Germany VS UK
 

Hi all!

After weird path of schooling I ended up working in Germany. I'm electrical engineer. Thing is, my German sucks and I realized that I'll need at least 2 years only to start speak "normally". I'm thinking about going back to UK but some colleagues are telling me that I will never earn so much money as I can in Germany. I have normal beginners engineering salary here by the way.

Because of my schooling abroad, I'm not into UK's labor market and I can't analyze how good or bad situation there really is. Or how it will be for next few years comparing to Germany which will obviously have some problems with refugee issues.

Is situation there comparable to Germany or really and obviously worse?

Re: Germany VS UK
 

Life in UK is fine if you are a merchant banker.

Re: Germany VS UK
 

That's what I was afraid of because I feel a bit sick when I see flat renting fees...

Re: Germany VS UK
 

Yes, but you are probably looking at London prices, get out of the London area, and the center of cities and rents are much lower, with rents as low as £400 and less a month. The UK has, currently, the best ecconomy in the EU, and certainly doesn't have the ridiculous migration problem caused by accepting a million refugees from Syria and Africa.

Re: Germany VS UK
 

OK, now I like where this discussion is going.

Re: Germany VS UK
 

I pay £300 a month but I am in Ultima Thule where there are no jobs.

Re: Germany VS UK
 

My son is an Electrician; the pay is OK, but nothing special at starting level (normal beginners). Assuming you have proper Electrical Engineering qualifications and experience in a relative field, then I think there is plenty of work being advertised.

My advice is to use Google to find the details of some of the Recruitment agency's in the UK, then give them a call to see if you can find work here; they'll also give you an idea of the type of salary someone with your qualifications can get. Do not under any circumstances go with one that wants money from you up front.

Once you know you can get work and how much you can earn, you can look around for accommodation rentals, then start to build up your knowledge as to whether it's doable.

My own opinion, unless you are desperate to leave, learn German and stay where you are. I lived in Germany for a long time and have been in and out quite a bit since I left; I always wonder why on earth anybody would want to leave Germany for the UK.

Re: Germany VS UK
 

:goodpost:I stayed, never again looked elswhere.Love the country.Now retired.

Re: Germany VS UK
 

Thank you Cynic for very helpful post.

I'm not desperate, trying to make decision (right one :) ) and hold onto it.

I heard your last sentence from few people so far and still asking myself "What's the main difference?". Why is life in Germany much easier?

Re: Germany VS UK
 

Don't think it's particularly easier, Germany can be very frustrating and people often think the grass is greener on the other side; my experience from living in both is that Germany is a nicer place to live, but doing it without being able to speak German would be hard and I can understand your thoughts.

I'd really try to get out there and learn the language, I think you'll find it pays dividends. They used to offer free language courses, look around and see what you can find. Don't be afraid to make mistakes; we all started off like that (and my German is still atrocious - Mrs C (who's Dutch) tells me I speak it like a Turk - not sure if that's a compliment).

Re: Germany VS UK
 

Germany is certainly not easier, but again depends on the individual and area. Germany has some beautiful parts/ugly parts, so no different to the UK. When it comes to wages, you could be worse off in Germany, or better off. To really compare, you need to know what the salary will offer you in that specific area.

Re: Germany VS UK
 

You must learn German - not just "Ladendeutsch" but the real deal.

Re: Germany VS UK
 

Yes, I'm aware of that and that is my dilemma all about. I need at least two years to integrate properly. At the moment, I have ideas, ambition, motivation to do some things which I can do in Germany also but only with fluent German. Basically, I'm afraid of spending too much time/energy only on language. I know there are courses and schools to learn but for "real deal", I think less than two years is too optimistic to expect.

Re: Germany VS UK
 

Success is more likely if you have already learned another language.

Re: Germany VS UK
 

I have basics but "real deal" is something else.

Re: Germany VS UK
 

I live in a rural area, worked in the city,my German after needing to speak in German, is not without an accent and not without the odd mistake. Hey-ho even in the city
Local Germans arent brilliant.I found when I started they had patience, now they
love the accent.Not forgetting few English in UK have command of their own
Language, but German youngsters know their own language better than
English kids know theirs.

