Relocating to Germany

Tesla

Tesla

Tesla

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Bristol, UK
I fancy a change and am considering moving to Germany.

I have been there a couple of times and have a weird attraction for the country.

That's it really. I don't know much else. If it goes belly up then I have a contingency plan in place so I am just going to go for it and make the most of it.

I know a lot of people will be thinking "you haven't thought this through". Well they would be right. I am more of a doer than a planner and rather just get stuck into things and take a risk or two.

I am interested to know if anybody has done something like this? If so how did you go about securing job before leaving the UK?

Any thoughts on my crazy idea much appreciated.

Chris
 
First thing I'd do is think about what type of work you want to dow ehn you get there and us this information to identify where you want to live.

I used to work for HP in Stuttgart and off the top of my head I can name HP, Agilent, Bosche, Porsche and Daimler-Chrysler along with a whole host of suppliers who will actively employ English speaking employees and contractors.

Germany isn't cheap so it's probably best to have a job sorted before you go. It's also pretty difficult to find, IMO, decent accommodation, but there isn't really a lot you can do about that before you are there, other than try to line up some viewings before you go, although if you don't speak German, this can be fairly difficult.
 
Just becuase you had a laugh on a couple of trips to the Nurburgring doesn't neccesarily mean you'd enjoy living there, particularly if you do not speak the language.
 
[DOD]Asprilla;10125805 said:
First thing I'd do is think about what type of work you want to dow ehn you get there and us this information to identify where you want to live.

I used to work for HP in Stuttgart and off the top of my head I can name HP, Agilent, Bosche, Porsche and Daimler-Chrysler along with a whole host of suppliers who will actively employ English speaking employees and contractors.

Germany isn't cheap so it's probably best to have a job sorted before you go. It's also pretty difficult to find, IMO, decent accommodation, but there isn't really a lot you can do about that before you are there, other than try to line up some viewings before you go, although if you don't speak German, this can be fairly difficult.
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Accommodation shouldn't be a problem, all houses are far more advanced and spacious than anything that you could get for similar money in the UK (Berlin, Cologne and Munich city centres aside.) Prepare for 52% tax, but 40% lower living costs. Energy supplies are in the process of being de-monopolised though, so that might be expensive.

You also have many restrictions, like you're not allowed to do DIY on Sundays, and after 8pm on Weekdays. Mowing lawn on Sundays = no no. If you do, expect the neighbours to call the police on you, who will come calling.

Don't bother with the East, its crap, that includes Berlin. If you like green countryside, I suggest the South West, but jobs might be a struggle unless you settle near Stuttgart.

Also, no German skills = fail, it's that simple.
 
I moved to Germany in February and love it. I'm in the civil service and applied for a post out here. As Asprilla said it isn't exactly cheap over here though(although I get almost everything tax free). Petrol is in line with the UK, about Euro 1.31. Games, dvds are all quite a bit dearer, not too mention most of them cut in some shape or form. I find a lot of people speak English especially the younger generation, but having a few basic phrases to start with is a bonus. In terms of jobs, it sounds like Asprilla has a better idea of how/where to start with getting a job over here than I do. I find the Germans like to work hard and play hard, which is no bad thing.

I would highly recommend it.
 
gfi! More attractive females, better beer, more culture (and more accessible), higher standard of living. As was said though, don't just up and go, line up a job beforehand! You'll pick up the language quickly enough once you're there unless you only hang out with Brit and Yank expats, in which case I really don't see the point of you moving since you can do that here! :p
I hear the broadband's slightly more expensive though...:D
 
Where are you thinking of going ?

Some areas are very cheap, some as expensive if not more so than the UK.

You will struggle if you dont speak the language though, English isn't commonly spoken (unlike somewhere like Holland).

I'm moving there in 2 weeks time, transferring through work though so I have the full relo package to help & 6 months of help after I get there.

Wouldn't like to do it without having a job sorted in all honesty.
 
I moved to Prague pretty much on a whim, i found a job online passed a phone interview and moved over. I stayed in my gf's flat for a few weeks until we got a place together though so i didn't have any problem with accomodation.
I still can't speak much more Czech than hello, please, thanks and bye :p
edit: i did actually learn that "jak se máš" that Borat says is actually "how are you?" in Czech :)

All I can say is if you have a plan to fall back on like you say you do then go for it, what have you got to lose? :)
 
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I actually found it rather difficult to improve my German in Stuttgart owing to my own laziness and the number of foreign workers (from all over the world, not just the UK) and the 4 or 5 US and NATO bases in and around. This meant that most people in Stuttgart have atleast a smattering of English, and everyt time I spoke German in shops and restaurants the response would be in English. Outside of Stuttgart itself and you've got no chance, even with German; the Schwabian accent is like Geordie to the ears of Brian Sewell! I do know a number of guys who, including myself who went over with little or no german and did ok (e.g. as HP is a US company they technically required that all meetings, emails and documents should be conducted / produced in English which made things easier).

I was over there as an intern so my accommodation budget was pretty small, but again, even those guys over on a perm basis as engineers and the like found it very difficult to get decent accommodation. That, must just be Stuttgart though.

Spent one of the best years of my life there 2000/2001, will be back there in the middle of October for fun and games.
 
:)I've lived in Germany twice, for 3 months then 5 months and I found it a great place to live. Cologne then Mainz. German towns and cities are clean, well managed and things just work. Lifestyle is a bit less hectic than England and another big bonus is the country's lack of chavs!

On the practical side of things, you have to register at a 'Einwohnermeldamt' within a month or 2 of arriving and this requires paperwork, like many things in Germany.

Definitely try the West over the East but Berlin is a great city to visit at least.
Yes, knowing the language would help quite a bit but practically everyone under 40 speaks very good English. As was already mentioned, I often spoke in German and got my reply in English.

Oh, and the beer is the best in the world
 
[DOD]Asprilla;10126177 said:
the Schwabian accent is like Geordie to the ears of Brian Sewell!
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Oi, wos labersch denn do? Des Schwaebsch isch doch gonz eefach, oda net? Des schwaetzt doch jeeder seppel, net wohr? :p


By the way, its actually Badenserisch, the Swabians just think its their language :rolleyes: :p ;) (guess where I used to live :D )
 
Thanks for all the response guys.

I have basic German language skills, I can read most things, don't understand every word but pick out key words and can make sense of them. I can also get by with day to day questions and responses.

Any more info on places to look for a job before going would be much appreciated.

Most people seem to move there to be with partners? How did you meet them in the first place? Holidays or something?

Thanks,

Chris
 
platypus said:
Hmm, I'm jealous. I really want to do a year/two years abroad, but can't make the leap.
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Yes, I don't know if this would end up a permanent arrangement but you only live once and I am young enough for this to no have any lasting negative effect on my life :)

What is holding you back?
 
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