Job opportunities for non-German speakers

Hi,

I don't live in Germany, and this enquiry is on behalf of someone else who currently works in Holland but might be thinking of relocating.

They don't speak German. Does this rule out most jobs? What opportunities are there say, in American or British firms out there (as there are in Holland, to some extent)?

The person concerned is a graduate with a high-level of office administration and management experience, who would be reasonably flexible in the type of employment area.
Would probably prefer large city like Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne(?); would probably prefer north-ish Germany, if not Berlin.

I've read about the need for translation of CVs and exam certificates, and the latter needing to be authorised translations.
Are there many other hoops to be jumped through?

I guess that in order to get a job, you need to get a flat, and in order to get a flat, you need to have a job...sort of thing.
So if you can find the job before you arrive, that might work...?

With thanks and regards,
M.

There are SOME companies where all business MUST be conducted in English.
At my own company, I do say a good 75%+ of my business outside of Germany and obviously that's all in English.
But with the exception of imported staff from HQ who are temporary, ALL the staff (except one) speak German.

It depends how long your friend wants to stay, what kind of job he is looking for, what kind of life he wants to lead.

Agree with Monkstown - same situation for me too.

It is very hit and miss without some level of German, but certainly not impossible. It also depends on what level of job is being applied for: e.g. career-minded jobs in Germany only, stepping stone jobs to the next level, or just getting a foot in the door with any job at all in Germany to begin with.

A good starting point: Internationalised industry staples of Telecomms (Voda is based in Ratingen), Transport/Logistics (Deutsche Post is based in Bonn) Media, and Hospitality often recruit anglophones as long as they have appropriate business skills.

You mentioned the applicant has management experience. In the people management context, obviously opportunities to practice that skill in Germany would require managing people in their day-to-day/office language, whatever that may be... Remember there is a whole Germanic workforce out there with experience and quals to the nines, who may be competing for similar jobs.

As a job to pay the rent, usually any american-themed restaurant will take limited /no German. Some of the department stores in the major cities have an Information Kiosk on the ground floor where they need somebody to help tourists with directions/languages. And... international call centres/Help Desks via any temping agency - most temp agencies in most major cities will usually be able to fix you up with something in a helpdesk position or office environment. It may sound like a step down for a graduate with management experience, but you'll score bonus points for showing willingness to start from the bottom and work your way up in another country.

As for the application process - CVs/Translations - again this depends entirely on the company to which you are applying. Company websites often indicate their application process. You can bet your life that if you search monster for an English job title or "english", you will only need to submit a CV in English.

There may well be HR managers out there in Germany who absolutely love to receive the traditional German "Bewerbungsmappe" (A whole candidate information pack stuffed with - well - fluff. Personally, I find them a major yawnfest - often full of outdated information from decades ago, which you have to treat delicately when photocopying etc...) but there are many more companies out there accepting CVs in English or CVs in German written in the US layout & style.