piper7:
Excuse me please. I'm currently in Nigeria and I'm wanting to go to Germany to study.
Please it's Germany safe for black students?
Also is German also really difficult as they say?
Then lastly, can I stay there even after my studies to maybe work or establish a business?
I'll be awaiting your reply. Thanks.

patience is really a virtue they say.
Take your time and go through the thread..you I'll definitely find what you re looking for

CV and interview

During your interview, you will be questioned based on your CV. It is advisable that you do not put wrong or falsified information on your CV. Some companies usually verify the information and run background checks. They can even verify after you’ve been employed.

It is also generally required that you include your photo on your CV. This has been debated, as it allows for discrimination. Some people complained that companies would not hire them, if they see they are black or Arab. It was prohibited to include photos, but after several debates, they allowed it again.
This is not compulsory but not including your photo on your CV, may be a reason why you won’t get a response. Yes, some companies only filter applications that include photos.

It is expected that you know about the company and be able to explain what they do. They also ask tactical questions that require common sense. This is to check your sense of morality and your ability to think smartly and make good decisions. An example is: They ask you, if you’re working in a team and one of your colleagues is not doing his job or is very slow, which might cause you to do more work, what would you do?

Another example is for those applying to customer service jobs. They can ask what you would do, if a customer is asking for a refund, even though it is against company policy, but it was not the customer’s fault. These questions are very important and the right answers can get you hired, regardless of your CV.

After your interview, you would be asked to leave and you will get a response in a few days or weeks. They usually respond via email. You will know if you have been hired or not. Some companies usually give you a response immediately after your interview, if you have been employed.

[quote author=piper7 post=91773292]

Please it's Germany safe for black students?

There are so many black students in Germany from all over Africa, you wouldn't believe it. Even the so called East Germany is very very safe for blacks and safer than many parts of Nigeria. When I was about travelling to Germany, people had thesame stereotype, like I would be attacked by racists immediately I arrive, but I keep wondering till this day why many feel that way. Of course there are racist groups, but even in East Germany l've hardly seen them, I only hear about them. You are probably safer in Germany ( security wise) as a black man than in the U.S(going by the news of several killings of blacks in the U.S at least).

Also is German also really difficult as they say

it's not that German is so difficult like probably Arabic or Chinese, but rather English is too simple. So when comparing German to English, German is more difficult to learn properly. For example to say : "the boy", "the woman", "the girl" all use the definite artikel THE, but in German it is der(for boy), die(for woman), das(for girl), sometimes you would also have den, dem, and stuff like that, all meaning THE. So this means that words and expressions can change depending on what you are talking about.

Then lastly, can I stay there even after my studies to maybe work or establish a business?
I'll be awaiting your reply. Thanks

Like many other things in life, " IT DEPENDS ".

Employment and salary

If you have been employed, you will be given a contract which you would be required to sign. A copy of your contract would be given to you as well. It is very important that you read your contract. Germans take those things seriously and very important information could be in those long texts that you choose to ignore. When you have problems, they’ll read it out for you, to your loss.

You will also be informed about the areas of the company and introduced to your colleagues. They will guide you on the rules and restrictions. This is called “orientation period”. Some companies give 2-6 weeks trial period, it can be months, to see how well you fit in and if you can continue the job. You will be paid during this time and if you break any rules, you can be dismissed.

You will also be given a time card/chip. This card or chip is to calculate your working hours. You are required to scan your chip on the time machine every day, before and after work. This helps them calculate how many hours you worked in a month and your salary. It also helps them know when you come to work late. Not all companies have this, but most do.

The minimum wage in Germany is €9,35 an hour. Some companies pay 12-15 euros and even more. If you work night shifts, you get paid more after 10pm. If you work on your off days, or the company requires longer hours on certain days, you get paid more. These are usually optional and you can decide.

Working hours and vacation

Full time work is 8 hours and in some companies and positions, 9 hours a day. Some companies have different shifts. It can be 9am - 5pm, 6am - 2pm, or 2pm - 10pm. You will be asked which one is convenient for you, and you would have to switch from time to time. Most companies stick to 9-5.

You are entitled to paid vacation of 24 days a year in Germany. Considering you won’t be working at the weekend, it can be 20 days. Most companies usually allow 30 days a year. You have to apply for the vacation beforehand and your employer must approve it.
It can be refused during a certain time, if there is more work to be done, or if another colleague is on vacation and that position cannot be vacant.

