Explaining Career Gaps on a German CV
People need move to other companies for a raise. Germans work less hours than others in the EU. Life expectancy of Germans went up. Inflation went down but prices did not.
We’re back after a brief pause (I was in Copenhagen for my birthday). 🎂 Let’s jump right in, as we have lots to cover. 🙌
Advice From A Career Coach
🫣 Practical advice about finding work in Germany.
When You’re Asked About Career Gaps on Your CV
While your first instinct might be, “That’s none of your <bleeping> business,” here’s what I usually suggest to my clients:
Brevity is your friend. Offer up a one- to two-sentence response as a short factual statement.
Don’t reveal too much. You owe no one a detailed explanation, least of all a prospective employer who might not hire you. Being too honest can actually be used as a reason NOT to hire you.
Be direct with your answer, tacking on something positive as well. Speak with confidence, and don’t waiver.
Examples of what you can say:
I took a sabbatical, using that time to develop my knowledge further by taking courses online. Now, I’m ready to return to the workforce and put my talents to good use.
I was laid off because my company went out of business. I’ve used the time off to apply for jobs at companies I really like.
I wasn’t working due to family reasons, and now I’m all set for work. I’m excited about working for your company and helping you reach your goals.
Answers such as these don’t reveal too much, frame your career gap positively, and usually don’t lead to further questions.
Whatever you do, don’t go negative. Avoid saying something the interviewer could use against you. For example, don’t talk about a toxic workplace or taking time off for mental health reasons. While those reasons are valid and relatable, keep them to yourself.
🗣️ I offer career coaching to help foreigners improve their chances of finding work in Germany. Check out how I might be able to help you.
Community News
🤝 News from our community.
Our last poll asked: How have you gotten raises at work? Sadly, more than 50% of our respondents said they’ve only increased their pay by moving to a new company. Translation - companies need to treat their staff better with regular pay raises, not just inflation adjustments.
Take part in this week’s poll: What piece of typical German fashion do you own? 😅
Shoutout: Nest Finder Berlin offers services to help foreigners find flats in Berlin, guiding you through all the complicated steps of the apartment-hunting process. 👉 For more relocation companies, see our guide.
This week’s featured Berlin Life guides: How To Find A Job In Berlin: An Honest & Detailed Guide & What You Need To Know About Notice Periods In Germany.
Read last week’s newsletter: Will Germany Ever Become More Digital? To read our past editions, check out our archives.
Reminder: We’re looking for foreign women in tech to share their experiences working in Germany. Fill out this form to be featured in an upcoming article.
Food For Thought
💡 Articles about tech, the world of work, & other random things.
Germans work fewer hours than most other countries in the EU. Yet, if the Deutsche Bank CEO had his way, we’d all be working harder. 🤔
To ensure a higher quality of life, the European Parliament wants all workers to have the right to disconnect after hours.
Sifted highlights the best and worst managers in EU startups. Data was collected via a survey; although the results were anonymous, a few quotes from me are featured. 🤩
If you’re seeking remote work, these are the key skills you should put on your CV.
Learning by teaching, the “protege effect,” can help you learn almost anything.
Per Sifted, “August was the worst month for European startup funding since April 2017. In August last year, more than three times as much (€4.8bn) was raised.”
Companies Hiring
🇩🇪 Companies in Germany hiring right now.
Berlin Governance Platform (Berlin, 2 jobs, DE & EN required)
Grammarly (Remote in DE, 12 jobs, EN required)
Pocket FM (Remote in DERemote in DE, 2 jobs, DE required)
Scalable Capital (Berlin & Munich, ~90 jobs, EN &/or DE required)
Taxdoo (Hamburg/remote, 10 jobs, EN required)
Teach First Deutschland (Berlin/Saxony/remote, 3 jobs, DE required)
Transparency International (Berlin, 6 jobs, EN required)
🇩🇪 German startups that recently raised new funding also have vacancies.
Femna Health (Undisclosed) | Berlin | Jobs
Hopper Mobility (€1.63 M) | Berlin | Jobs
Lucid Genomics (€1.3 M) | Berlin | Jobs
OceanScore (€5 M) | Hamburg | Jobs
ℹ️ We share new job postings every single day on LinkedIn. Follow us.
News in Germany
🗞️ All of the news in Germany.
12 changes happening in Germany this month.
The labor minister wants the nation’s minimum wage to be €15.
Inflation went down in August and the chancellor tried to gaslight us by saying we now have more money in our pockets. 🙄 Olaf, people aren’t spending for a reason.
Big companies in Germany are pondering closures and even exits.
Ryanair plans to reduce its Berlin-based fleet by 20%.
I’ll believe it when I see it … Berlin should be covered by fiber-optic internet by 2028.
IKEA plans to kick off a secondhand reselling platform in Germany.
Germany’s first female astronaut will be joining a SpaceX mission.
A German government official wants to raise the legal drinking age to 18.
Some dude tried to get into Sisyphos and when refused, drove his car into the club's front gate.
The life expectancy of Germans went up for the first time since 2019.
Q&A: Do you need permanent residency to apply for German citizenship?
Two German states have launched services to speed up citizenship application processing times.
Despite growing anti-foreigner sentiment, a study shows that East Germany desperately needs foreign workers. The rise of the right is making it hard for the region to attract both investments and workers.
The kids are alright. German students want to strip Hitler of his German citizenship.
A former Nazi bunker in Hamburg has been transformed into a green space.
An Egyptian archaeologist wants Nefertiti’s bust returned home.
Improve your German by listening to these podcasts.
Berliners looking for something to do this month should head to these new restaurants and attend these events.
Other Ways We Can Help You
😇 Good stuff served up by the Berlin Life.
Connect with local professionals through our LinkedIn Connect & Exchange list.
Read our 50+ free guides to living, working, and moving to Germany.
Happy belated birthday 🎉
Happy belated birthday, Cheryl!