Six Steps towards the Employment Contract

 

The typical way towards an employment contract at RWTH Aachen University is as follows:

1st Step: Application

Open positions will be advertised and filled by individual university institutions, such as the chairs and departments of the faculties or the divisions of the Central University Administration. Current job openings are advertised in the RWTH Jobs Database. Applications are to be submitted to the institution specified in the job ad. If your application is successful, the Human Resources Department will complete the employment process.

2nd Step: Employment Application by the University Institution

You have successfully applied for a job at an RWTH insitution. Now this insitution will have to submit an employment application to the competent division of the HR Department. This application includes various personal information, but also information on your past activities in teaching and research. You will receive a copy of this application for your review. Please note that the application does not constitute an employment relationship, which is entered into by signing the employment contract at the HR Department (Step 6).

3rd Step: Providing All Necessary Documents

You can download an overview of all documents to be submitted as part of the employment process (see download box).

 

 

 

 

Employment Documents

 

4th Step: Getting in Touch with the HR Department

Once the HR Department has received the employment application from the employing RWTH department or institute, you should get advice on all the details of the further employment procedure. Typically, you will have an advisory session with one of the HR members of staff. He or she will provide you with information on the salary system at German universities, social insurance matters, and the services of the "Versorgungsanstalt des Bundes und der Länder (VBL)," i.e. the public-sector occupational pensions provider of the Federal State of NRW. Further, you will receive some leaflets and brochures containing important information on working at RWTH Aachen. Please make an appointment with the competent HR member of staff. You can find the relevant staff member on the web page of Division 8.1 - Academic Staff.

If you come to Aachen only shortly prior to the planned date of employment, you will have to send the relevant documents in advance to the HR Department, so that all the necessary steps - such as involving the Staff Council in the employment process - can be taken in due course. Please make sure only to send copies of your original documents. You can present the original documents at a later stage for authentication purposes.

5th Step: Further Steps to Take

Further, you will have to

  • undergo a health check at the University Medical Center. For the health check, no appointment is required.
  • register your new address with the local Residents' Registration Office
  • apply for a certificate of good conduct ("Beleg-Art 'O'")
  • apply for a tax certificate to the NRW Office of Salaries and Pension (LBV -  "Landesamt für Besoldung und Versorgung")

Non-EU citizens will also have to let the Foreigners' Office check their purpose of stay (for further information, see Residence Permit).

6th Step: Signing the Employment Contract

By signing the employment contract, the employment relationship comes into effect. The contract must be signed at least one day before the planned date of employment. If there is a delay on your part so that the planned date of employment cannot be met, please notify the relevant HR member of staff.