My strength in the languages I know is my spelling, and comprehension.
Grammer, can be good one day, diabolical the next.
I used to be cocky and use the 'Du form' (familiar) to my bosses, some Doctors,
but they never got stroppy, not so stuffy as some English enviroments.
Respect of position in actions seemed more important.

I did clash once in a supermarket with an older so called lady, who was pushy,
with all, and told me off when I spoke to her using the familiar term, I simply
told her in German ' act like a child you'll be spoke to like a child',
The other customers loved it...The thing was I only asked if she was in the queue,
firstly in the formal form, and politely.She showed impatience towards the cashier
over a question, then towards me..So I gave her both barrels, but politely.

Just a lifes anecdote, can happen anywhere, except humour and use of language ,
gives it a kick where varying imperative forms with formal/familiar is the norm.

Re: Germany VS UK
 

At my advanced age I continue to be amazed at how many people in the UK cannot use or understand Standard English. German kids have a better command of the language than kids in Britannia !

Re: Germany VS UK
 

No different in Germany though. Now it's all "Was guckst du?

Re: Germany VS UK
 

Thats a typical purpose mis-use of the language, which is taken with humour
of the foreign-German influence.
The thing is one can question mid-level to low level language taught in
England, (not Scotland, not Ireland).
Germanys teaching in these levels still get through to all/majority of the
children. Poor German families still have a good command of their language.
Then foreigners like the Turks, Poles, etc who have been taught in Germany
are mostly further advanced than their peers at all ages than in England.
UK high levels of education is probably the best in the world, but I measure
it against the other levels, where imo majority of children in England have
a poorer approach and discipline to their educational years.

Re: Germany VS UK
 

Most kids in UK do NOT have the self-discipline and "Sitzfleisch" to study Music or learn a foreign language. Too obsessed with their devices !

Re: Germany VS UK
 

I agree with foreign languages, but most people worldwide are obsessed with their devices. I wouldn't say that kids in the UK have no self discipline either and there are loads of kids in the UK who are interested in music, or study other subjects.



Look how many great musicians come from the UK and most people produce music on their computers these days anyway.



It's no different in Germany and just depends where you live. I have a friend who is a teacher in Germany and many kids actually struggle with German. Rechtschreibung: Metchen, mach keine Fehler! |Â ZEIT ONLINE


This is also another point and each Bundesland is very different:


Lüge #1: Die Talent-Lüge Unser Schulsystem sortiert Kinder aus, ja es stempelt sie ab. Es trennt die „Guten“ von den „Schlechten“.Deshalb haben wir ein System mit Haupt- und Realschulen und den Gymnasien.

Re: Germany VS UK
 

How common are Gesamtschulen these days?

Re: Germany VS UK
 

This is a year old, but should still be correct:
Weiterführende Schulformen in Deutschland je Bundesland
The problem I see is that you can go to Realschule in Hessen and it could be a lot easier than a Hauptschule in Bayern, so there are huge differences.

Re: Germany VS UK
 

Yikes! It's got even more divergent not less.

We were in Rheinland-Pfalz when the kids were in school. Then it was Hauptschule - Realschule - Gymnasium while a couple of Gesamtschulen were around which were supposed to be a step towards integration of the others.

In the meantime every single Land still has Gymnasium.

Hmmm. Plan C?

Re: Germany VS UK
 

What part of Rheiland-pfalz..?? I live now between Bad Kreuznach and Alzey.
"Rheinhessische-Schweiz"

Re: Germany VS UK
 

Further north. Our last house was in Heidesheim am Rhein.

But one of my employees lived in Bad Kreuznach and his wife was a schoolteacher in Alzey.

Re: Germany VS UK
 

obviously know the area well, my youngest daughter is doing an apprenticeship
in Budenheim in the chemiefabrik.
Why did you move on, where are you now, in France???
Sorry if I am too intrusive, just curious, it seems like me you have been
around a bit. Wont be offended if you tell me to mind my own business.:p

Re: Germany VS UK
 

Mind your own business. ;);)

I know the chemical plant in Budenheim well... one of my German buddies was a Works Doctor there.

I moved on in 1993 because of a job offer "I couldn't refuse" in Toronto, where I stayed until retiring last year.

I (we) have owned a house in France for about 10 years but have decided to have our main residence in the UK now (at least for the time being).

Note my sig line.