Being self-employed
Well, I'm not breaking any news to you when I say that being self-employed in general is not easy and I'm sure anyone having gone through this experience will agree here. And I'm not gonna talk about all the things you have to find out and solve here to be legally on the save side, or projects, or anything like that. No, this post is about the status and acceptance of someone being self-employed in Germany.
A while ago I came across a blog of an American ESL teacher living in Germany and talking about her experiences. Unfortunately, I only copied a quote in my notes and forgot to bookmark her blog so I wasn't able to find it again for this post... Too bad. Anyways, here is what she said:
Germany is a "company town". It is not entrepreneurial. Working for yourself is even looked down upon as having a job with a big business and a desk that you go to for the next 30 years is considered what is appropriate and correct. It is secure and that is what is important (never mind the fact that all over Germany companies are going out of business or downsizing large percentages of their workforce.) [...] Being an entrepreneur here is the opposite of what it is in America, with America being something you aspire to have and here something only desperate people do.
I copied this because at first I was a bit surprised of her view but the more I think about it the more I must agree with her. Not necessarily from a business perspective since especially in my field a lot of companies work with freelancers and I have not had any bad experiences with any kind of attitudes yet.
It's more on a personal side... Especially the so called older generations still hold on to this view she described. The younger generations are a bit more open although some of them grew up with this point of view and see no reason why they should change their mind about it. Others start to see the simple necessity to be more flexible for the job market these days. I'd say it's more and more changing...
How about you? Have you made any experiences like this? How is the acceptance in your region/country?
Thanks to Fraser who found the blog I have quoted in this post!! You can find it here, towards the end of the page under "Doing Business and the Economy".
posted by Nicola @ 6:11 PM
6 comments
6 Comments:
My mom still thinks I should study to become a state worker, like everybody and his brother in Spain :)
Daniel
Here in France, I don't feel like entrepreneurialship is looked down because there are plenty of small businesses around, in towns and in the country sides. But it's true that being a state employee, on the other hand, is recommended, desired, and fought for to get better security, work protection, long-term investment,...and better quality of life at the end. It's most people's dream job, so-called. I think that is for those less-adventured kinds ;-P
It's true that it's very difficult here to start a business. The spirit of entrepreneurialship is therefore still an exception to the rules. Not much state aids here, and process is cumbersome and very bureaucratic. I can say that it's not encouraging, but...
The ultimate satisfaction always comes from a "road less-travelled"...:-) Why choose the 'easy' 'simple' ways, right? :-D if we can complicate things. Neah, I'm just saying that I'm always attracted to entrepreneurial adventures in professional and personal lives. I don't 'care' what other people think...
Daniel - I totally understand you! Same here. :)
Maya - You're right, everyone has to find their own way and should not worry too much about what other people say...
Nicola,
The blog you quoted is: http://mysticsailor.blogspot.com/2001/10/american-english-teacher-living-and.html
--the quote istelf is toward the bottom (search for "company town" and it will be the second or third hit).
Hey Fraser! Thanks for finding that out for me!! That's amazing! How did you find it? Thanks again!
Nicola
Hello folks,
Since the information you are discussing came from me, I thought I would jump in!
First of all, I am a 'he', not a 'she', although I smile with the compliment.
Second, what I wrote is a bit dated but most is still valid if not even more so. Being an entrepreneur is just not what young and dynamic Germans aspire to be and if so, their peers talk them out of it.
I am presently back in Germany working in Karlsruhe this time which is a way cool town with wonderful people but the rules still apply. The only thing that I would comment that is really different is that public transportation inspectors are everywhere! haha
If you would like to read my most recent postings about my 3 month trip thorough Indochina, please link here to http://ajarncharlie.livejournal.com/137300.html
Tons of my photos including Germany can be found here at my Picasa Google site at http://picasaweb.google.com/mysticsailor
AND if you would like to read the original story with tons of photos about teaching and living in Germany, (with all my opinions ;>))) , that can be found here at
http://www.theasianjournal.com/mystic/germantravels01.htm
All the best to one and all!
Charlie
The Mystic Sailor
mysticsailor@gmail.com
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