Go Germany! Lunch breaks can be quite short and coffee breaks are a rarity!

Audencia's Career Center and Alumni teams are delighted to to bring you “Go Germany!”, the guide to working in Germany.

This guide holds special significance as we celebrate the remarkable career of one of our esteemed professors, Uwe Supper, German Professor at Audencia and the Careers Adviser for Germany. Throughout his tenure, Uwe has adeptly crafted valuable connections between Audencia and Germany.

Building on the positive outcomes of our previous guides, including Go France and Go Netherlands, it is now time for Germany to take center stage as a
welcoming destination for our diverse community of students and alumni. As the economic powerhouse of Europe, known for placing a strong emphasis on
efficiency, environmental awareness and a good work-life balance, Germany stands out as a compelling choice for all those in pursuit of an international
career, and we are excited to help you discover the opportunities it offers.
 

“Go Germany!” is a valuable resource for students and recent graduates wishing to head to Germany after their studies at Audencia.
 

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This week, discover what Pauline Remy-Neris from France has to say.

About Pauline:

• GRADUATED FROM THE MASTER IN MANAGEMENT (GRANDE ECOLE) PROGRAMME IN 2015 
• FROM FRANCE
• CURRENT POSITION: REPORTING AND CONSOLIDATION MANAGER AT VINCI ENERGIES EUROPE EAST IN FRANKFURT AM MAIN
• NATIVE LANGUAGE: FRENCH
• DAILY WORKING LANGUAGES: GERMAN AND FRENCH
• OTHER LANGUAGES SPOKEN: ENGLISH
• GERMAN LEVEL: ADVANCED
• BEEN LIVING IN GERMANY FOR: 8 YEARS

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Pauline's key message: “Lunch breaks can be quite short and coffee breaks are a rarity!"

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My biggest challenge
Learning German at first! When many colleagues speak about different topics over lunch for example, it´s not easy to get a word in!

Myths & realities
MYTH: Working in Germany does not mean narrow-minded people and a lack of spontaneity. It depends on the person as opposed to the nationality.
REALITY: Managers are always available and take your opinion into account, even if you are junior. And you will be judged on your results rather than on the long hours you put in at the office.

My advice & top tips
Think about finding French companies with a subsidiary in Germany and where French stands to be an asset, or international companies where you could speak English to begin with.

Quirky & cultural
Up to the age of 30-35, the number of men and women in companies is fairly balanced, particularly in the western part of Germany. When couples decide to have children, the women spend at least one year on maternity leave, then come back part-time, which causes a huge gap between women´s and men´s careers from this time.

And finally...
If you have a first-time experience in Germany, I would advise you look for accommodation in a WG (Wohngemeinschaft= flatsharing). This will allow you to meet new people easily.

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