Field Notes
How to Read a German Craft Job Advertisement
German craft advertisements often pack requirements into short blocks. A line about Schichtarbeit may mean rotating early and late shifts rather than a standard daytime workshop rhythm. If your family situation or commute cannot support that, raise it early rather than after the trial day.
Führerschein Klasse B appears frequently for site-based electricians and service technicians. Employers may expect you to reach customer locations independently. If you hold an equivalent licence from another country, note the conversion status in your application so hiring managers do not assume a gap.
Meisterpflicht applies to certain regulated crafts. Seeing Meister or Geselle in a listing is not always a hard stop for experienced colleagues, but it changes how you present supervision needs and wage expectations. Ask whether the vacancy is for independent work or for a team under a Meister.
Salary bands, when shown, are often framed monthly rather than hourly. Compare them against regional craft tables and against overtime or travel pay. A lower base with paid travel can still be stronger than a higher figure that assumes unpaid site movement.
Finally, watch for language notes. Alltagstaugliches Deutsch usually means you can follow shop-floor instructions safely. It is different from polished written German for office correspondence. Match your honest level; overstating it tends to surface on day one.