German employment law shapes everyday workplace language in ways that surprise newcomers: there’s a formal word for your personnel file, a secret code hidden in every reference letter, and one famous word — Kündigung — that means both quitting and being fired. This guide to german HR vocabulary hiring firing words walks you through the full employment journey in 30 terms, grouped by stage: getting hired, working life, and leaving.
Each term comes with its correct article, a clear English meaning, and a short explanation of how it works in real German workplaces — including the legal quirks that make German HR vocabulary genuinely different from its English counterpart. For interview-specific language, pair this with our German job interview questions and vocabulary guide.
German HR Vocabulary Hiring Firing: All 30 Terms by Career Stage
Everything from the job ad to the signed contract — the vocabulary of getting hired in Germany. German applications are more formal and document-heavy than in many other countries, so these eight words repay the effort.
1. die Stellenausschreibung — the job posting.
The official vacancy announcement. „Die Stellenausschreibung steht online.” (The job posting is online.) Often shortened to die Ausschreibung. Read it carefully — German postings list requirements (Anforderungen) and benefits (Wir bieten) in a standard format.
2. die Stelle — the position.
The job itself. „Die Stelle ist ab Januar zu besetzen.” (The position is to be filled from January.) Also used for the physical place: an deiner Stelle means “in your place.” A Vollzeitstelle is full-time; a Teilzeitstelle is part-time.
3. die Bewerbung — the application.
The complete application package — in Germany traditionally Anschreiben + Lebenslauf + certificates. „Ihre Bewerbung hat uns überzeugt.” (Your application convinced us.) Applications are still often expected as a single PDF („eine PDF-Datei”) attached to your email — our guide on how to write a business email in German covers the cover message.
4. das Anschreiben — the cover letter.
The formal cover letter. German Anschreiben follow strict conventions — keep it to one page, formal register, no creativity in layout. Address it to a named person whenever possible; „Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren” is the fallback.
5. der Lebenslauf — the CV / résumé.
Literally “life’s course.” The German Lebenslauf is usually tabular (tabellarisch), complete, and gapless — unexplained gaps raise eyebrows. Signed and dated at the end, traditionally. Keep it to two pages max; German recruiters skim fast and value clarity over design flourishes.
6. das Vorstellungsgespräch — the job interview.
Literally the “introduction conversation.” „Das Vorstellungsgespräch findet am Montag statt.” (The interview takes place on Monday.) Plural: die Vorstellungsgespräche. Expect structured questions about your Lebenslauf — German interviews tend to be thorough and formal.
7. der Arbeitsvertrag — the employment contract.
The written contract — in Germany, key terms must be in writing by law. „Bitte unterschreiben Sie den Arbeitsvertrag.” (Please sign the employment contract.) Check the Probezeit, Kündigungsfrist (notice period), and Arbeitszeit clauses before you sign — these three define your daily reality.
8. die Probezeit — the probation period.
Usually six months in Germany, during which either side can end the contract with two weeks’ notice. „Die Probezeit beträgt sechs Monate.” Use the time to evaluate the employer too — probation cuts both ways.
Onboarding and Everyday Working Life
Once you’re hired, these are the words that structure your daily working life — hours, pay, training, and the institutions that protect you. Several of these describe legal rights, not just vocabulary, so they’re worth knowing cold. For the unwritten expectations around them, see our German business etiquette rules.
9. die Personalabteilung — the HR department.
Literally “personnel department.” „Wenden Sie sich an die Personalabteilung.” (Contact HR.) Often just called Personal or HR in modern companies. It’s your first stop for contract questions, parental leave, and reference letters.
10. die Personalakte — the personnel file.
Your official employee file — and you have a legal right to see it. „Sie können Ihre Personalakte einsehen.” (You may inspect your personnel file.) It holds your contract, warnings (Abmahnungen), and performance reviews.
11. die Arbeitszeit — the working hours.
