When you come to Germany to work, you may find yourself in an international team but it's also very possible that you will find yourself in a room full of Germans. In this episode, we talk about the challenges and opportunities that come with working in diverse, intercultural teams at the German workplace. We will cover questions such as: How diverse is the German labor force? How do you deal with cultural differences in the workplace? And how is your right to a non-discriminatory workplace enshrined in German law?

Our guests in this episode are:

DAAD-Alumnus Bunye Ngene grew up in Lagos, Nigeria. Following a bachelor's degree in German studies at the University of Ibadan, he moved to Germany for a master's degree in German as a foreign language at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. Today, he is an author of multiple books and also a German as a foreign language teacher.

FURTHER INFORMATION & LINKS

What is discrimination? Find out about the legal protection against discrimination, the areas of life in which it applies and who it protects in Germany.

The Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency provides you with confidential counseling free of charge.

Olla Jongerius recommended the book “The Culture Map. Breaking Through the Invisible Boundaries of Global Business” by Erin Meyer.

Find Olla’s Website here.

You can find more information about Bunye Ngene and his books on his website.

Alumniportal Deutschland - “Bunye Ngene and his pathway to German language and culture”: Article about DAAD-Alumnus Bunye Ngene

McKinsey Study - “Diversity wins” (2020)

Starting your own business is a very exciting moment in your career and even more exhilarating - yet also challenging – if you’re not in your home country. What should you consider as you start your own business in Germany? Is it even possible to start your own business without being a German citizen? And with all the German bureaucracy to consider - where do you even start?

Our expert and DAAD-alumna in this episode are:

Veronica Garcia Arteaga, originally from Mexico, did her master’s and PhD in Food Science at the Technical University of Munich. She built up her own business “Neggst” two years ago. Together with her partner Patrick Deufel, they produce plant-based egg alternatives and are one of the most anticipated food companies in the country.

FURTHER INFORMATION & LINKS

Scholarships

Founders scholarship Exist for students, alumni and scientists by the Ministry of Economy and Protection of the Climate.

Entrepreneur Scholarship for people who take action. It is funded by the Hans-Weisser-Stiftung and Stiftung der Deutschen Wirtschaft (sdw).

UBS Female Founders Reward provides a cash prize of USD 10,000 for female early stage fintech founders.

Communities

2hearts is a diverse community of people with immigration backgrounds in Europe’s tech industry.

ADAN is a network for Afro-German and Afro-interested students and academics in Germany to draw attention to the African continent and to create a nuanced image of Africa, Africans and Afro-Germans.

Points of Single Contact provide support with all the administrative processes linked to your business projects.

Having a child brings a lot of changes - in your personal life but also in your career. This can be especially difficult when you are away from your home country: the bureaucracy, the lack of family members as a support system and unfamiliar office rules. In this episode we offer guidance to expat parents on juggling work and family in Germany. What rights do parents and caregivers have? How flexible are German employers? What do you need to know about work culture when it comes to parenthood?

In this episode we invited the following guests to answer these questions:

Aigul Zhalgassova is a DAAD alumna working in supply chain management at Siemens and is the founder of the "Women in Mobility" hub in Nürnberg. She has more than ten years of professional experience and, in addition to her intense work, follows her passions for reading, writing and learning. She and her husband both work full time and have a child in Kindergarten, which is comparable to preschool or a nursery.

We will be back with our next episode on January 9th after a short break for the holidays. Subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform so that you don’t miss any new episodes.

FURTHER INFORMATION & LINKS

Parental allowance and family benefits in Germany

Find information about family life and family benefits in Germany, provided by the German federal ministry for family affairs: Familienportal.de

Calculate and plan your parental allowance with the Elterngeldrechner (in German).

Claim your parental allowance online: Elterngeld Online (in German).

Parenting in Berlin

Gitanjali’s website “The Confused Mother” offers support for international parents.

Order and punctuality are probably the two words that come to mind when you think of German business culture. But is this cliché still true when it comes to rules and values in a German office? In this episode we will talk about modern German business etiquette, from dress codes to punctuality, communication and - since Germany is a beer nation - alcohol and events at work.

We talked about these topics with an expert and a DAAD alumnus:

DAAD alumnus Abhishek Kalwar is originally from Mumbai. He came to Germany in 2021 to pursue a master’s degree in Mechatronics and Robotics from the University of Applied Sciences in Schmalkalden. Alongside his studies he is currently a Robotics Software Developer intern at a German company. Throughout his education, he has completed several internships in India and Germany.

