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| I really think people underestimate the handicap they have when they don't speak the local language on the job market. Speaking perfect German and good English is always better than vice versa. There aren't that many positions with English only compared to the total number of jobs available, so you really limit yourself there to a few companies. | |
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I agree completely. I cannot think of any job in Australia or the UK that involves speaking that does not require English. Only jobs that go to non-English speaking people are cleaning jobs and alike. I am sure there are exceptions but these are a rarity.
In my previous job in the Netherlands, everyone could speak English and all documentation and systems were in English or both English and Dutch however, I still felt isolated as I could not speak fluent Dutch and it made it harder to build relationships, you missed out on office banter, understanding people at lunches and things were dumbed down for you.
In my role here, it's the same however there are several other non-Swiss Germans and lots of Germans so it's more international and the lingua franca is English. I was extremely cautious about accepting this role but fortunately, it appears to be turning out OK. Still, I'm learning German despite the other Anglophones telling me there's no point..