Strictly regulated in Germany by the Arbeitszeitgesetz: generally max 8 hours per day, extendable to 10 only with compensatory rest. „Die Arbeitszeit beträgt 40 Stunden pro Woche.” Trust-based working time (Vertrauensarbeitszeit) is common in white-collar jobs.
12. die Überstunden — the overtime.
Plural-only noun. „Ich habe zehn Überstunden gemacht.” (I worked ten hours of overtime.) Overtime rules vary by contract — some are paid, some convert to time off (Freizeitausgleich). Many contracts include a quota of unpaid overtime, so read the fine print.
13. der Urlaubsanspruch — the vacation entitlement.
The legal minimum in Germany is 20 days per year (based on a 5-day week); most contracts offer 25–30. „Mein Urlaubsanspruch beträgt 28 Tage.” Unused vacation generally must be taken by March 31 of the following year — it doesn’t roll over forever.
14. die Krankmeldung — the sick note.
When you’re ill, you report sick (sich krankmelden); from the third day (often the first, by company policy) you need a doctor’s note. „Die Krankmeldung liegt vor.” Your employer continues paying your salary for up to six weeks of illness — a protection many newcomers don’t expect.
15. die Weiterbildung — the further training / professional development.
Hugely valued in German work culture. „Die Firma fördert Weiterbildung.” (The company supports further training.) Often shortened to Weiterbildung in course catalogs. Many employees also have a legal right to Bildungsurlaub — paid educational leave of about five days per year, depending on the federal state.
16. die Beförderung — the promotion.
Moving up. „Herzlichen Glückwunsch zur Beförderung!” (Congratulations on the promotion!) Note the false friend: Beförderung also means transportation — context tells you which.
17. die Versetzung — the transfer.
Moving to another department or location. „Die Versetzung nach München steht an.” (The transfer to Munich is coming up.) Unlike a promotion, a Versetzung is lateral — same level, new place.
18. das Gehalt — the salary.
Monthly salary for white-collar employees, usually quoted per month or per year. „Das Gehalt wird monatlich gezahlt.” Blue-collar hourly pay is der Lohn. In job ads, salary is often listed as Jahresbruttogehalt (annual gross) — always clarify whether a figure is brutto or netto.
German Notice Periods (Kündigungsfristen) Explained
No german HR vocabulary hiring firing guide is complete without notice periods, because they shape every departure. During the Probezeit, the statutory notice is just two weeks. After probation, the legal minimum for employees is four weeks to the 15th or the end of a month — but contracts and Tarifverträge (collective agreements) often extend this, especially for long-serving staff. Employers face longer statutory periods that grow with seniority: after two years of service it’s one month to month-end, rising step by step to seven months after twenty years. A Kündigung must generally be in writing and signed — email doesn’t count under German law. And there’s special protection (Kündigungsschutz) against dismissal for pregnant employees, those on parental leave, and severely disabled staff. Knowing these rules turns the Kündigung from a scary word into a manageable process.
Leaving: Dismissals, Layoffs, and Moving On
The words nobody wants to need — but everyone working in Germany should understand. German dismissal protection is among the strongest in Europe, and the vocabulary reflects it: precise, legal, and worth learning before you need it.
19. die Kündigung — the dismissal / resignation.
The famous double-meaning word: it covers both quitting and being fired. „Die Kündigung einreichen” means to hand in your resignation; „die Kündigung erhalten” means to be dismissed. Notice periods (Kündigungsfristen) are strictly regulated — see the section above.
20. die Entlassung — the layoff / dismissal.
The act of being let go, often used for redundancies. „Es kam zu Entlassungen.” (There were layoffs.) Slightly softer in tone than Kündigung — it emphasizes the employer’s action rather than the legal document.
21. die Abfindung — the severance pay.
The compensation package negotiated when leaving — often half a month’s salary per year of service as a rule of thumb. „Die Abfindung beträgt 20.000 Euro.” It’s taxable, though often at a reduced rate under the Fünftelregelung (one-fifth rule) — worth discussing with a Steuerberater.
22. das Arbeitszeugnis — the employment reference.
