When a German employment contract lands as a PDF, the instinct is to skim for salary and start date. Those matter — yet several quieter clauses shape your first year at least as much.
Probation and notice
Ask how notice works during and after probation, and whether the employer can extend probation. Confirm whether your notice must be given in writing and to whom.
Working time and overtime
Clarify whether overtime is compensated in pay, time off, or absorbed into a trust-based model. If the contract references a Betriebsvereinbarung (works agreement), request the relevant extracts before signing.
Secondary employment and non-compete
Side work, freelancing, and garden-leave style restrictions appear more often than candidates expect. Ask what requires prior written consent and how long post-contract restrictions last, if any.
Verbal promises
If interviews mentioned remote days, a training budget, or a title change after six months, ask for those points in an annex or confirmation email. Employment contract review preparation sessions often begin here: aligning spoken expectations with written terms.
None of this replaces legal advice. It does give you a cleaner question list for HR — and a clearer sense of when to involve a solicitor.