For those that have worked/are working in Germany with limited language skills-I need your opinion?

Question

I´m an American living in Germany, and have taken a 6 month Deutsch class. The class ends April 12th, and once it´s finished, I would like to start working.

What do you think I should do? Take a cleaning job that will not allow me to use my language skills because it´s at night, or try to get a job serving at a restaurant, bar, or ice cafe where I have to talk with people?

Two of my friends have suggested cleaning, but I´m really scared my skills will not improve doing this type of work, and that would be a waste of the knowledge I have right now.

Answer 1

Hi

As you, I took German lessons for 6 Months, after that I did not feel confident about speaking it. So, I decided to take a Job at a Restaurant. When I started It was difficult. However, after a couple of weeks I got bored asking: Was moechten Sie trinken, etc. etc. My German was better not only because I worked there. It helped, of course. You learn he language when you interact with people. If you work in a restaurant or another place you are not only going to speak with your customers, you will also need to communicate with your Superiors and coworkers. Watch tv, read newspapers, magazines and never feel intimidated when you speak it. Germans are use to foreigners. Some of them aren't nice with us. However, most of them know how difficult is to learn their language and appreciate the fact that people like you and me  have learned it.

Good look and keep working in your German!

Answer 2

Hi Breezer, don't sell yourself short and go for a cleaning job!

Be out there with the people and talk talk talk.

Yes, at the gebinning it might be akward, but people love Americans and their accents and I think that would be very cute. Let's say you work in an ice cafe...you will get to take orders and you would have to talk a little, but not that much. I would think you also would make friends there.

What businesses do you have in your town? Do you live in a big town? I know you are somewhere in Bavaria....

I am sure you will find something better than cleaning!!!!!!!!!

That would be the last source.

Tell us a little more about your skills and maybe somebody here will have a better idea for you!

And I am sure you know by now some basic German through your husband and your German class.....don't be shy..reach for the stars!

Answer 3

Well, I am not sure what your skills are and if you have some sort of education.

Cleaning households or offices would be the last thing that I personally would do.

So assuming that you have no skills/education I would suggest you try to work at a store like an Edeka, Plus, DM, Kaisers...you name it...and try to help out there.

Stocking shelves etc.

Also please don't forget to go to your locals bakeries and butchers or as you said ice cafes...

Out of experience I know that they always need help, not necessary with baking and butchering, but with cleaning or just some other plain help.

You need to be with people and you need to speak with people, otherwise you won't learn the language.

If you have an education and special skills in a certain area try to locate those companies and just ask! You will learn the language !!!

Answer 4

I really would suggest the work you need to speak German !

You may find it hard to start with but you will see that your language skills will develop quite fast if you constantly use them.On the contrary if you don t use a language you start forgetting it.

Hope it helps

Answer 5

Cleaning?? No Way!

Try to get a job in sales, this way you work with people, improve your german language skills and can show later "good references" of your employment.

Answer 6

What about working at McDonalds or Burger King first? It's not necessary to speak a perfect German when you work there and you could improve your German! I've seen many people working there and their German probably was worse than yours!;-)

Answer 7

6 months of german is not really much, for german is a difficult language to learn. So, you´ll need to practice your german to improve your skills.

I´m afraid that it´ll be difficult to find a job in a restaurant with not more than basic language skills. Not everybody in Germany speaks good English and being in a foreign country you should be able to communicate in the very own language of the people. I mean communicate.

So, why don´t you start with working in a cleaning job first and practice your german in your free time. And why don´t you do an other german class, for example at the "Volkshochschule" in the late afternoons. Having done so, your german should be good enough to find a better job.

Answer 8

The answers given are not bad.

But do you have a work permit and a permit which allows you to stay in Germany?

Answer 9

I would take a job there you need to speak german, so you can use your language skills and improve them. It won't be very easy but I think after a 6month course you will know very much and if the people talk to fast just tell them to slow down.

You can also look for a job there you have to speak English and German, a lot of German companys are looking for it!

If you decide to get a job in serving, try to start with a small place like ice-cafe or bar, in a restaurant you could have problem with a the meals and you have to work in such a hurry that you might have a problem with your German!

I moved from Germany to the States and here I have to speak English all the time, in the beginning I didn't feel so comfortable although I already learnt English in school for 7years (because of some people's slang) but now after 5months I really speak it very good and understand it much more!

Have luck in looking for a job!

Answer 10

I see people have pretty good suggestions so far for you and here is what I think:

Well, if money is very tight and you need to work then go ahead and take a cleaning job. If money is not tight then go and be in a job that makes you speak German. I liked the idea of one of the answerers that you should check out a store like Plus, Kaisers, Edeka, DM....You could talk to people and difinetely the other employess while you do things like stocking shelves or whatever they have you do....

Maybe you also need in addition a hobby like a certain sport or art or whatever your interest is and then be with that group in your freetime and develop your language skills even further.

I remember that you mentioned once that you have hospistal administrator background skills??? is that right? Well, if there is a clinic / hospital you could try to ask for a job there. It might first be in the lower ranks because of your language, but at least you would do something you like to do.

Good luck to you!

PS: Does your husband not have friends with businesses who could employ you??

And thinking of Bavaria as a tourist destination...what about working in a hotel????

Answer 11

From what I have seen in the US, lots of ppl working in US restaurants do so with limited knowledge of English.  If you work in a restaurant in Germany, you'll get to speak some German.  If you do cleaning, you'll be working mainly by yourself.  OTOH, sometimes, ppl will take a cleaning job in a country so that they can make some $ and not have to speak.  If you can make some German friends, you will have the chance to speak German with native speakers.  If you have a kid, maybe you and your child can make friends with a German parent and child.