Working away from home with accommodation: How to organise your journey and daily life

A temporary assignment outside your region works well if you have your journey, accommodation, and your contact person sorted out beforehand. With a fixed contact person and a simple packing and daily routine, you avoid stress.

What “working away from home with accommodation” means in everyday life

When you work away from home, you work for a certain time outside your place of residence. During the day you work at an assignment company, and you sleep in accommodation nearby.

Planning ahead is important:

• How do you get to the workplace?
• How do you get from the accommodation to the construction site or hall in the morning?
• Who is your contact person if you have questions?

At smartjobs personaldienstleistungen GmbH, you are employed by smartjobs. Assignments are mainly in Rhein-Erft-Kreis and Köln, but sometimes also in other places such as Aachen, Mönchengladbach, Troisdorf, Trier, or for single projects across Germany.

Before you leave: Go through these 5 points in a phone call

Many problems happen because details are missing. Take a short call before you leave. Your contact at smartjobs is available by phone and WhatsApp.

You should clarify these points before you go:

1. Workplace and meeting point: exact address and time. Also ask about the “start point” for the first day.
2. Travel route: Whether you come by car or train, and how to arrive best.
3. Accommodation and check-in: Address, time for picking up the key and important information.
4. Work clothing and protection: What is needed at the workplace. Take a spare with you if possible.
5. Emergency contact: Who you call if you are late or can’t find something.

Practical tip: Save the address, contact person, and meeting point as a note in your phone. Make a screenshot of it. Then you have it even without internet.

Travelling: How to stay organised and on time

Plan your journey like a small assignment. Then you will start your first day more relaxed.

What to do:

• Check one day before: Route, departure time, possible traffic jams or train changes.
• Add some extra time: Plan extra time to find parking and to get your bearings.
• Have important things ready: Phone charger, ID, address of accommodation, work clothing.
• Let them know you've arrived: When you arrive, send a short WhatsApp to your contact. Then it’s clear that everything is fine.

If you drive: Check petrol, navigation system, and charger beforehand. If you go by train or bus: Save the route as a screenshot.

Accommodation: What to do right away on your first evening

Accommodation is your place to relax. The sooner you have a routine there, the better you will sleep.

Checklist for the first evening:

• Check your room: Bed, shower, heating, key.
• Test the route to work: Check on the map how to get to the workplace in the morning.
• Plan food: Find a supermarket or a snack bar nearby.
• Prepare clothing: Get everything ready for the next morning.
• Charge your phone: Best to do it right away in a fixed spot.

Packing list that works in practice:

• Work clothing for several days, plus spare
• Solid work shoes
• Personal hygiene items
• Ear plugs if you sleep lightly
• Small first-aid kit for everyday use (no big explanations needed)

Tip for staying organised: Use two bags. One for work, one for personal things. Then you don’t need to search in the morning.

Communication on site: How to use your contact person right

On temporary jobs, many things come together: new place, new team, different routines. That’s why a fixed contact person is important.

At smartjobs you have one contact for your company and for employees. You can reach them by phone and WhatsApp at +49 2235 98617-0.

It’s better to contact them early, for example if:

• the meeting point is unclear
• you can’t find the accommodation
• your arrival time changes a lot
• you can’t find anyone at the workplace

How to write a good WhatsApp:

• Name your location and time
• Describe your problem in one sentence
• Ask a clear question

Example without details: “I am at the address now. Where exactly is the meeting point at the gate?”

Note on language: Communication is possible in German and Polish. Use short sentences. This helps avoid misunderstandings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to prepare a long CV for temporary jobs?

For your application at smartjobs you don’t need a cover letter. You can apply easily through a short form or by phone. In the conversation you discuss what you can do and which jobs fit you.

What if I can’t find the meeting point or accommodation?

Stay calm and contact your contact person straight away. Send your location or the address where you are standing. This way you can be guided to the right place quickly.

Can the conversation take place without meeting in person?

Yes. The interview can take place in Erftstadt or by video. This way you can clarify a lot before you travel.

What’s next

Take a look at current jobs, for example Monteur für Photovoltaikanlagen (m/f/d) in Miehlen, Bauelektriker (m/f/d) in Unterthingau or Bodenleger (m/f/d) in Herzogenaurach, and apply without a CV using the short form, by phone or WhatsApp.