You are qualified for vacation if you have worked at least 6 months in the company. If you previously worked for another company and took vacation, your previous employer must notify your current employer. You cannot take excess vacation for different companies. Your new employer would calculate how many days of vacation you have left for the year.

If you did not use all your vacation days for the year, you can transfer it and use it up to March 31st of the next year. If your employment contract ends and you have some vacation days left, your employer must pay for those remaining days.

Sick leave

If you are sick and unable to work, you should inform your employer. You can call in sick or send an email, depending on company policy. If you’re are sick for more than 2 days, you are required to visit a doctor and submit a doctor’s report to your employer and your health insurance company.

If you are sick for longer period, you employer will pay your full salary for up to 6 weeks of your absence. After 6 weeks, your health insurance will pay you 70% of your monthly income, every month for up to 78 weeks. That is if you’re sick for that long. You see why it is compulsory to have health insurance in Germany? Because you can benefit from it in time of need.

I would personally advice that you do not call in sick too much, except you’re really sick. It makes more sense to be sick for about a week and provide a doctor’s report, than to call in sick for 1 or 2 days, every time. I mean, who is really sick for only 1 day, 20 times in a month?

To be continued....

piper7:
Excuse me please. I'm currently in Nigeria and I'm wanting to go to Germany to study.
Please it's Germany safe for black students?
Also is German also really difficult as they say?
Then lastly, can I stay there even after my studies to maybe work or establish a business?
I'll be awaiting your reply. Thanks.

Please do not keep asking questions like this. The reason I write these things, is for people to read them. All of the information is on this thread and if you cannot take some time to read, I wonder how you would survive as a student in Germany. This message is for people who would ask questions like this in the future.

flyingpig:


A bad society always produces bad youth.

The hate you give little infants forks everybody! [b]Nigeria leadership should first work on themselves, then work on the country and see scam drop to a significant level[\b]. The remainder who won't key into the sustainable and available means of living can be cracked on and it will be so easy because they will be smaller, as most will be discouraged.

Anything short of these is chasing the geese, wildly.

Bro in as much as I would like to blame the government, the masses takes the greater share of blame. Who led the revolutions of France, ITaly et al in the18th and 19th century? The government? The answer is no, the people stood up to what they believed in.
If there would be any change in this country the masses would be the architect, anything short of this is fallacious.

B

[quote author=Daejoyoung post=91773740][/quote]
Thanks for taking your time to answer me. God bless you

Guys enough of the 419 issue nah! if @flyingpig wan do yahoo, na im own business be dat. We can only advise and keep it moving. Lets no derail the topic with pro vs anti yahoo yahoo argument!

evergreen9:
Guys enough of the 419 issue nah! if @flyingpig wan do yahoo, na im own business be dat. We can only advise and keep it moving. Lets no derail the topic with pro vs anti yahoo yahoo argument!

Shebi you smoke weed today was that what I said? Better comot your face from my front make i no slap am

So this evening I was chilling with friends and we decided to go to a Döner shop to buy some food. While we were ordering food, there were some Nigerian guys sitting outside, eating, laughing and talking with each other. There were 5 of them and they were speaking pidgin and Yoruba.

I was eavesdropping and smiling at their conversation. It was so funny and felt good to hear them speak pidgin. I told my friends they were Nigerians and they asked me what they were speaking. They could hear some English words but couldn’t understand.
The guys were so loud and free, that I felt like a foreigner. Germany has changed me to become robotic and mellow

Anyway, I left my friends and told them I’d catch up with them later. I went and sat with the Nigerian guys and they welcomed me. We talked and laughed for about 2 hours. We talked about everything, including Nairaland.
It was such a beautiful moment for me. To be around other Nigerians and be loud and expressive as we spoke pidgin. It’s little things like this we take for granted.

For the kind of job I have, I am around white people all the time and the Black people around me are Americans, Black Brits and from other African countries, who all speak English with a foreign accent. Even my accent has changed. I don’t know what I sound like, but the Nigerian guys didn’t know I was Nigerian until I spoke pidgin.

There are many Nigerians here of course, and I know where to find them. But there’s something different about hanging out with young Nigerians who you have something in common with, besides just coming from the same country. It’s not the same as going to African shop to sit down and gossip.

Anyway, I left when they started talking about football. I’m not into all that Manchester vs Liverpool talk.

