Brian Cahill
Brian Cahill
Arturo Castro Nava
Arturo Castro Nava
MCAA Management
Information about unemployment in Germany
8 Comments
Hi Giammarco,
Concerning the procedure with the Arbeitsagentur ("work-agency"), I completely agree with Brian. Apply 3 months early and have in mind they will try to find any job they consider suitable for you and you have to be cooperative in (pretending to) look for another job, otherwise, they may deny payment.
I just would like to add, that on a scholarship you may have to pay insurance on your own, which may turn out quite pricey.
And, to be able to do lab work legally you are required to have some kind of contract with the university/your place of employment if they don't want to employ you for a longer period than that of your ITN, this may be accomplished by an internship-contract. Just make sure to take care of this :-)
Good luck,
Barbara
Hi Barbara,
Have you passed through this process? I hope that I can get an extension for few months to finilize the thesis while I will start the procedure for the ALG 1.
Thank you Barbara for your precious information!!
Have a nice weekend,
GN
Hi Giammarco,
I was in the same situation as a PhD student, my contract ended, but I was not done with the thesis. I would suggest you talk to other PhD students and the career center of your university. You can get ALG I (ca. 60% of your previous pay) for one year, after that comes ALG II (Hartz IV). I had a terrible experience with the Arbeitsagentur, especially when it came to HartzIV. But even before that, I was shuffled around, and talked to a differnt person every time I attended the obligatory appointments. Do not expect them to know English well, and do not expect them to really help you find a job. Their job is mainly to make you feel uncomfortable about being dependent on unemployment benefits.
All the best,
Astrid
Hi Astrid,
Thank you for your contribution and information. I hope I will improve my German to a suitable level in the following year and get the AGL 1. Do you need to attend compulsory meetings with them and/or with possible employers?
Have a nice weekend!
GN
Dear Giammarco,
yes, the appointments with the Arbeitsagentur are compulsory. Every time I was asked to present a detailed list of the applications I had written and whether they led to being invited to interviews or not. They may give you advice on how to do better. For me they were a big waste of time. They may find "suitable" jobs for you in their system and make you apply. If you don't they may decide to refuse paying benefits. How you are treated and how many applications you have to write really depends on the person you are talking to. So make sure to be extremely polite. I was asked to stop applying to postdoc positions, because the person was of the opinion that I was lacking the qualifications because I didn't have my PhD yet. Instead, she made me apply for e.g. the position of a receptionist, because I know English. So these "consultants" at the Arbeitsagentur have no clue, but you have to do what you are asked to do because they have the power to take the money away. I hope that in your city they do a better job.
And yes you have to go to job interviews in case you are invited. If they are out of town you can get travel costs reimbursed from the Arbeitsagentur in case the employer does not reimburse you. It may help to ask a German friend to help you get information at the Arbeitsagentur, fill out the forms and attend the appointments to make sure you understand and get everything right.
Best,
Astrid
Hi Gianmarco,
at the end of my PhD I had the same situation. If you have the possibility you can ask the industry partners that are involved in your research, if they have openings. At least for the period that will cover from the end of the project until you submit your proposal. I was lucky enough to have done that.
Otherwise, the best alternative to offers from the Arbeitsagentur is your own network within the project or university.
My company for example is hiring business development managers with an academic background - check for Inova DE GmbH in Heidelberg.
Good luck!
Hi Vitor,
Sound like a good plan! Thank you for the opportunity you have suggested to me, I hope will be an option in one year.
Have a nice weekend!
Hi Giammarco
you must register at the Arbeitsagentur at the latest 3 months before your contract runs out. They will organise a further appointment with an adviser. Within those 3 months they will suggest several jobs that you will be obliged to apply for or at least to say why the jobs are unsuitable.
I can imagine that if you have a scholarship that you are not employed and may possibly be able to apply for unemployment benefit. Nevertheless, you will be occupied with your research work and it might be inconvenient for you to take up paid employment. The Arbeitsagentur will keep you busy applying for jobs.
It is worth applying 3 months before your contract runs out and getting advice on the system from the experts.
warm regards
Brian