FURTHER INFORMATION & LINKS

You can find the website and book of our expert Gretchen Schaupp here:

Website Gretchen Schaupp

Alumniportal Deutschland ”10 do's and don'ts for everyday professional life in Germany”:

DAAD - Rules for success at work

Learn more about business etiquette in Germany:

deutschland.de - Business Etiquette in Germany

Starting a new job is always a bit nerve-wracking, but doing so in a foreign country can be even more difficult and adventurous. Kickstarting a career in another country differs from doing it at home and in this episode we will talk about the details of doing so, addressing questions such as: What is important for the application process in Germany? How can you convince German recruiters? And: Do you really need to speak German?

We have two guests in this episode:

Johanna Gutting is a Project Manager at Deutsche Bahn and oversees the process of recruiting and integrating international professionals. Before that, she helped internationals with starting their career in Germany at the Career Center for Internationals - amiga in Munich.

DAAD Alumna Grace Douglas came to Germany on a variety of exchange programs and eventually to do her master’s in International Security Management at the Berlin School of Economics and Law. She is originally from the United States and started her first full-time job in Germany as a Consultant at Deloitte. She is now working as a Senior Associate for Cybersecurity & Privacy in Digital Healthcare at PWC in Berlin.

FURTHER INFORMATION & LINKS

Helpful visa information about the EU Blue Card:

“Make it in Germany” - EU Blue Card

Job Listing Websites:

Find jobs in Germany advertised on the Job Listings Website of the German Federal Government.

The official job board from the Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency) promotes jobs in Germany.

Find jobs in European countries promoted by the EU at the EURES job portal.

How to plan your career:

Learn about the requirements and possibilities for planning your career in Germany:

DAAD - Career Planning in Germany

Find help with the application process for a job in Germany:

Alumnipoirtal Deutschland - Career Coaching Service

If you want to work in Germany it can be a great advantage to have a German university degree. But studying in Germany or even building a research career here is a challenge in itself. In this episode we will find out how you can navigate your academic path in Germany. What does studying in Germany actually look and feel like? How does the university system work? What does the academic world offer in terms of jobs and what do you need to consider before starting your research career in Germany?

In this episode we welcome the following guests:

Dr. Anne Schreiter is an advocate for researchers and scientists. As Managing Director of the German Scholars Organization e.V., she and her team offer advice and programs to help PhDs on their career paths.

Laila Heizmann is a student herself. Originally from Singapore, she’s been studying in Germany towards an MBA – Master of Business Administration – in Aviation & Tourism Management at the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences.

FURTHER INFORMATION & LINKS

“Make it in Germany” - Information on how to apply for a student visa:

Visa for Studying

Information on the recognition of academic qualifications:

Anerkennung in Deutschland.de

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers scholarships for international students and researchers:

Overview on DAAD scholarships

You can find various types of scholarships from selected funding organizations in the DAAD Scholarships Database.

The Alumniportal Deutschland offers tips on “Finding the right place to study in Germany”.

In our debut episode we will talk about everything that you need to kickstart your career in Germany. What are the general requirements for working in Germany? What jobs are in demand right now and do you have the qualifications? We'll also find out when and how you should get your degrees approved. Finally, we will determine if Germany is the right destination for your career and what exciting opportunities it has in store.

Our two guests in this episode, an expert and a DAAD-alumna are:

Michaelle Nintcheu, an immigration law Consultant at the Cologne Institute for Economic Research. She has lots of experience in assisting internationals in finding work in Germany. Michaelle also works on the communication campaign “Make It in Germany”.

Kristina Alam, a DAAD alumna with extensive experience in Germany's professional landscape. She currently works at Zielpuls GmbH, an entrepreneurial consultancy, and serves as a mentor for aspiring young professionals looking to launch their careers in Germany.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us through our feedback form.

FURTHER INFORMATION & LINKS

Portal of the Federal Government for skilled workers from abroad:

make-it-in-germany.com

Check your options of working and living in Germany:

“Make it in Germany”- Quick-Check

Find out about current developments in the field of skilled labor migration and integration in Germany:

“Make it in Germany” - Newsletter

Alumniportal Deutschland - Alumni Stories: “Preparation is essential”

Interview with Kristina Alam

This podcast is the space for you to get the information you need to be successful in your career in Germany, regardless of where you are on your path, and to hear firsthand from other internationals about all the ups and downs that come with working in Germany.

The first episode will drop on October 25th. The eight podcast episodes of this season are released every two weeks. Brought to you by the Alumniportal Deutschland and produced by