Uyi168:
If I nor Comot From naija, wetin I gain

Domo sir. Edo pesin

flyingpig:
Shebi you smoke weed today was that what I said? Better comot your face from my front make i no slap am

Bro no vex. I dey try show solidarity for your cause, I meant no harm.

vhuqnl:

Domo sir. Edo pesin

..
Watoe baba..

evergreen9:


Bro no vex. I dey try show solidarity for your cause, I meant no harm.

and what do you know is my cause? It is very self-evident you are poorly educated, otherwise there would be no noticeable deficiencies in your comprehension level.

No vex kee you there

@Danielhouston
let's say I am in Germany on a tourist Visa (overstayed) found help with accommodation from a church....
Can I move around, board trains without police stopping me to ask for ID?
What is the best means to find cash jobs just to keep body and soul together?
how do illegals lay low till residency is sorted?

flyingpig:
and what do you know is my cause? It is very self-evident you are poorly educated, otherwise there would be no noticeable deficiencies in your comprehension level.

No vex kee you there

evergreen9:

alien1:
@Danielhouston
let's say I am in Germany on a tourist Visa (overstayed) found help with accommodation from a church....
Can I move around, board trains without police stopping me to ask for ID?
What is the best means to find cash jobs just to keep body and soul together?
how do illegals lay low till residency is sorted?

I’ve been in Germany for almost 7 years and lived in different cities, I’ve never been stopped by the police. The only time I spoke to a police officer was when I was lost and asked for directions. Other black people I know, have said the same thing. However, I’ve seen them stop and round up a few black guys and those were drug dealers.

Ways you can have a confrontation with the police is if you’re involved in a crime, someone calls the police on you, you’re driving a car and break the rules, or you commit an offense that requires identification which you cannot provide.
Otherwise, if you live your life and stay peaceful, they won’t look at you. Even when you see a police car or they walk past you, you don’t have to run. Harassment by police in Germany is not really a thing, though it exists.

When you board trains, you should buy a ticket. You don’t need ID, except you’re traveling outside Germany. If you ride without a ticket and you’re caught, they’ll ask you for ID to give you a fine. People get away by providing any ID. If you resist, they can call the police on you.

The problem is dealing with German bureaucracy. You cannot get health insurance, open a bank account, get a contract, get a good job, or register anywhere without a valid permit. Even when you’re renting an apartment or room, they’ll ask for your documents. Except you’re living with someone or subrenting illegally.

As for jobs, you can only do illegal jobs that won’t require a permit. Those are very hard jobs with bad working conditions and they can cheat you. They’ll only pay under the table. Or you can apply for personal cleaning jobs. You may just need to show any kind of Identification for that, even your passport. Alternatively, you become an escort and have sex for money. Just be ready to bear the risks.

I think the idea that a church would give you accommodation, is a bit played out. You can try but most churches would only provide you with information and maybe money for food, from time to time. But it’s still worth trying.

How can illegals lay low? I cannot answer that on a public forum, because I would be enabling a crime.

chief Daniel sir,as my primary assignments to Germany is to study n make cool cash. as a student in Germany, can I shop goods( car,clothes, etc,) online,paying tru my acct in naija n send home for resale? thanks

Working in Germany continued...

Maternity leave. Pregnant women are entitled to maternity leave while working in Germany. This leave can be taken without notice. In Germany, a pregnant woman is not allowed to work in the last 6 weeks before her pregnancy, except she chooses to do so. It is totally forbidden to work for 8 weeks after giving birth.

During the 6 weeks before birth and 8 weeks after birth, she will receive her salary in full, even while she’s on leave. She cannot get fired from work for up to 4 months after giving birth. The employer has no right to terminate her employment, except the company is shutting down or she chooses to leave the job.

Both men and women who are parents of a new born, are entitled to parental leave until the child is 3 years old. During the leave, the employer is not obligated to pay their salaries. The parents can apply for parental benefits from the government. This is usually about 67% of their month salary and the government will pay only one parent a maximum of €1,800 per month, for 12 months. It can be less, depending on their initial salary.

Discrimination in the workplace

Yes, this a huge problem in Germany. You will be confronted with a lot bullshit and people who say offensive things at work. You could also have a racist supervisor or boss. The biggest problem as far as I know, is sexism and sexual harassment. A lot of women have complained about this and they established a special unit to deal with this problem.

