Job coaching in English: free with a voucher.

What is the voucher?

The Jobcenter can pay for a coach who helps you find work. For this, it gives you a voucher. In German, it is called Aktivierungs- und Vermittlungsgutschein, or AVGS for short. In English, people call it the activation and placement voucher.

Here is what you should know:

• It is free for you. The Jobcenter pays the coaching provider. You do not get a bill.
• The Jobcenter decides. The voucher is a discretionary benefit (Ermessensleistung). This means: your Jobcenter decides in your case. You have no fixed right to it.
• A group is the normal case. One-to-one coaching (Einzelcoaching) is possible for good reasons. One reason can be that your German is not strong enough for a group yet.
• Approval comes first. The coaching starts only after the Jobcenter has said yes in writing.

The voucher shows how long it is valid and in which region. It also shows if it is for a group or for one person. A group voucher cannot be used for one-to-one coaching.

Who is this for?

This guide is for you if:

• you get money from the Jobcenter,
• you speak English better than German,
• you are looking for work in Germany,
• you can take part online from anywhere in Germany, or come to Bochum.

You do not need a university degree. We look for work that fits you. That can be a job in care, in a warehouse, in a shop or in an office. It can also be a training (Ausbildung).

I am a coach from Bochum, in the Ruhr area. Most sessions are online, so you can join from home – from anywhere in Germany. Just check the region on your voucher.

Do you get unemployment benefit (Arbeitslosengeld)? Then ask the Agentur für Arbeit about the voucher. This is also true if you get money from the Jobcenter as well.

How to ask your caseworker

At the Jobcenter, one person helps you with work. This is your caseworker. In German, this person is called Arbeitsvermittler or Arbeitsvermittlerin (job placement officer). Some Jobcenters say Integrationsfachkraft (integration specialist). Both mean the person who helps you find work.

1. Ask early. Bring it up at your next appointment. You can also call, or write in the online mailbox (Online-Postfach) of your Jobcenter.
2. Say clearly what you want. One-to-one coaching with a voucher. The goal is „Heranführung an den Arbeitsmarkt“. This means getting closer to the job market.
3. Give your reasons. One honest reason is often enough. For example: “My German is not good enough for a group yet.”
4. Check the voucher. Does it say Einzel (one-to-one)? If it says Gruppe (group), ask for a change right away.
5. Choose your coach. You choose the provider yourself. The Jobcenter is not allowed to recommend a specific one.
6. Wait for the written approval. The provider fills in the voucher. Then the original goes back to the Jobcenter. We start when you have the approval in writing.

What to say to your caseworker

Here are simple German sentences with the English meaning. Read them out loud, show them on your phone or copy them into a message.

What we do together

In the coaching, we talk in English. Your documents are in German, because most employers here expect German. We write them together, and I explain every line.

• Your plan. What can you do well? Which work fits your life? We decide on the next small step.
• Your German CV. A German CV (Lebenslauf) often looks different from CVs in other countries. We make yours clear and complete, even with gaps.
• Your applications. Cover letters (Anschreiben), short applications and emails. We find jobs online, through people you know or directly at companies.
• Interview practice. We go through typical questions. We prepare in English and practise the key answers in German.
• Qualifications from abroad. We look at your options. And we find out who can help with recognition (Anerkennung).
• Your first weeks. We prepare your start in the new job, so that you stay there.

The coaching has up to 120 units of 45 minutes, over up to six months. Most sessions are online, via WhatsApp, Zoom, Teams or Google Meet. A phone with internet is enough. If you prefer, we can also meet in person in Bochum.

From my practice

Many people think they need perfect German before they can apply. That is not true for every job. Often the first step is a clear German CV and a few good sentences for the interview.

What the Jobcenter learns

First of all: I do not work for the Jobcenter. The coaching runs through an approved provider, and the Jobcenter pays with the voucher. Here is what the Jobcenter learns:

• That you take part, and when. Every session is documented.
• A short final report. At the end, the Jobcenter gets a report about the coaching.
• Not your private life. What you tell me personally stays with me.

New rules since July 2026

Since 1 July 2026, Bürgergeld is called Grundsicherungsgeld. Until the end of 2026, some letters may still say Bürgergeld. Decisions you already have stay valid.

Finding work now comes first at the Jobcenter – also before courses and coaching. But coaching is still possible if it gives you a better chance of lasting work. The law mentions people under 30 in particular. Older people are not excluded. You can say this at your appointment, too.

Common questions