Known for their extreme perfection, Germans are very different from Brazilians in many ways! Learn more about Germany’s labor market challenges here!
Although the culture is quite different from Brazil and the freezing weather, living in Germany is synonymous with clean streets, polite, civilized people and that sense of security wherever you go.
Germany’s economic strength and all the benefits of living in Germany, whether for quality of life, education, career or comfort, have drawn people from all over the world. Germans are famous for being very systematic, reserved and soft-spoken, and knowing how to live with them is one of the main challenges for those who want to live and excel in the professional market of Germany.
Typical German Cuisine
First, know that German cuisine is spicy, made from dishes such as chips, boiled and baked; sausage; sausage and pork; accompanied by beer and wine. There they have the custom of eating a lot of typical oriental and indian meal. A point to highlight are the fast food foods , much consumed by the Germans as well.
And speaking of food, because it is a very cold country, unlike Brazil where there is all kinds of food abundance all year round, in Germany is not quite like that and there are foods that do not have a large supply. It is the Turks who bring food to the Germans at different times of the year.
Work in Germany – Network and Socialization
If you do not know someone in the country and do not speak German , you will have difficulty socializing . In addition to being very reserved, those who do not speak the official language will take a little longer than normal to make friends. This is because Germans are extremely perfectionist in what they do and prefer to speak German than languages they do not master as much as their native language. Although English is spoken by 53% of the people of the country, this pursuit of perfection, from the smallest details, is very much demanded among them.
But know that with good English you have a 70% chance of getting a job in Germany. Comparing with Colombia for example, without Spanish, the native language of the country, you only have a 10% chance of being well placed professionally.
Tourism in Germany
Below are the main sights of Germany:
● Brandenburg Gate;
● Holocaust Memorial;
● Reichstag Palace in Berlin;
● Neuschwanstein Castle – one of the most beautiful castles in the world that inspired Disney in fairy tale movies;
● Colonia Cathedral in Colonia;
● Aachen Cathedral;
● Black forest that is also the scene of many literature stories; ● And the famous Oktoberfest in Munich.
Cost of living in Germany
The cost of living in Germany is not usually low, but a person who earns a minimum wage in Germany can pay a rent and stay financially well all month long.
A strong point for those looking to work in Germany is that all money paid in health, education, infrastructure and safety taxes is well invested in the country. The return on the amount invested in the country’s infrastructure and public agencies is visible. Like for example:
– Excellent infrastructure that provides a good quality of life for residents;
– The security is exemplary: it is possible to walk the streets and feel safe;
– The health system is not public but is of high quality and fair price;
– System education reputable public and quality.
The difference between living in Brazil and living in Germany
Many Brazilians living in Germany report that in the European country you work and enjoy the fruit of your work, so you can buy a good car and a home, quite different from the Brazil where people work hard and for long years and often can barely buy a house.
Practical tips for those who want to work in Germany:
1. Cost of recognition procedure outside Germany
For a person who has a college degree to practice in the country must pay the fees for applying the diploma recognition procedure that are according to the type of experience of each professional, but on average varies between 100 and 600 euros . In addition, additional costs usually arise for a recognition procedure, such as obtaining documents, translations, certificates, travel costs, or language courses.
2. Work in Germany – Speak German
Learning German is one of the most important steps you can take to prepare for your life in Germany. Even if you don’t have to prove your German skills to take a job, the exams are good for your applications and your resume: Companies see it so directly that you are committed and have language skills.
Jobs in Germany
According to the federal government’s Make it in Germany portal for skilled workers from abroad, there is a shortage of specialists: nurses, senior caregivers as well as skilled workers in refrigeration engineering . At the expert level, for example, scarcity situations are evident in automation technology as well as in specialized nursing. In addition, there are bottlenecks at the level of IT profession specialists, (hyperlink to technology) such as software development and programming, as well as medicine (without dentistry).
Underemployment in Germany
The underemployment in Germany is those that do not necessarily require training or degree. They are also known as “freelancers” such as nannies, electricians, masons, plumbers, car mechanics and so on.
These professionals occupy 42% of the labor market in the country and receive on average € 2750.00, which is today equivalent to 5,000 reais (Quotation on 06/17/2019). The lowest salaries are € 1,200 and cover people who are not fluent in English or German. In companies, these professions have an annual contractual relationship, which makes them an excellent option for Brazilians seeking job openings in Germany , since the profession conveys contractual and financial stability.
Germany’s cities with the most professional opportunities
According to the Make it in Germany portal , people of all qualifications looking for work in Germany had the best opportunities in the city of Berlin (capital of Germany), Munich and southern Germany in 2017 : Bavaria and Baden- Württemberg. Workers are urgently needed in this region. In contrast, in many parts of eastern Germany and in many districts of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony, more than five or ten unemployed people are relocated.
Work, salary and living expenses in Germany
Employment… With an unemployment rate of 4.1% in 2016, Germany has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the world . The average in the EU-28 was more than double in the same year. While in the rest of Europe youth unemployment has increased significantly in recent years, in 2016 in Germany only 7.1% of 15-24 year olds were registered as unemployed. The average of all EU-28 countries was 18.7%.