It is forbidden to discriminate based on race, gender, age, disability, religion and sexual orientation. This is why if you go to a bank in Germany, you’ll see a lot of old women working there. Women old enough to be grandmothers, are the people who work in banks, hospitals, reception, etc. This might surprise you, if it’s not common in your country.
I hate to say this, but if you go anywhere and it’s an old white lady working there, start praying to God.

The law against discrimination applies to face to face discrimination, policies or rules that discriminate against others, or discriminating against someone because they reported your colleague or you have a problem with them.

If you work for an international company, you’re less likely to experience this, because they take it seriously. If you work for a German company, be ready to be looked down upon. They’ll make you feel like you’re not doing your job well enough and even when they make mistakes, they’ll blame it on you. When you report discrimination, they’ll try to cover it up or shift the blame, or make you feel like you’re overreacting.
Always read your contract and don’t let them bully you. You can sue and be compensated.

@danielhouston, if you have a visa to study in a particular city ( say Frankfurt for example) and you decide to switch to a different city to study ( Berlin) would this probably cause any problems? Upon arrival would I register at the city where I was supposed to study or at the city where I have decided to switch to?

Germany is not Nigeria where you can say anything and give your opinion about everything, without consequences. That offensive Facebook post you made or that video you shared, can get you fired from work. I would advice you not to add your colleagues as friends on Facebook or follow each other on social media.
Your colleagues are not your friends. They are your colleagues.

Keep your religious beliefs to yourself. I went to a church one day and a Nigerian woman was giving testimony about her German colleague, who is gay. She said he was a demon and was possessed with the spirit of homosexuality, and she had been praying to God to destroy him. She went to work one day and heard the colleague had left the job. Praise the Lord.
One week after her testimony, she got sued for discrimination and harassment.

In Germany it is not easy to fire someone based on discrimination that is hard to prove. It’s always better if there is evidence or a witness. Otherwise, the company can get sued for false accusation and breach of contract. If you experience discrimination, report it to HR and follow it up. Don’t worry about what your colleagues think.

Don’t get too playful with your colleagues, because this is how it starts. When you accept the subtle verbal discrimination, it will extend to blatant discrimination that can make work uncomfortable for you. Also avoid discussions about politics, religion and race.
Like I stated before, be careful how you talk to women. You don’t want to be accused of sexual harassment in the workplace, trust me.

evergreen9:
@danielhouston, if you have a visa to study in a particular city ( say Frankfurt for example) and you decide to switch to a different city to study ( Berlin) would this probably cause any problems? Upon arrival would I register at the city where I was supposed to study or at the city where I have decided to switch to?

After you arrive Germany, you register in the city where your admission was granted. The name of your University and city, will be stated on your visa. You would also take that visa to the Foreigners office, where it will be converted to a 2 years residence permit, bearing the name of the city. (Masters is 2 years)

If you decide to study in another city later on, you can apply for admission or transfer your course if it’s possible. After you’ve been admitted in the new city, you can change. You’d just have to notify the Foreigners office in the new city and also change your address. Also notify your health insurance about the change.
You’ll be issued a new residence permit bearing the name of the new city and the new rules that follow. How many years they’ll give you, depends on how long your studies take.

dualprince0280:
chief Daniel sir,as my primary assignments to Germany is to study n make cool cash. as a student in Germany, can I shop goods( car,clothes, etc,) online,paying tru my acct in naija n send home for resale? thanks

You can buy whatever you want with your money and send it anywhere. If you’re buying cars to sell in Nigeria, that means you’re doing business. Whether you’re doing it legally or illegally, is between you and government.

Hi Dan , how are you today ? . You are really doing a great job with the loads of free and valid information you are churning out on here ! thanks so much . So i want to start working on migrating to Germany as a student , i want to come over to Germany in pursuit of my fashion and styling passion. Although i have a Bsc here in Nigeria in a non related course to what i am passionate about , i don't mind starting an undergraduate academic degree an equivalent to Bsc in fashion courses over there .

What chances do i stand in getting a job after i am done with my Undergraduate study in Germany with a Bsc in a fashion related course ?. Do you think my age would affect my chances of securing a job in that line of work after i am done ? , i am going to be 32 years in a few months ? . Thanks for taking your time to respond to our questions ..

Danielhouston:


You can buy whatever you want with your money and send it anywhere. If you’re buying cars to sell in Nigeria, that means you’re doing business. Whether you’re doing it legally or illegally, is between you and government.

Thats for sure great one http://www.serialeon.com/