Working as a web designer in Germany

Hello,

I want to come and work as a web designer / web master in Germany (full time job). The area of my interest is Frankfurt and near (Mannheim maybe).
I don't speak german at all but i can manage really good with english. I have citizenship of an EU country. I don't have a university degree but i have some other courses related to web design and i have 4 years experience working in this field and also a strong portofolio with websites, layouts, corporate designs, business cards, outdoor ads, etc.

Any advices are appreciated

Thanks!

You'll have a hard time landing a job in a big company as they usually look for an armful of recognised German qualifications, a correctly documented history of work experience, testaments from previous companies, German language ability etc. You may well get lucky with a small company, especially one that's foreign owned.

Well I can't help you in finding a career in Germany however if you would like to make some money I am looking for someone with a web design background who can help me get my photography website up. Nothing too extravagant just something that can show case my portfolio and maybe have my personal blog embedded in it somewhere.

Let me know if you can help me!

As a starting point, I don't want to work in a big company. I want to start in a smaller one until i can manage to learn the language and get used to the german working lifestyle.

hey pal...

Which programs are you useful in? any strong languages like actionscript, javascript, HTML, XML? which kinds of Web pages are you able to make from scratch? are you ok with databases and SQL? if so i might have an oportunity for you. I've got a few Contacts with starting companies/businesses in Germany (berlin, frankfurt, mannheim or Karlsruhe).

klehder@hotmail.com

i've sent you a PM.

You profile is completely empty so you don't give people here (from whom you are asking advice) much of a clue as to your background.

For instance, where you "come" from might be a starting point... The evidence sort of points that English might not be your primary language...

when i made this topic, i was not asking for jobs from people here. therefor i didn't relate so much about my background.
i only want some advices or some other experiences that users around here had with finding a job.

Believe it or not, some of the "people here" actually employ other people.

You join an Internet forum a few days ago, ask for advice (not "s") about jobs & give next to no background. What are you expecting here? As Kay said some people have got jobs through the forum but the forum is unlikely to recommend someone for something without knowing background (if you read the posts enough you will see that).

Off the high horse - YOU want the advice, not us...

ok. i got your point. i didn't know that people offer jobs around here. thats good.
anyway i am planning to move to Germany after this summer.
As for the backgroud.. as i already said.. i work in this field for 4 years using mainly HTML, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Illustrator, Java, Corel Draw.

You really need to reconsider this. Why would any company here in Germany hire you? What are you offering?

You don't speak the local language. This in and of itself makes things very difficult. In a small shop they'd need to speak English and in a large office you'd be unable to understand what goes on in meetings (which, not surprisingly, are conducted in German).

Your claim to being able to "manage really good in english" outs you as not, in fact, possessing really good English skills. Your English is actually worse than that of some of the Germans who participate on this site. Many native English speakers are able to get jobs because they're native speakers who don't make the slew of errors you and Germans alike make when butchering our language. To be fair there are native English speakers who also butcher the language but their jobs aren't based on their English abilities.

You have no degree. You have little experience You aren't a native English speaker. You don't speak German. Why should anyone consider hiring you? I'm not trying to be a dick with this question; these are the facts as you yourself presented them. It's not that I want to discourage you from coming here; rather, I'd prefer to spare myself and the rest of the board another series of woe-is-me threads from you after you come and can't find or hold a job for the above-listed reasons.

woof.

...and the profile is still empty.

ok, thank you all for your replies.

Must take issue with you and others here Big (bad) Doggie... I think the response the OP has had is a little harsh.

Yes its true that by and large German employers have their own particular expectations when it comes to job specs and applicants.

However, from my experience, (and Ive worked in the IT sector in many companies/organisations in Germany large and small), there's still always room for people who dont fit the standard applicant profile. As an example, Ive come across people working in IT here who hardly speak a word of German beyond Guten Tag - and these are competent people. Particularly in the dot.com type outfits, but also in large blue chip organisations as well.

If you're looking for a job as a banker or something in Germany I'd say you probably have to fit their conventional expectations with regards to education, diploma, training, etc and do things by the book. But as a web-designer I think you're much more likely to come across employers/departments/managers who are more flexible than the average german personnel department.

OP doesn't seem to be entirely serious in their search.
(I'm also in IT sector...)

@ HEM.. of course i'm not entirely serious! we are on a internet forum!
When i'll be entirely serious i'll just go and apply for jobs, send my resume and my portofolio.

@ rick_de.. i agree with you and i have friends who are working in advertising agencies as graphic designers or art directors without knowing german and without having 3 diplomas. They are just good for what their employers want.

Maybe BadDoggie had a oppressive day

Exactly true, an internet forum which also happens to be the biggest online concentration of English speaking people in Germany and a place where many employers have come looking for people in the past. First impressions count for an awful lot.

Oh, that's so very kind and noble of you .

Meow

Hi All

Like the person who started this discussion my wife and I are thinking aboout moving the Germany
I am a Microsoft Partner and work in a number of the IT feilds
We use to own our own shop in London where we would build and repair PC's and also sell Laptops and parts we
do upgreading and wed page designing as well as hosting and on the side we had an internet cafe.

We are from Trinidad and speak English, We are looking for a Company to employ any one of us I have done
My trainning in London.

If Any one can help us to get information or advice please

thanks you all!

Hello,
With web design it is hard. My fiance is a web designer from Germany and it took him four years to find a job in his feild of intrest.

Sorry, I don't have expertise on this field but my husband was told when he was looking for IT work here that companies had to prove that they looked for a Germany first to fill the position, then prove that they couldn't fine one before considering someone from another country. If you're a pretty medium-skilled web designer, you may want to consider emphasizing what may make you better than a native German.

This could have been for only larger companies, however. Good luck.