New job law effective Jan.2005

Hello all, Thanks for taking the time to read this as I'm a newbie to this site.

I'm looking to move me, my wife, and our new son to Munich permanently. I've traveled all over and absolutly feel in love with the place! Anyway, my family and I are citizens of the United States and neither I nor my wife have a college degree (instead we have a wonderful son). I've been doing research on jobs and so forth but have notice that a law has changed this past January. If I understand this correctly, I can visit Germany on a Holiday/Vacation visa and be able to look for a job. If I find a job (it can be any job) I don't have to leave Germany to go back to my home cuntry to file for a work permit which will also tie in a Residency Permit together. Does anyone know if this is true? And, if so how hard and how long of a process does it take?

Basically I'm looking to fly to Munich to find a job just to help us settle. Any advice would be GREAT! Thanks!



Click on this link:
http://www.germany-info.org/relaunch/info/...employment.html

Uhhhhh... maybe not the best idea at the moment. Make sure you have plenty of cash to tide you over while you look for work/try and get a permit to look for work.

Thanks,

I'm looking to fly over March/April 2006. Hopefully I'll have some leads by then... but just in case. Is there ever a good season/ time of the year for job hunting?

I don't mean to piss on your picnic but the economy here is in the toilet at the moment. Unemployment is 11%. Now is not a good time to be a foreigner looking for work in Germany. Try again in a year or 2. Munich will still be here. I promise.

As someone already pointed out, unemployment is a 'bit' high here at the moment, so unless you have some amazingly in demand skill then I think you'll find it tough. I'm not saying don't try, just want to prepare you for the worst.

Can't say too much about wehat you'd need coming from the US, but http://www.handbuch-deutschland.de/book_en.html might be a good place to start investigating.

LOL! Thanks for the advice! High unemployment huh??? thanks sucks! Well... I'll keep my spirits up!

Yeah the economy is pretty bad right no especially in the blue collar end...bring extra and I mean extra cash for survival...as well research everything...when an apartment says not furnished it means NOT FURNISHED ie ...no fridge, no stove, etc..etc..

...no kitchen cupboards, no lights, no toilet roll holder, no bathroom mirror...

Kokopelli...while I admire your enthusiasm, personally I think you're crazy to move your young family over here without any kind of job. Do you speak German? If no, that's not going to make it any easier.

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt but visiting a city and living there are two different things. Last summer on a biz trip to Paris I fell in love with it and seriously contemplated a move from Munich. Then I went back in February and I'm here again...it's nice but the initial glamour has worn off.

HOWEVER...if you must live in Germany but don't have to be in Munich you definitely have options as an American. As you probably know there are several US military bases around Germany and they need lots of people for support: working at the PX, commissary, gas station, Pizza Hut, etc, etc.

I understand that lodging can even be had for pretty cheap and since you're essentially working on American soil you aren't required to have a work or residence permit through the German government. Other benefits are nice as well.

Check out:
http://www.afrceurope.com/employment.php
http://www.chrma.hqusareur.army.mil/

If you have any particular questions don't hesitate to ask or just PM me. As a fellow Georgian, I'm happy to help...unless you're a Georgia Tech fan.

since i've moved over here a lot of my friends have asked me what i think about them making the same kind of move. the best advice i can think of is to get a job with an international company and have them move you over. get hired now for the corporate side of a restaurant, or in a big hotel, the military, or anywhere else you can that has offices or business here. make your wishes clear, and have them do the dirty work: not only will they handle the visa thing, but should help you find a flat, too. it'll make the transition much easier, and with a wife and son you'll want as many answers ahead of time as possible.

good luck!

Thanks for the advice!

??

depends entirely on what sort of work you are looking for. The US bases lead could be worth pursuing. If you're looking for jobs not requiring a degree then you may have to speak German and competition may be fierce too.

Bar work at Australian/Irish/International bars could be an option too.

not sure about any law changes and stuff I'm afraid

Thought about the bar scene... I used to bartend while I attended college and kinda thought about Hard Rock but heard more bad then good about having a job there.

Me and my wife were discussing about me finishing my school which would only make since and it would only be for another 1yr. 1/2. Hopefully by then unemployment will be down and it would be easier to get a full time job I hope. That will also give us more time to learn german too.

But hey, if I was offerd a high paying job I'd jump on it in a heart beat!

If you don't mind me asking; what made you so keen on Munich in particular?

I've been to Munich only 3 times (traveled all over Europe and alot in Germany) and every time I've been there I've met some really cool/nice people, its pretty clean, I especially like the history of the city, the activities nearby the city and the culture within the city. As far as what I like about the city in hopes of moving my family there I've notice the schools are top notch in the country, Bavaria is a free state in Germany and decent employment oppertunities (although not looking so hot at the moment with the high unemployment).

I'd say one thing you have to keep in mind is that German employers have a different way of looking at a potential employee than American ones do.

From my feeling, I'd say American bosses will hire based on what they think you can accomplish; your potential basically. German bosses will hire you on your track record, what you have already proven you could do. So, if you expect a job, it's best if you have already done something similar or the same thing in the past.

Thanks!!! That helps!