How can I find work in Germany when i only speak English?

Question

I will be moving to Erfurt in Germany in a few months. I don't speak german. I will need to find work there. I am a native english speaker only. Is there any chance of finding employment? if so, where?

Answer 1

many germans speak wonderful english

Answer 2

GOOD LUCK!!!

I lived in Weimar next to Erfurt and the only reason I SURVIVED was because I was able to sell my own skills as a teacher and tutor people in English and most wanted to learn from a Native English speaker.

I do not recommend getting work with out knowing the language. If you are moving there regardless then DEDICATE yourself to learning as much as you can as fast as you can starting immediately. It has been 18+ years for me and I STILL do not speak it fluent by I speak it now.

Speaking and understanding is going to be very Vital for survival, you will have to assimilate and adapt or you will not make it trust me from some one who has been there and done it. I MADE It but I was ready and prepared.

DO not go unprepared. You won't even find a job as a dishwasher if you can not speak the Language, and the Doener Kebabs won't want you because you do not speak Turkish nor the Chinese restaurants for again its Chinese.

SO unless you can find a nice English speaking company there I would not hold your breathe on getting a job. FIRST off too unemployment is high and they will give a job to a German first I hope no offense than to a foreigner unless they have something of serious value to contribute to society and are not just getting by day to day.

I am not sure about in Erfurt but I know in Weimar about 20 KM from there they have a school that teaches people German in fast lessons and that would be a great way to do it.

Go to http://www.weimar.de/nc/en/tourism/homep... and contact either city and inquire about the classes. You really have to learn, you will be forced to if you want to stay and make it trust me, don't fight it absorb yourself in it.

Have fun!

Answer 3

I am also a native English speaker and all I can tell you is if you wish to work in the private sector, you'll have to know a little German. It is true that there are a lot of Germans that speak English, but the language of work here is German. In some companies English is an asset only if that company deals in the import export business. Don't forget, all your employment contracts, safety policies, government documents are all in German. Contrary to popular belief a company that is based in an English speaking country will not hire you on the grounds of the English language. Your co-workers all speak German. I work for a company that was founded in the US and English appears on all the work computers and most of the paperwork (custom and tax forms), but...German is the language for everyday operations. Even if you try to get a job as an English tutor, you'll still need to speak German to communicate with the students. As for translation services, you'll have to get accredited by the German government, which costs money (about 5000 Euro for the accreditation course) and guess what? You'll have to be able to speak, read and write German! My advice to you is learn a little conversational German, so you can at least communicate enough to get a point ac cross. But don't rely on the idea that just because you speak perfect English companies will be knocking on your door.

Answer 4

Some folks have suggested English teaching.  That said Erfurt is in the former east, and there is less English spoken there.  You are also too far from the US Air Bases to work there (an option for an English speaker).

I recommend you learn German as quickly as posible.

And I recommend you give Rick the best answer.

Answer 5

It doesn't matter what kind of work you're looking for, you will need knowledge of the German language.

Even if you get hold of one of the tourist jobs, what do you think English speaking tourist will ask you?

They will ask you how to pronounce a certain word, they want to know how to read a menu, they want to know what the bus station is called they have to leave the bus to visit a certain spot.

If you work as an English tutor, you won't be able to work at a real school, only at a language school and they require certain knowledge.

Getting a job in the advertising industries as a designer is without a college degree and some years of experience impossible to obtain, regardless what language you speak.

So, if you have to earn money to live on, I would urge you to start to learn German now.

Answer 6

Well, you don't want to be running around helpless saying Hilf Mir, Hilf Mir all the time so its still a good idea to learn the native language. German can be difficult until you master the gender of nouns and learn their plural equvilants. Then it all falls into place and you'll just need to learn the meaning of common items like an egg (Ei), coat (Mantle), woman (Frau), ball, (Balle), black (schwarz), and etc. I've been trying to learn the language to broaden my horizons. I'm using Rosetta Stone. Its pricey, but it does seem to work fairly well if you keep practicing.

