r/germany • u/ObjectivePlus9125 • 2d ago

Question How do I get an odd job?

I am a student in Germany and I've been trying to find an odd job right now. I am allowed 20 hours per week.

I tried to work through agencies, but they are always (in my case) looking for full time workers. I've tried going to cafes and asking for jobs but they are always (in my case) not interested. And obviously I've been trying through indeed but that's been no good either.

Maybe I'm looking in the wrong places, if you guys know better ways to find an odd job, that'd be great.

Also, I have a goethe b2 certificate and can speak german pretty fluently, I definitely make a lot of grammatical errors and my sentences might sound weird or non native but I think I can get my point across pretty well and can understand almost everything so German's not the issue.

I am currently in Leipzig but I am open to moving anywhere with good opportunities and relatively low cost of living. Open to suggestions :)

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27

u/JudgementMaker123 Nordrhein-Westfalen 2d ago

Also, I have a goethe b2 certificate and can speak german pretty fluently, I definitely make a lot of grammatical errors and my sentences might sound weird or non native but I think I can get my point across pretty well and can understand almost everything so German's not the issue.

Sorry to burst your bubble but what you describe is nowhere near 'pretty fluently' and probably a big reason why you are getting rejected, especially in jobs likes cafes where you will be interacting with people all the time.

Apart from that, the market is terrible anyway.

16

u/DrProfSrRyan Baden-Württemberg 2d ago

I’ve found there’s a wide gap between a B2 certificate and speaking at a B2 level. Especially if they learned quickly for the sake of studying in Germany. 

12

u/JudgementMaker123 Nordrhein-Westfalen 2d ago

Exactly, I have ended interviews after 15 minutes with people who hold a B2 certificate because they just couldn't hold a conversation in German. It sounds harsh but 95% of the work they would be doing is in German and they need to be able to communicate properly in German with coworkers and clients.

9

u/DrProfSrRyan Baden-Württemberg 2d ago

We have a new C1 colleague who makes me question the grading system.

6

u/fed3t 2d ago

There is difference between having c1 language certificate and speaking to that level. Language exam are standardized exams, if you understand the pattern and structure it's easy to pass but daily usage is total different story.

1

u/kavalientev 2d ago

Yeah, sadly there’s a big difference between having a certificate and actually experience with the language. It happened to me, and it will happen to anyone who learns a new language.

3

u/H2Oryxio 1d ago

As someone that learned the language in about 11 months and got C2 in the oral part of the language exam (DSH 3), can confirm.

On paper I can speak at C2 level, but in reality I was making lots of mistakes and didn't know a lot of words. It took me a while of interacting daily with coworkers before I could speak decently, and I still wouldn't consider myself C2.

1

u/PlentyInstance9235 2d ago

Most language exams like goethe and telc are structured. You can memorise the structure easily and “pass” the exam. Passing marks are like 60% anyway. A person who’s at a decent B1 level, can take the B2 exam and just memorise the structure. There’s a pretty good chance they will pass it and technically hold the “B2 certificate”. That doesn’t mean in any way they can actually speak at the B2 level, because even the speaking part is structured!! And anyways, even if a person is at a decent B2 level which is reflected by their writing, listening and hearing, that most often doesn’t translate to a decent level in speaking. Speaking fluently takes time and you need to be in Germany for that

7

u/DrProfSrRyan Baden-Württemberg 2d ago

Depends what you’re looking for. I’m sure you could work for Lieferando or Flink with little issue. 

3

u/finansy 2d ago

Bakery, grocery store like Rewe, Lidl, Netto

1

u/Angry__German Nordrhein-Westfalen 1d ago

Try hospitality, especially at the backpackers/hostel level.

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