Before the move · Recruitment
What does a recruitment agency do for IT professionals, and what does it cost me?
In short
In Germany, a private placement agency may charge you at most €2,000, and only if an employment contract comes about through it. It may not ask for advance payments (section 296, Social Code Book III). At IseeIT: Free for you. Always. We are paid by the hiring company. Never by you. The Federal Employment Agency also advises and places people free of charge (section 42, Social Code Book III).
Sources: Section 296 SGB III, Section 42 SGB III
is the most a private agency in Germany may charge you, including VAT and only on success.
Without a written contract, a fee agreement is invalid, and advance payments are not allowed. Exceptions exist only with a placement voucher from the employment agency or by ordinance (sections 296 and 297, Social Code Book III). At IseeIT you pay nothing.
Source: Section 296 SGB III, retrieved on 26 October 2026.
What the law says for applicants
- A written contract stating the fee, if you are to pay anything. Without the written form, the fee agreement is invalid (sections 296 and 297, Social Code Book III).
- Payment only on success, that is once an employment contract has come about through the agency. The agency may neither ask for nor accept advance payments (section 296 (2), Social Code Book III).
- A ceiling of €2,000 including VAT (section 296 (3), Social Code Book III).
- No tie to a single agency: agreements under which you may only search through one particular agency are invalid (section 297 no. 4, Social Code Book III).
Public routes
You can also find jobs yourself: in the job search of the Federal Employment Agency and on the EU’s EURES portal. The employment agency advises and places people free of charge (section 42, Social Code Book III).
Our four niches
IseeIT places IT professionals in four niches: Cybersecurity, Cloud, DevOps and Platform Engineering. What sets them apart is under Specialisms in detail.
More questions
Do I have to pay a recruitment agency?
Not at IseeIT. In general, a private agency in Germany may charge at most €2,000, only with a written contract and only once an employment contract has come about (section 296, Social Code Book III).
Is the employment agency free?
Yes. The Federal Employment Agency advises and places people free of charge (section 42, Social Code Book III). You will find jobs in its job search and on the EU’s EURES portal.
Can an agency require me to search only through it?
No. Such agreements are invalid (section 297 no. 4, Social Code Book III).
Three views of this station
IT professional
“Does this cost me anything, and do I have to sign anything?”
What helps: At IseeIT it costs you nothing. In general: no written contract, no fee. No employment contract, no payment.
Partner
“Why would anyone do this for you for free?”
What helps: Because the hiring company pays. Ask every agency who pays it.
Company
“What do we get that a job ad does not bring?”
What helps: Support until the end of probation, with check-ins in weeks 1, 4, 8 and 12.
How we work
- After the first conversation
- Your net-income breakdown is on the table: in writing, with a source and date on every figure, in your mother tongue.
- Before every interview
- You know the company, the interview style, the typical questions and the salary range.
- When you sign
- No open questions left: probation period, notice periods and salary components have all been talked through.
- In the week of the move
- Registration, bank account, keys: prepared, and in the right order.
- Until the end of probation
- Check-ins in weeks 1, 4, 8 and 12, then as needed. In between, we are one message away.
- Cost
- Free for you. Always. We are paid by the hiring company. Never by you.
Not in our hands: Whether a company hires you is the company’s decision. Whether you accept is yours.
Related
- How much does an IT professional earn in Germany?
- What do I need to work in Germany as an EU citizen?
How does moving to Germany as an IT professional work?
Calculate your own path
With your city and your salary: comparison calculator. Talk your path through with us: write to us. Who we are: home page.
Sources
- Section 296 Social Code Book III (placement contract between agencies and jobseekers), retrieved on 26 October 2026.
- Section 297 Social Code Book III (invalid agreements), retrieved on 26 October 2026.
- Section 42 (1) Social Code Book III (advice and placement free of charge), retrieved on 26 October 2026.