Work & employment
Probezeit
Probezeit is the probation period at the start of a German employment contract, typically up to six months. During it, either side may terminate with a shortened two-week notice period. Working student contracts commonly include a Probezeit of three to six months.
The Probezeit is a trial period agreed at the beginning of an employment relationship, capped by law at six months. Its main legal effect is the shortened statutory notice period: during Probezeit either party can end the contract with two weeks' notice, on any day, without giving reasons. After the trial period the regular notice rules apply, starting at four weeks to the 15th or the end of a month.
Probezeit is not mandatory; it has to be written into the contract. Full statutory protection against unfair dismissal (Kündigungsschutz) only starts after six months of employment in companies with more than ten employees, which coincides with the maximum Probezeit length but is a separate mechanism.
What it means for working students
Working student contracts almost always carry a Probezeit, and that is fine: it cuts both ways. If the role turns out to be photocopying instead of coding, you can leave within two weeks instead of sitting out a long notice period. Resigning during Probezeit has no negative legal consequences, and a short working student stint does not need an elaborate explanation in later applications.