Moving to Germany
Discussion
Hello everyone. I'm looking for a little advice if anyone can help.
After the results of the European referendum a German lady friend of mine has decided she wants to go home and has asked me to go with her.
I have a sister who has lived in Hamburg for 15 years and I do love it over there and considered moving there a couple of times even before meeting my girlfriend.
My biggest problem is that my German isn't great and I sell cars for a living so my livelihood depends a lot on my ability to communicate with people. It would take me at least a year to become fluent enough in german to do my job there.
My question is whether it would be possible to work at a dealership there only speaking English for a start? I know it would be a long shot but I do work with Jaguar Land Rover just now and I know they like British staff in their dealerships.
If not has anyone been in a similar position and what did you do?
The three cities we are considering are Franlfurt, Hamburg and Berlin if that helps at all.
Thanks.
After the results of the European referendum a German lady friend of mine has decided she wants to go home and has asked me to go with her.
I have a sister who has lived in Hamburg for 15 years and I do love it over there and considered moving there a couple of times even before meeting my girlfriend.
My biggest problem is that my German isn't great and I sell cars for a living so my livelihood depends a lot on my ability to communicate with people. It would take me at least a year to become fluent enough in german to do my job there.
My question is whether it would be possible to work at a dealership there only speaking English for a start? I know it would be a long shot but I do work with Jaguar Land Rover just now and I know they like British staff in their dealerships.
If not has anyone been in a similar position and what did you do?
The three cities we are considering are Franlfurt, Hamburg and Berlin if that helps at all.
Thanks.
Very easy actually, when I moved to Germany in '74 to join my family after years in the services, my wife and then 6 yo daughter refused to speak anything but German to me. It took about 6 weeks and I was speaking (a rather broken but passable) German. for example make sure you watch the german news at 7 or 8pm for good elocution!
Learning enough German to be able sell things in German is not going to happen quickly. As you point out, at least a year assuming you are good at languages. You might be well advised to move to Hamburg for family reasons. Also somebody there may be able to find you something to do while you are learning. Won't need much German to start valeting cars for example. Be aware that most proper German companies will expect you to have studied Burokaufmann or similar before they will allow you to work for them in sales. Getting a job shifting 2nd hand cars of a bomb site is, well, the same as it is in Britain. If you don't know what Burokaufmann is ask your German family / girlfriend.
One last tip, don't leave it too long or the place will be over run with Brits. I have been here for nearly 20 years & am looking at German nationality. Soon.
One last tip, don't leave it too long or the place will be over run with Brits. I have been here for nearly 20 years & am looking at German nationality. Soon.
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