Salary… For example, in 2016, the average gross salary in Germany at all salary levels was just under € 4,483 per month. Women, who work more often part-time in jobs with lower than average wages, earned an average of € 3,613.00 per month on average .
Cost of living… Germans spent an average of € 2,480 per family per month. For example, if the monthly net profit was between € 2,600 and € 3,600, an average of € 2,417 was spent. In all income classes, the Germans spent more money on housing, energy and housing maintenance ( € 877.00). This was followed by food, drinks and tobacco ( € 342.00). But also leisure, culture, sports, cinema ( € 258,00).
Visa for job search in Germany
Non-EU citizens should check which entry requirements apply to them. Provided you have a recognized university degree in Germany, the job search visa gives you the opportunity to go to Germany for a period of six months to look for a job. But it is necessary to bear the costs. That is why it is important that you prove that you have enough money to guarantee your livelihood throughout your stay in the country.
Documentation Required for Subsistence in Germany
Speaking of subsistence, with your “tax number” in hand you can guarantee the Registering , valid registration for its legality in the country.
The health system is not public, but you are still required to pay. The country requests a € 12,000 bank account that will ensure you stay in the country for the first year. This account is locked out by the government, which stipulates how much you can withdraw from the account per month.
Levels of German Language Knowledge
In Germany there are 6 levels that prove your knowledge of the language of the country: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2. Being the first basic level A1 and fluent / native C2! The more advanced your language proficiency levels , the greater your chances of a good job placement in the country. The three main categories are divided by:
A – Elementary use of language
B – Standalone use of language
C – Competent Use of Language.
Curiosities in Germany
Laws… In Germany there are so many laws that it is difficult for you to see any pedestrian crossing the closed sign at night, even without cars passing on the street for fear of getting a ticket.
Credit Card … Paying for credit card purchases is an exception. In Germany payments are via mobile via Google Payments and Apple Payments. This is for example how people shop for subway tickets. To give you an idea, Burger King in the country does not have the option to pay by card.
Social networks… Quite different from Brazil, it is not very common to see Germans use social networks and when they do, they are through a fake account , in which they change their name to nicknames .
Paperwork… In Germany everything is very bureaucratic, systematic, so people love to make use of vouchers and paper receipts. For example, all communication with the government is via post office, not by email or other online registration system.
Carnival… In Germany people also celebrate carnival. In addition to Brazilians feeling closer to home, in northern Germany is very common to celebrate the carnival.
Cold weather .. The cold in Germany is freezing and this requires basic care. Women mostly wear a lot of winter cap because of the bad weather the hair does. Frozen hair is easily breakable.
Also one must have a shopping knowledge for cold clothes. You need to buy the right clothes if you are not likely to suffer in the cold. This type of clothing in the country is not usually cheap, but it is extremely durable. In Germany and countries where winter is extreme, the trade has clothes made specifically for winter, thermal clothing and the so-called “second skin” worn on the bottom layer of clothing.
Malls… Also, quite different from Brazil where it is very common to see cinemas inside the malls , in Germany this is not common. Movie theaters are separate establishments from malls .
Programmer… For those looking for work in Germany , this tip is interesting: In Germany companies are thirsty for software developers , so it is one of the highest paid professions in the country and does not necessarily require a professional degree.
Bikes… There traffic is not about cars, but about bikes. Because it is a custom in the country, it is very common to see bicycle traffic on bike lanes.
Pet Friendly… Germany is a pet friendly country , everyone has some kind of pet and pet. And it is very common to find these animals and their owners in restaurants and other recreational areas. Even companies accept that their employees will work with their dogs in the office.
Sunday closed trade… On Sunday no commercial establishment opens, except for a few that operate 24 hours in the city center. On the other hand, from Monday to Saturday the markets are crowded!
Drivers… If you drive in Germany, do it right! Germans are very systematic at various points, especially in traffic. If you drive poorly and do not respect traffic signs, be aware that Germans do not have the patience to deal with offenders. It is inadmissible for them!
Seasonal depression … During winter the country does not receive sunlight from 9:30 to 15h. The days are cold, gray, cloudy and depressing. That’s right, the weather is an extremely negative point in this regard. The seasonal depressions (during the winter) directly affect mood and reach up to 10% of the population of the countries with harsh climates during the winter as Germany. This statistic follows with several cases of suicide . In such cases, phototherapy is an alternative to treatment.
Outsourced Services… If you need some kind of service or depend on someone doing something for you, get ready to be expensive! In the country, in addition to the “product”, you stop dear for the service provided for production, manufacture of this “product” or material.
Practical examples:
– Locksmiths: In addition to the extra key, the locksmith charges dearly for the service of making his work.
– Public service: Issuing duplicate documents in public agencies is often expensive. In addition to paying for the removal of the new document, you pay for the service performed to issue the new document. Different, no?
Hope these tips are helpful for your journey, if you want to understand more about the job market in other countries, click here !
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