Know Your Worth: Salary Negotiation in Germany

This training will be held in English and in person

Starting a career in Germany is exciting, but also confusing when it comes to salaries. Many
international students feel uncertain about what a “fair” salary is, how contracts are structured, or how to negotiate without appearing impolite. These doubts often lead to accepting offers without asking questions, missing out on benefits, or feeling underpaid compared to German peers.

In this highly practical training, you will learn how to navigate salary discussions in
Germany with confidence. We begin with an introduction to common salary structures, including fixed vs. variable components, gross vs. net income, and typical entry-level ranges for different fields. Then, through case studies and role-plays, you will explore real-world negotiation scenarios such as starting a student job, transitioning into a full-time position, or renegotiating after probation.

You will practice a step-by-step negotiation toolkit that includes:

• Know Your Range: how to research and define a realistic salary expectation.
• Value Framing: shifting the conversation from “what I need” to “what I bring.”
• Negotiation Moves: polite but firm strategies to counter low offers.

Through guided exercises and peer feedback, you will discover that salary negotiation is not about confrontation, but about showing professionalism, clarity, and mutual respect. These three principles – Preparation, Framing, Confidence – form the IBV (IBV=International Bond Values) Salary Triad and will help you succeed in both German and international job markets.

By the end of the workshop, you will be able to:

• Read and understand the key parts of a German employment contract.
• Prepare your own salary range and argumentation line.
• Conduct a professional negotiation conversation in English or German.

Why this training is important to you:

You will leave with a personal action plan, including resources for salary research and a ready-to-use negotiation checklist for your next job interview.

Salary negotiation is more than numbers – it is a signal of how you value yourself. Learning to navigate it will give you not just better offers, but also more confidence to enter the German job market with clarity and self-respect.

This interactive training with case studies, role-plays. and group discussions is hosted by Iman Baratvakili, Coach & Research Associate at KIT/Project manager at Stadt Baden-Baden. This training takes place at building 11.40, room 202. 

Participation details: 

• Registration is mandatory. Places are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. 
• By registering, you agree that your name and email adress will be forwarded to the Center of Competence, Hochschule Karlsruhe, for organizational purposes. 
• We expect all registered participants to attend and actively to contribute
• If you are no longer able to attend, please cancel your registration in advance, so your place can be given to another student. 

This training is funded by the DAAD project “Study, Stay, Succeed in Karlsruhe”. International degree seeking students and recent graduates from KIT (up to one year after graduation) will be given priority.

We collect, save and process personal data of persons who register for the course in order to organize the event and evaluate the project. The anonymized personal data is shared with the DAAD for statistical reasons. Please see our data protection information for details.

Non-international students can also enroll and will be placed at the waiting list. We inform them a few days before start, if there are places left for non-international students and if they can attend.

Register now to secure your spot!