2 Voluntary Jobs

What do you do as a volunteer?

A traineeship offers the opportunity to gain practical experience in various areas. Volunteers often work in the media industry, in marketing or in public relations. The main task is to work on projects under the guidance of experienced professionals, create editorial articles or provide support at events. It is an ideal opportunity to gain professional orientation and make valuable contacts.

The average salary for trainees in Germany is around €27,100 gross per year. This value can vary depending on the industry, collective agreement, company size, university degree, and federal state. In the media industry, salaries are often lower than in other industries. In northern Germany, salaries tend to be lower than in the south, which can be attributed to higher living costs.

Salaries in different cities

• Stuttgart: €31,400
• Bonn: €30,300
• Cologne: €29,700
• Munich: €29,600
• Hamburg: €29,300
• Essen: €28,800
• Duisburg: €28,300
• Wuppertal: €28,200
• Dortmund: €28,200
• Berlin: €28,100
• Frankfurt am Main: €28,100
• Bremen: €27,900

Collective agreements

• 1st year of training:
  • Daily newspapers: €2,059
  • Magazines: €1,588 (under 22 years), €2,023 (over 22 years)
  • Private radio: €1,407
  • Public broadcasting: €1,600
• 2nd year of training:
  • Daily newspapers: €2,372
  • Magazines: €1,852 (under 22 years), €2,287 (over 22 years)
  • Private radio: €1,662
  • Public broadcasting: €1,900

These values are only guidelines and can vary depending on company and industry.

Important skills for volunteering jobs

• Communication skills
• Teamwork
• Creative thinking
• Organizational skills
• flexibility
• Ability to work under pressure
• Basic knowledge in the relevant specialist areas

What training do you need for a job as a volunteer?

As a rule, no special qualifications are required to start a traineeship. However, a degree or training in a relevant field such as journalism, media or communication sciences is often preferred. An internship can also be an advantage to gain initial experience.

Career opportunities in the traineeship

A traineeship can be the entry into a variety of professions. After the traineeship, many graduates have the opportunity to take up permanent positions in editorial offices, PR agencies or other companies in the media industry. They can also focus on specialized areas such as online journalism, social media or event management.