Probezeit, the first months of a German job
The probation period cuts notice to two weeks on both sides. Here is what it does and does not mean for a new hire.
Almost every German employment contract opens with a Probezeit, a probation period. When people who just moved here ask me about their contract, this is the line that worries them most, so it is worth knowing what it actually changes.
What it is
A Probezeit can run up to six months, and most contracts use the full six. During that window either side can end the contract with two weeks' notice and no reason required. Everything else works exactly as it will after probation ends. The only thing that changes is the notice period.
What it does not mean
A Probezeit is not a trial shift or an unpaid audition. You are a full employee from day one. It also does not mean you are likely to be let go. For most people it passes without a single conversation about it, and on the day it ends the standard notice periods take over and your job becomes much harder to terminate. German dismissal protection is strong once you are past probation and the company is above a certain size.
One practical note for the job hunt. If you left a past job inside six months, a recruiter may read it as a failed probation. It is worth a short, plain line on the CV explaining why, a fixed-term contract or a Werkstudent role, so the gap does not answer the question for you.