Anyone here do business in China or Germany?

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Looking for a career change. I've been in sales for about 8 yrs. and now do so for a news agency in DC. I speak German almost natively and enough Mandarin to get in trouble. I can explain more offline if anyone cares to. Thanks.

Joeaksa · 11-18-2005, 09:44 AM

Rick,

I lived and worked in Germany and Denmark for many (10+) years. How can I help?

Joe A

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Thanks Joe. I've lived in Germany too and go there a lot, but always have to pay my own way since they're pleasure trips - ha ha. Just wondering what sort of jobs are out there that need people who can and will travel far and wide.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Oh, and a company Porsche wouldn't suck either. Nah, I just want to use my German more for work, learn some more Mandarin and travel more.

Joeaksa · 11-18-2005, 10:45 AM

Will get back to you later. Am in India right now and its 1:40 in the morning.

JoeA

Joeaksa · 11-18-2005, 07:28 PM

Rick,

If you have lived in Germany then you should know a fair amount about it unless you were there courtesy of the military. I have done both and its a whole lot different living "on the economy" so to speak.

Pls let me know what you are looking for and will help if able. Suffice to say that you have to really be used to spending about 20-40% of your time the first few months doing nothing but endless paperwork for the local govt types.

A good employer will be able to help here but its still a hassle. The residence and work permits are a hassle. Took me almost 10 years to get mine off of restricted and are now "unlimited" and good forever.

Not sure how to get a Porsche work vehicle unless you work for the factory. I have one good friend working there and he gets a company car but he has been there for 20+ years and is in the development section.

Joe A

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Thanks, Joe, but I don't want to live in Germany. When I did, Bayer took care of all the paperwork for me. I'm just interested in pursuing a more international kind of career than I have now, the int'l, extent of which is dealing with the embassies in DC. I'd like to do some kind of sales between China or Germany and the US. I'm joking about the company Porsche. The new ones aren't as nice as mine anyway.

Mr Beau · 11-20-2005, 01:06 PM

I'm in a somewhat similar situation.

I work for a French company that produces parts for the automotive industry, about 50% for the domestics (i.e. Renault and PSA-Peugeot/Citreon) and 50% foreign.

I moved from the Detroit area 2 years ago with the understanding that they'd move me back after 2-3 years. We reached an agreement about 6 months ago for me to go back, where I'd work as the North American Sales Manager.

Well, as is happening in the US, the auto industry in Western Europe is not in the greatest of shape either. Ten days before my scheduled move date, I was informed that they've decided to pull out of the US market (where they've been trying to penetrate for the past 6 years with limited success).

The beginning of this week, I was told that the would find a job for me in the powertrain division located where I currently work in France. I met with the director on Friday and was basically told that they didn't have a spot for me and we would have to discuss severance packages next week...

When the US assignment was proposed to me, I wasn't quite ready to leave France as I was starting to get pretty well assimilated. It takes a while to get the hang of a foreign language and culture. But after a few trips back to the US and getting excited about the new job, the rug got pulled out from under me.

I'm now at the point where I'm not quite sure where I want to live, no what I want to do. I have floated the resume and checked some listings, but the market doesn't seem nearly as hot as it was when I was last looking 6 years ago.

I've really enjoyed the foreign aspect of the job and would like to continue down the same path. I usually find travel pretty enjoyable (over 200k air miles in the past 4 years) so I would be open to something that could require that.

At this point I'm looking at the bright side of things and thinking this would be a good time to do my MBA, but would consider working if the right job comes along. Waiting until the usual September intake would be a bit of a stretch, and then there's the joy of figuring out how to finance everything, but I should be able to make it work.

I'm 29 and a mechanical engineer by training. I've "moved up the ladder" relatively quickly in the past 6 years and have moved further and further away from the technical side of things with each step. I enjoy science and things technical, so I was a bit hesitant at first but have rather enjoyed the new challenges and type of work.

So, I'm at a bit of a crossroads. Any thoughts/suggestions from those who've been down a similar path?

Groesbeck Hurricane · 11-21-2005, 10:08 AM

Matt,

For my $.10, I'd try and stay with the company in France if they can provide that option, even if it is to stay in your current job (assuming it is not going away). Let them know you love it there and are happy to stay.

I've been down this road four times and it is never easy. If you are happy where you are (sounds like it) then better opportunities could/can come up in the future. Don't burn a bridge you are happy with. If you are unhappy, this could be a good opportunity for you to explore other avenues. High speed manufacturing is high speed manufacturing...

It is always easier to find a job when you have one already.

RickM · RickM's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Rick Lee
Thanks, Joe, but I don't want to live in Germany. When I did, Bayer took care of all the paperwork for me.

Interesting. The OTC division is right around the corner from me. Just bought a car from a Sales guy who's moving back to Germany. Know anyone from up here?

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

No. I never dealt with anyone in the US from Bayer, except two folks in Pittsburgh who have long since moved on.

Joeaksa · 11-21-2005, 02:41 PM

Matt,

Remember that finding a new job in the last quarter of any year is more difficult. Companies are out of money for that year and cannot do anything until the next years funds are released on 1 Jan. Try to stay where you are until Jan/Feb and start a search then.

JoeA

Mr Beau · 11-22-2005, 09:35 AM

David,

With the restructuring that's going on, it doesn't look so promising. The story seems to change every couple of days so we'll see what this week brings. Regardless, my overall impression is that the company is not very well managed, and that should play some roll in my decision to stay (if it does become an option).

Joe,
Good advice. French law says they have to give me ~2 months notice. And during that time, they have to give me paid time off to look for other opportunities. Usually what happens is that you negotiate to get all the time off at the end so you'll still get some salary.

In addition, apparantly unemployment is around 80% of your salary for up to 2 years (!). I have a couple of things that I've been thinking of starting up, and this could be a good springboard... Pelican Parts Europe anyone? ;-)