First 90 days after accepting a German offer

Signing the Vertrag ends one stress and starts another. Probation (Probezeit) in Germany is not a formality; it is a mutual evaluation window. Graduates who treat it as “survive until month six” miss chances to shape how they are seen.

Week one: map people, not only tasks

Ask who owns decisions that affect your work, who reviews quality, and who informsally knows how things actually get done. Write names down. Many early mistakes come from skipping a quiet stakeholder rather than from weak technical skill.

Clarify success in writing

After the first two weeks, propose a short check-in with your manager: three priorities for the next month and how progress will be reviewed. You are not being difficult; you are reducing ambiguity. If the answer stays vague, send a polite summary email of what you understood and invite corrections.

Document without performative noise

Keep a private log of closed tasks, feedback received, and questions you escalated. This helps in Probezeit talks and later in salary discussions. Avoid broadcasting every small win in group channels — German teams often prefer substance over constant visibility theatre.

Language and lunchroom norms

If you work partly in English, still learn the German labels for processes and tools your team uses daily. Join occasional informal moments even when introverted; absence is noticed faster than imperfect German. Ask a trusted colleague which meetings are truly optional.

When something feels wrong

Raise concerns early with facts, not with global judgements about “the culture.” If feedback is consistently harsh without examples, request concrete instances. Our Graduate Entry Consultation includes a first-90-days checklist you can adapt to your field.