Or should I just become a famous artist?

March 19, 2007 2:56 PM

I'd like to be able to live and work in Germany in the next couple of years. I know that their employment system is the definition of old school - virtually every job requires a multi-year apprenticeship or internship. I'm wondering, are there any exceptions I could exploit to get a job?

I'm a generalist. For over 10 years I've worked freelance (mostly webdev, some product design and market research) and learned what was needed or what I was interested in. I never bothered with certifications and such, and now that I'm looking at living in Germany, I'm starting to see the benefit of having the right piece of paper. (I actually have a BA and Master's but neither are directly relevant for a specific job.)

Since I have technical experience, I looked into different IT certifications. There's certainly no shortage of people willing to take your money here. e.g. Mysql, Oracle Certified Professional (OCP), SAP, old flash certification (Adobe seems to be working on new ones for Flex and Flash Lite.), PHP, Cisco, Websphere...

Are any of these certifications (with some related work experience) enough to get a job in DE?

Other than the certification route, are there any other skills, trades or professions that I could work/study towards in the next 2 years that would be transferable to Germany and could help me bypass the apprentice system? I'm open to any colourful or creative ideas for someone who is interested/experienced in technology and a reasonably quick study.


To be clear, I'm not super-picky, but I would like a job that wasn't simply manual labour like cleaning offices, or scooping ice cream.

And to keep things simpler, let's assume that I have legal permission to work in Germany and language skills are not an issue.

posted by kamelhoecker to work & money (11 comments total)

You're wrong, appreticeships are not required. Just apply, and if you are any good, you will get hired. Particularly in IT.
posted by markesh at 3:07 PM on March 19, 2007

Seconded. If you have the relevant experience and references, that aspect of things won’t be a problem. I can’t imagine they’d do any harm either, of course.
I am not a German Employer but I work for one in IT.
posted by Aidan Kehoe at 3:21 PM on March 19, 2007

Seconding that. Papers etc just make it easier to get work permits, should you need them. If that's no issue, you've got no real problem. Why not start looking at some job ads and take it from there?

On edit - ok, thirded.
posted by different at 3:23 PM on March 19, 2007

And given your username, this may also be relevant for considering a move to Germany.
posted by Aidan Kehoe at 3:23 PM on March 19, 2007

BTW I suggest checking out the forums at the Germany section of Expatica.
posted by different at 3:24 PM on March 19, 2007

If you have those skills, you should be able to get a job. You just have to find the right environment. Maybe a small subsidiary or branch of an American or English company. A news agency or publisher perhaps? Oh, Oh! It looks like Ableton might have something right up your alley.

I recommend looking in Berlin and Hamburg. Both cities have a large expat community where connections can be made.

SAP might be hiring in Frankfurt. Assuming your native language is English, this may be your most valuable asset, especially if you work with a company's international clients.

It will be very helpful to restructure your resumé like a German Lebenslauf. This includes passport style picture and copies of certificates (if available). Also have portfolio of your work ready (duh).

If you have the resources, take an intensive German course as soon as you get there. This will help show your potential employer that you are able to fit in and adapt. In my experience, this is important to German sensibilities. If you have more questions, follow the crumbs to my email address.
posted by chillmost at 3:38 PM on March 19, 2007

...language skills are not an issue

Read to the end, read to the end.
posted by chillmost at 3:40 PM on March 19, 2007

One piece of advice - lose the american accent as soon as possible. Swap it for a generic foreign accent, and it will be easier to assimilate. If you have an american accent, it makes you stand out a bit.
posted by markesh at 4:18 PM on March 19, 2007

I worked for an American IT consulting company in Germany for a year. I also did technical Oracle interviews for them. It was very difficult to find decent people that were technically savvy and presentable to clients. So I agree, just find a position you like and apply.

The visa issue should not really be a big problem. The company you work for just has to prove that they cannot find a german to do the job. And then it will take the arbeitsamt 6 months to issue you the permit.

I could have stayed longer, but I was pretty anxious to get back to the first world.
posted by Slenny at 6:05 PM on March 19, 2007

A few years back, one of my German friends offered to hook me up with a job at one of the big German multinational corporations. I emailed back and forth with a few people, but didn't move forward because the job seemed to be somewhat below my experience level and I didn't speak any German.

My impression was that IT departments in German companies are very much like American IT departments - they hire people who are a good general fit, and aren't too hung up about degrees or a different education / apprenticeship system.

One piece of advice - lose the american accent as soon as possible. Swap it for a generic foreign accent, and it will be easier to assimilate. If you have an american accent, it makes you stand out a bit.

Socially, that may be a good idea. In a business context, Germans seem to have a good deal of respect for Americans in business and IT. An American accent may not be a liability in a professional context.
posted by b1tr0t at 9:28 PM on March 19, 2007

thanks for the responses! i'm happy to be wrong in this case and it's great to hear that IT isn't so tightly regulated.

chillmost: Ableton looks like a great company to work for. (How did you find their posting?) And thanks for the other tips. The cultural differences between resume and lebenslauf is interesting. I've helped a few german friends prep a American resume, and they are shocked that there is no photo and that they be selective about what they include and highlight.

as for the american accent – i'm sure i'll never lose it, but it can be too thick. See the german version of Finding Nemo. The turtle speaks german with a califonia surfer accent and it's hilarious. rig-tig shoon, dude.
posted by kamelhoecker at 6:52 PM on March 20, 2007