Jobmesse Frankfurt

Attendees, exhibitors & solutions

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Industry trends

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Frequently asked

Glossary

1

Ausbildung

Germany's dual vocational training programme: typically two to three and a half years combining paid company practice with part-time vocational school (Berufsschule), ending in a recognised qualification. Employers at a job fair advertise open training places with a named start date.

2

Duale Ausbildung

The full name for the company-plus-Berufsschule model of vocational training. Contracts are regulated by the Berufsbildungsgesetz (BBiG) and apprentices receive a training salary (Ausbildungsvergütung) that rises each year.

3

Duales Studium

A degree that alternates academic study at a university of applied sciences with paid company placements. Candidates at the fair compare block models, monthly training pay and whether the employer pays tuition.

4

Praktikum

An internship, either compulsory for a degree (Pflichtpraktikum) or voluntary (freiwilliges Praktikum). Voluntary internships longer than three months trigger minimum-wage rules, which is why employers ask about duration and study regulations at the stand.

5

Werkstudent

A student enrolled at university who works up to 20 hours a week during term. Employers pay a fixed hourly rate and often keep Werkstudenten on after graduation, so stands use these roles as a long recruitment pipeline.

6

Quereinstieg

A career change into a new occupation without the classic qualification route, common in IT, logistics, care and sales. Exhibitors usually explain which certificates, onboarding periods or employer-funded courses make a lateral entry realistic.

7

Umschulung

A state-recognised retraining programme leading to a formal vocational qualification in a new field. Funding often comes from the Federal Employment Agency (Arbeitsagentur) or a Jobcenter, so candidates should bring any funding decision with them.

8

Anerkennung

The formal assessment of a foreign qualification against the German reference occupation (for example by IHK Fosa for commercial and technical profiles). Employers ask whether recognition is complete, in progress or not required for the role.

9

Bewerbungsmappe

The printed application folder: cover letter, CV, certificates. German employers still expect a structured CV with a photo only if the employer asks, chronological dates and no gaps left unexplained at the stand.

10

Zeugnis and Arbeitszeugnis

Zeugnis usually means a school, training or degree certificate; Arbeitszeugnis is the employer's written reference with coded wording (for example 'stets zu unserer vollsten Zufriedenheit'). Bring originals plus copies - stands will not keep originals.

11

Berufsschule

The vocational school that apprentices attend one or two days a week. Location and timetable matter to school leavers comparing two training offers, so it is a fair question at the stand.

12

IHK and Handwerkskammer

The chambers of commerce and of crafts that register training contracts, run examinations and advise on qualification recognition. Their advisers are the practical contact point when a training contract or a foreign certificate needs checking.

13

AGG

The Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz, Germany's anti-discrimination law covering gender, age, disability, religion, ethnicity and sexual identity in hiring. It is why German employers do not ask about pregnancy, religion or disability at the stand unless the role legally requires it.

14

Schwerbehinderung and Grad der Behinderung

A recognised disability status expressed as a degree (GdB). Candidates may mention it voluntarily because some employers have inclusion quotas and dedicated integration officers (Integrationsamt) that fund workplace adjustments.

15

Tarifvertrag

A collective agreement setting pay grades, working time and holiday for a sector or company. When two stands offer the same job title, comparing whether the role is covered by a Tarifvertrag explains most of the salary difference.

16

Probezeit

The probation period at the start of a contract, commonly six months for permanent roles and one to four months for training. Notice periods are shorter during Probezeit, which is relevant if you are choosing between offers.