Guide
Talking About Salary After Relocation Without Undervaluing Your Move
German employers often ask for Gehaltsvorstellung early. Arrive with a researched range for your role, city, and seniority — not a single number pulled from your last country’s currency.
Separate base salary from relocation support. Some firms offer a moving allowance or temporary housing; others expect you to self-fund. Knowing which you need prevents mixing both topics into one vague ask.
If you still have a notice period abroad, state the realistic start date. Pressuring an earlier date you cannot meet creates trust problems later in the process.
Mild reservation is useful: you can say you are flexible within a band once you understand total compensation, including vacation days, bonus structure, and remote policy. That reads as serious, not evasive.
Practice the conversation aloud before the call. Candidates who rehearse once with an advisor usually sound calmer when the recruiter opens the salary question mid-screen.