We, IG Metall, are Germany’s largest labor union and the largest labor union in Europe. We are effective, rooted in tradition, and modern at the same time. Strong and visible. That’s what makes us attractive.
About 2,500 people work at IG Metall—all across Germany, in a variety of fields: primarily union secretaries, but also HR professionals, financial controllers, accountants, administrative staff, and many young people who either complete their vocational training with us, join us after completing an in-company apprenticeship, or come to us as college graduates through our trainee program: Graduates come mainly from the fields of law, social sciences, and economics, though there are also educators, psychologists, journalists, and media studies graduates among them. All of them are professionals in their fields, dedicated colleagues who approach their work with passion and heart and soul. Together, they form a strong unit capable of making a real difference.
So, enough with the portfolio poetry and the marketing buzz. It’s all true, it’s all correct—but unfortunately, it doesn’t address the truly important questions. Above all: Why should you work for us? What, exactly, do we know about you and your life, your goals and dreams, your concerns and expectations for your work? About your aspirations?
Personal Freedom and Security
Well, is this perhaps the case? Your life is multifaceted and complex; you’re committed, critical, and demanding—of yourself, your work, and others. You’re not just looking for a job, but also for responsibility, challenging and fulfilling tasks. At the same time, it’s important to you to balance your personal life with your career and your career with your personal life—to do that, you need individual freedom, but also a secure job. In other words, good, supportive working conditions. And, of course, a good salary.
We want to make good work possible—secure work, fair work, work that ensures sustainable occupational safety and health. Yes, we want you to feel comfortable with us, at your workplace, and in your work; we want you to thrive. And, in turn, the people for whom we work every day will thrive as well.
To put it plainly: At IG Metall, you don’t work just for yourself or just go through the motions; you don’t work solely for your supervisors, and certainly not for a desk drawer—but for people. You work for 2.3 million people who have placed their trust in us. Who are our members.
That’s why we want to know what matters to people, how they work, and how they want to live. So we asked them. Over half a million workers took part in our major employee survey last year, which gave us deep insights. It showed us what people hope for in their work—and what they expect from their employer. Have we implemented all of these expectations ourselves? No, certainly not. There’s always room for improvement. Nevertheless, we’re convinced: We, IG Metall, are an attractive employer.
Why? Because it’s not just important to us to find the best-suited candidate for an open position—but because we want that colleague to grow and develop through their work. Because we foster strengths, because we enable skill development, because we pave the way for women’s career advancement. In short: Because we at IG Metall don’t just advocate for good, secure, fair, and healthy working conditions in workplaces and companies—we also take these issues seriously when it comes to our own employees.
We take our members seriously
This isn’t just empty talk. We can back it up.
Take work-life balance, for example. We know that work plays an important role in life—but it is not an end in itself. Work must leave enough room for family, leisure time, and volunteer work. That’s why we offer our employees a wide range of benefits to help them successfully balance their personal lives and work. These include, among other things: flexible leave options for childcare and family responsibilities, continued pay during short-term caregiving obligations, and flexible work schedules and work arrangements.
Take health promotion, for example. It is important to us to maintain and promote the well-being of our employees over the long term. Our programs therefore go far beyond traditional occupational safety and health measures. For example, we offer year-round seminars on effective stress management, healthy eating, and relaxation. And in our health workshops, employees can contribute directly to improving their working conditions with their own ideas and suggestions. We also provide professional support through a team of qualified experts to employees facing difficult phases in their careers or personal lives.
Take the promotion of women, for example. The proportion of women in the workforce—especially in specialized and leadership positions—is still far too low. We have therefore set a goal: We want to achieve a representation of women of at least 30 percent, including in leadership positions. We are consistently working toward this goal with personnel development measures specifically tailored to women.
Take staff development, for example. Training and continuing education are an essential component and prerequisite for successful, sustainable union work. For many years, we have offered a broad spectrum of supporting professional development and personal growth opportunities: Our employees have access to entry-level, preparatory, and a wide variety of ongoing support programs. In addition, we provide a comprehensive range of seminars, training sessions, and consulting services for education and professional development. Finally, we have launched a special program for developing the next generation of leaders, which systematically supports the generational transition.
Many Different Paths Lead to IG Metall
And perhaps you’re now wondering: How can I join IG Metall? Well, we’re always looking for qualified, dedicated people. We provide many different paths for you to join us. Since May 2000, young women and men have been able to complete a twelve-month trainee program with us and receive training for their future work as union secretaries. In addition, every year we’re looking for interested individuals who’d like to train here with us to become office management assistants or chefs. And, of course, you can apply for our job openings.
On this portal, you’ll find everything you need to know about us. Feel free to look around and take your time—it could be the start of something new.
We, for one, are eager to meet you and look forward to welcoming you. To put it simply: We’d love to have you join us.
As part of a strong community.
Shaping diversity through solidarity: IG Metall has signed the Diversity Charter. “Shaping diversity through solidarity”—this guiding principle guides IG Metall, and the union is committed to it.
