Summer job in Germany for a first year uni student?

sdiff wrote: »

Just wondering - how difficult/easy would it be for a 1st year mathematics student to get a job in Germany over the summer? I got a B1 in higher level German, and have really started practicing it a lot since then - sharedtalk.com, reading newspapers auf Deutsch, and generally learning new vocab daily. I think by this summer I could have a decent level of proficiency, and would like to go to Germany.

However, this would cost money, and therefore a job would be necessary. It is common knowledge that Germany has a strong economy, but how difficult would it be for a practically unskilled, non native speaker to find a job? I am not picky - obviously I would prefer a job where I can speak with Germans regularly. But anything is fine.

Many thanks in advance!

Generally speaking, very possible, although it will take a bit of searchign and footwork. It would also help to know what part of Germany we're talking about as the unemployment rate varies a lot. Also, while the langauge is a help, it's not essential in some cases. You will be at an advantage though.

Hi sdiff,

For a start, I'd try this web site. Get in contact with the users there. They are very helpful.
[URL="chrome://newtabhttp//www.toytowngermany.com/jobs/"]chrome://newtabhttp//www.toytowngermany.com/jobs/[/URL]

There shouldn't be much of a problem getting a summer job in germany. Especially if you have some German and if you are not too picky.
Best chances for all kinds of jobs are generally in the bigger cities like Berlin, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Cologne and especially Munich. The weather and quality of life is best down in Bavaria too. Rent is expensive though.
Best place for going out and night life is Berlin without a shadow of a doubt.

Specifically for students there's a job office in the munich university that could be of help. Over the years it has been a great source of jobs for Irish students over for the summer.
http://www.s-a.uni-muenchen.de/studierende/jobboerse/jobangebote/index.html

Seeing as you are landing over in late may early June you'll be over a month ahead of German students who only get their holidays at the end of July. That may work to your advantage.

Or contact some of the multinationals like Allianz, BMW, Munich re, siemens, eads(airbus, eurocopter), mtu(jet engines, and successor to the historic BMW aero engines) etc directly as they will always find positions for smart folks that are hot in computers or computational degrees in university. To get a job in advance that may be your best bet, but you would need to move now to get through the paperwork to have a place in the summer. The big companies should also be able to help with finding accomodation.

sdiff wrote: »

Very helpful, many thanks!

I should ask, though; how different is the Bavarian dialect from Hochdeutsch?

It's very different pronunciation wise and for a beginner a complete balls.

You will hear very little of it in the workplace in Munich though especially in the multinationals which have loads of north and east Germans working there. And obviously with so many non Germans about that's another whole section of society that will speak with you in either hoch deutsch or english.

Anyone of your age in Munich normally only speaks hoch deutsch so socially you'll not come across it. Only older folks speak it on a day to day basis in munich so in shops you might come across it or in dealings with the government or police.

Long and the short of it anyhow is that you could spend the summer here without meeting someone speaking it, or at least speaking with such a thick accent that you can't understand them

sdiff wrote: »

Thanks for that, I'll take a look at that website. Just wondering - would it be possible to have a job arranged before actually going? I don't want to get off the plane and wander around hopelessly looking for a job

Probably not with the casual work, but always worth trying applying anyway.


If you do wind up in Berlin, keep an eye on this one:
http://exbclassifieds.exberliner.net/index.php?kat_id=5&action=modAnzlist_anzlist&sid=

kodoherty93 wrote: »

Avoid Berlin as the east still has high level of unemployment nearly as high as Ireland.

Yeah, but that's because of the leftwinger/anarchists and the career dole-spongers who arent even looking.