Nayr

Hi Everyone,

I am looking to move to Germany (anywhere but initial preferences would be Munich or Berlin). Just wondering if anyone knew of any work going anywhere for someone who at the minute doesn't know German, but is starting to learn.

Will do anything, have previous experience in Bar work, customer service and a number of years working as an arborist. Was considering just turning up in Munich and going to every Irish bar, anyone have any advice on whether this is a good idea or not?

I'm British so don't need a work permit or anything.

Thanks in Advance.

Ryan

Novocastrian

Have a look around in Jobs in Germany

Purplesez

I am also looking at the possibility of moving to Germany. I do speak some basic German but it is not enough to get a good job. Becoming fluent in German has been on my to do list for a long time and I feel living there is the next step.

I am finding it hard to find any jobs in Europe speaking English that are not in a call centre or very business focused. I usually work in youth work/education or in tourism.

I would appreciate any advice from anyone who has moved to Germany.

Thanks

scot47

First learn German. Then go to Germany. Sorry if that is not what you want to hear.

Novocastrian

One size doesn't fit all. I started working in a prestigious job in Germany with only a smattering of the language. I stayed 8 years and was fluent after about 3.

BritInParis

Getting a job in a British/Irish pub is probably your best bet if you're looking for a foothold. Try somewhere like O'Reilly's.

scot47

Achieving communicative competence with a good vocabulary and knowledge of basic grammatical structures could be done in a few months of serious daily study.


It seems that our schools no longer produce leavers with competence in foreign languages.

Novocastrian

All very well if you don't have a full time job to do.

Purplesez

That is completly true. I did 5 years of German at school and got a good grade. I have been studying daily for the last 3 months but need to actually immerse in the language. Finding confidence in conversation is also very hard when you know the other person probably speaks 3 languages and you feel ashamed.

chris atkinson price

I'm working in German and am still learning after 3 years. I did a TESOL course, takes one month, and teach English as a second language to businesses.

GermanytoCanada

I live just outside Munich and after almost three years still only have a limited knowledge of the German language. My work is in English and as someone else suggested, there are lots of English language jobs in Munich but they are very business focused.

The problem that a lot of foreigners here have is that even with a reasonable level of day to day German, they really struggle to converse with any local who speaks Bavarian. As soon as you leave Munich, many people in the local towns/villages only speak Bavarian and your German will only get you so far. Our neighbours who are German moved to Bavaria 10 years ago and say it took them 5 years to be able to understand, if not reply to Bavarian. This isn't really an issue in Munich itself though.

I get emails from LinkedIn every day with lots of English language jobs in Munich advertised. Regarding bar work, there are several Irish bars in the city and surrounding towns.

Do your research on the bars, grab an Easyjet flights out on the cheap and canvas the bars one by one as a starting point.

Bare in mind that Munich is a very expensive city to live in, especially for accommodation (unless you come from London). Berlin is far cheaper but doesn't offer the Alpine lifestyle. Wages in Munich are generally far higher to compensate, although I don't know whether this extends to bar work.

Best of luck.

chris atkinson price

I also live in Bavaria, don't speak fluent Bavarian (!) and have been able to pick up jobs teaching business English. Most of the people who attend don't speak broad Bavarian, they speak standard German with a bit of a local accent. I don't have specific qualifications in business English, only TESL, but I used my managerial background on my CV to get the first job, and have then gone on from there. I am now directly employed by an international firm teaching business English to staff groups, and also coaching them on business presentations.