation period, usually up to six months.
• Kündigungsfrist: notice period.
• Eintrittstermin: start date.
• Gehaltsvorstellung: salary expectation (when they ask you to state it in the application).

• Bewerbungsunterlagen: application documents (letter, CV, certificates).
• Zeugnisse: certificates and reference letters from previous employers (Arbeitszeugnis).
• Ansprechpartner/in: contact person.
• Kennziffer / Referenznummer: job reference number, to quote in your subject line.