Lexicon T - V

Holiday, just go on holiday... By law – more specifically – by the German federal law on holidays (there really is such a thing), all employees are guaranteed a minimum holiday of 24 normal business days each year. Of course, REWE gives you more. Just how many days you have depends on your position. Feel free to ask about holiday leave at your job interview. But perhaps better not as the first item on the agenda: this normally does not leave such a good impression.

Many employers, including REWE of course, also make contributions to help you form assets (known as vermögenswirksame Leistungen – promoted by German law) in addition to your normal pay. If your income is low, you may also receive an additional employee savings allowance subsidised by the state.

Sometimes it happens that – just after you have signed your vocational training contract – insurance salesmen suddenly begin appearing at your doorstep. If they do, keep the following suggestions in mind: Only buy insurance that is really necessary. For instance, unmarried, single vocational trainees are generally co-insured under their parents’ policies until they have completed their first job training or apprenticeship programme. Should there be any uncertainty on this matter with regard to one policy or another, it is best to get consumer information on prices and services from the German consumer protection institutions, the so-called Verbraucherzentrale.

The job interview is the second most decisive part of the job application after the application letter itself. It is important to try to be yourself at the job interview. Try to stay as natural as possible. That always makes the best impression.