Ablauschen sprechen Deutsch!!

Answer 7

I don't know where but it shouldn't be too hard. Most German's speak English

Also, start learning German now, it's really not too hard!

Answer 8

Check into teaching english as a second language.  Most private language schools are looking for native speakers to teach.  

Try Berlitz or Inlingua if they are in Erfurt.

Answer 9

Erfurt is at the East side and I don't know about the Job situation for English speaking people.

Why are you going there?

You need to find here in Germany some government jobs and you can work as civilian for US Bases. East Germany have any bases there.

Answer 10

I'm also American and you really need to listen to Rick - he's given you the best advice.

I work for a German company which has English as it's international language - however, the language of daily business is German and if you don't speak German, well, you're up the creek.

German really isn't that hard to learn.

Why do you want to move to Germany? And why Erfurt? There are not that many jobs there which require international skills. It is the capital of Thüringen and has a lot of government stuff, but the only big international company I can think of is Opel / General Motors. And if you've got no experience in that area, you might have a problem there.

Answer 11

You can probably work on a army base or on=post. Also germans happen to know some eniglish and will probabaly find your english helpful

Answer 12

english tutor...english teacher...sub or get a fulltime position..

that would probably be the easiest since you use your language as a skill

there is also alot of other jobs that would require one to be fluent in english...look around your area....

plus as above poster mentioned many germans speak english so you might even find something totally different

Answer 13

why are you moving there?

usually if you have a military id you wont have a problem finding work at the base

Answer 14

Normally the Call Center business is looking for native all over Germany. I'm not sure if there is a big Call Center company near Erfurt, but check out www.arvato.de (Karriere & Jobs). They have currently around 15.000 agents and now starting to increasing their business in east Germany.

Beside this also Jenoptik could be as international player an opportunity for you.

Answer 15

I also have to recommend learning German.

As some have pointed out, English is not very commonly spoken in the eastern part of the country (for historical reasons). Getting along without speaking German or Russian there will be a problem - though in much of the western part of the countrymany people do speak or at least understand English.

I found it sort of sad that Frankfurt (in the west, and near huge military bases) didnt even seem like a foreign city because so many people spoke English that I had problems practicing German while I was working there.

English and German are linguistic cousins - so while there are some pitfalls, it really is not a horribly difficult language for native English speakers to learn. Youll be able to understand what people are saying much sooner than youll be able to fluently express yourself - but with a few conversational lessons you'll do fine.

Finding work probably will be difficult. I recall many waiters that were students learning the language, but I am not at all sure what level of fluency was required in order to get the job.

In any case, good luck!

Answer 16

Hi there from Germany,

you do not neccessarily have to speak German to find a job. There are many possibilities for you to find a job and automatically you will learn and understand some German, too. If you do not care about WHAT you work, you will find a job.

Examples? Well, you could earn your money as a tourist leader - we've got lot's of American and English tourists here, they appreciate if a native speaker leads them around. - If you have computer skills or skills in designing you can try to work in an advertising agency. Those people also need  marketing specialists with a native english speaking background for advertising-campaigns abroad. - Also we still have many american and english barracks here. They hire security people as well as civilists for their supermarkets with english speaking clients. - Also we have lot's of american and english grocery-stores that only sell american and english food. You as a native speaker are possibly hearty welcome, it's more authentic for the customer to be served in english.

The other side of the medal: Erfurt for very sure is not the very best place to be. Erfurt is in East-Germany (Thuringia) that belonged to the socialist part of Germany before the wall fell down. Most of the people there, if they ever speak a foreign language, speak a very good russian and a very bad english. I know it, because my ex is from Erfurt, I know this place and the people there. It's also not the best place for a foreigner, because the eastern part of Germany is well known as a place for neo-n***s. Hardly a day, where there is nothing about that in our newspapers. Is Erfurt a must-be?

How's about Hamburg, Düsseldorf, Munich or at least the Blackwood Forest. Erfurt... well.... Erfurt and East Germany sucks....