The written reference every German employee is entitled to when leaving — and it’s written in a famous secret code (see below). „Das Arbeitszeugnis war sehr gut.” Always request the qualified version (qualifiziertes Arbeitszeugnis) with performance evaluation, not just the basic employment confirmation.
23. die Gehaltsabrechnung — the payslip.
The monthly pay statement, dense with abbreviations: brutto/netto, Lohnsteuer, Sozialversicherung. „Die Gehaltsabrechnung kommt per Post.” Keep them — you’ll need them for your Steuererklärung (tax return) and rental applications.
24. der Lohn — the wage.
Hourly or weekly pay for blue-collar workers, as opposed to the salaried Gehalt. „Der Lohn wird wöchentlich ausgezahlt.” The Mindestlohn (minimum wage) applies to Lohn earners directly.
25. der Betriebsrat — the works council.
The elected employee representation body — a cornerstone of German workplace democracy with real co-determination rights. „Der Betriebsrat muss zustimmen.” (The works council must agree.) In companies with more than five employees, staff can elect one; it must be consulted on dismissals and major changes.
26. die Gewerkschaft — the trade union.
„Die Gewerkschaft verhandelt den Tarifvertrag.” (The union negotiates the collective agreement.) Major German unions include ver.di and IG Metall. Even non-members often benefit from union-negotiated Tarifverträge.
27. der Streik — the strike.
„Die Gewerkschaft ruft zum Streik auf.” (The union is calling a strike.) Legal but tightly regulated in Germany — only unions may call strikes, and only over Tarifvertrag issues. A Warnstreik is the short warning strike before the real thing.
28. die Rente — the pension.
State pension, normally from age 67. „Er geht nächstes Jahr in Rente.” (He’s retiring next year.) Private provision is the private Altersvorsorge. The Rentenbescheid is the annual statement telling you what to expect.
29. die Sozialversicherung — the social insurance.
The mandatory system covering health, pension, unemployment, and care insurance — roughly 20% of gross salary, split between employer and employee. „Die Sozialversicherung wird automatisch abgezogen.” (Social insurance is deducted automatically.) It also funds the Rente you’ll receive later.
30. der Minijob — the mini-job.
Employment up to €556/month (2026 threshold) with reduced taxes and social charges — very common for students and side earners. „Sie arbeitet auf Minijob-Basis.” Earnings above the threshold turn it into a Midijob with sliding-scale contributions.
The Secret Code of the Arbeitszeugnis
The Arbeitszeugnis deserves special attention because it doesn’t say what it seems to say. By law, a German reference must be wohlwollend (benevolent) — so criticism is encoded. „Er hat sich stets bemüht” (he always tried) actually means he failed. „Er war stets pünktlich” (he was always punctual) damns with faint praise — punctuality is the bare minimum. The grades hide in adverbs: stets zu unserer vollsten Zufriedenheit (always to our complete satisfaction) is a 1 (excellent), zu unserer vollen Zufriedenheit (to our full satisfaction) is a 2, zu unserer Zufriedenheit is a 3, and anything weaker is a red flag. Missing standard phrases are also a signal — if the closing wishes for your future are absent, something was wrong. Every german HR vocabulary hiring firing learner should know this code — it determines how your next employer reads your past.
Key Takeaways
- These 30 german HR vocabulary hiring firing terms follow the employment journey: applications (Bewerbung, Lebenslauf), contracts (Arbeitsvertrag, Probezeit), working life (Arbeitszeit, Urlaubsanspruch), and leaving (Kündigung, Abfindung, Arbeitszeugnis).
- Remember the double meaning of die Kündigung (quitting and firing), the works council’s power (Betriebsrat), and the secret code of the Arbeitszeugnis.
- German employment protections are strong — notice periods, vacation entitlement, and the right to see your Personalakte are all real rights worth knowing.
- Next steps: our German job interview questions and vocabulary guide, essential German business vocabulary, and German business culture explained — together they cover the language and the system behind it.