Looking for a job/internship searching buddy - Berlin

So I have an idea
Is there anyone else out there seriously looking for a job/internship who would like to meet up twice or three times a week to help each other out and share ideas? I basically want to start a "study group" to help find a job.

Goal
Help each other find a job in Berlin.

About me
I first moved to Berlin last September for an internship with the Berlinale. I went home for the summer, and just got back to Berlin last month to start looking for another job or internship. I haven't finished university, but I hopefully will be finished by December (or next spring at the latest). I'm also an American without a visa (I need a contract first, and I know how the system works), and I don't speak German too well. I'm only 24, but in the last five years I have lived and worked in six countries on four continents. I'm very relaxed in social situations, but very ambitious and competitive when it comes to jobs/earning money. My field is roughly marketing, communication, and design. In the last several years I've sold advertising, managed finances/estates, worked on movies, designed books, and more. Since I've returned to Berlin, I have sent out countless resumes, exhausted most of my existing contacts, and I am always trying to hustle my skills. While I am a very optimistic person, I'm starting to get frustrated, and I'm loosing my motivation.

Who I'm looking for
The only thing I'm looking for is someone who is just as committed to finding a job in Berlin as I am. Nothing else is important. If we are looking for similar jobs it has its advantages and disadvantages. Yes, we would be competing for the same positions, but there would be more of them to choose from since we'd already have a list of leads.

How this would work
We would agree to met several times a week to discuss leads, brainstorm, and proof-read cover letters. We could set goals like next Monday, come in with five new leads or something similar. I think it would work best with just one person, but it could work with a very small group--maybe four at the most. We would give each other encouragement and help motivate each other until we found a job.

Sounds interesting?
Then let's talk! It's best to send me an e-mail at apreble@gmail.com or PM me on the forum. I will also post this message to Craigslist and CouchSurfing. Constructive criticism from the community is always appreciated. Has anyone else tried to do something similar? Did it work out? Any suggestions?

Andrew Preble

Good idea.....but I'd say you need a "mentor" (that is someone who's been there and done it and is established here and in work) and not someone else who is also unemployed. And, if you want a job-seeker, you need German ones, not other immigrants.

Whilst it is useful in some ways for people seeking jobs to network with other people seeking jobs, I think it is often fairly limited in terms of helping to find work. There, I say it's often better to network with people who *have* work. Furthermore, I'd say that applies particularly in another country, where local knowledge is very important in finding roles and other immigrants obviously lack that.

Finally, want a decent job in Germany, forget the idea that "I don't speak German too well" either (1) is of no relevance of (2) just slides by unnoticed.

If nothing has come up why not try going back to the Berlinale? Maybe you could do it part time instead of full time -at least then you will a foot in the door. I would take German classes if you want to stay here.

@swimmer
Absolutely, a mentor would be a great help as well. Partnering with a local/German job-seeker would have some advantages over an immigrant like myself. Especially since they would have a better feel of the job culture, and general practices for sending out CVs. I added the "I don't speak German too well" above just to be upfront, and mention that I would definitely prefer to work in company where English is the corporate language. I never mention it in cover letters, and on my CV I just write that I have an intermediate level of German knowledge.

@black1
The Berlinale can be a tricky place to work. They don't do part-time contracts, and they don't pay very well. For the first several months last year I worked for them as an intern and got paid 400 euro a month. I was often working 60 hours a week, but I complained about the pay, and I was bumped up much higher at the end. It may still work out with them, but I'm not assuming anything at this point. I'm going to sign up for more German classes as soon as I have a work schedule. Last year since I wouldn't get off until after 8pm, it was difficult to find any extra time. Hopefully this year I can work something out so that I can take a Volkshochschule class starting at 6pm.

Try Create Berlin - a networking group covering the areas you are interested in.
If you are really ambitious about your career though, you would be better off in London or New York or San Francisco - or at least a more business-oriented city in Germany.
Depends what you mean by ambitious - and how much Berlin (and what it entails) matters to you...

Just thought - if you're really good in your field, how about setting up a personal web site showcasing your skills/vision?
This would be useful to direct future employers to, and would keep your skills honed...

@boxer
Thanks for the Create Berlin suggestion. I've found out about a lot of different groups which could give me good leads. And I have a website which could use minor updating, but for the most part still functions pretty well.

My reason for choosing to live in Berlin is because there's an amazing amount of creative energy here. I'm also here because until I finish school, it's going to be difficult to find a well paid job. In Berlin, you can live very well for very little--I can't think of another "post-industrial" city which is cheaper.

Again, thanks to all who have sent PMs or e-mails. I'm starting to think that my previous difficulty was due to a lack of patience and bad timing--since many are on holiday in August.

P.s. It took me while to find this post again... Not sure if I agree with it being moved into "misc adverts" since much of what's in the Life in Berlin forum could be considered an advertisement/promotion of some sort.