Kellenhusen

I had to find employment over the summer in Germany or a German-speaking country. At first, the thought of finding a job in Germany seemed daunting but there are in fact several options open to students, so please do not worry!
As for me, I applied to the ZAV, which is a German organisation (a free service) for foreign students looking for summer work in Germany. I applied in January (the closing date is March) and there were only two forms to fill out along with a CV in German. Less than two months later, I received a proposal for a job and accepted straight away.
I had an excellent summer! I worked as a shop assistant (in Spar) in a holiday resort called Kellenhusen not far from Hamburg. After spending a year in France, I found that I had forgotten many basic German words and so the whole experience not only helped me to "remember" all the vocabulary I had forgotten, but it also boosted my confidence (and my bank balance!). All the people with whom I worked were extremely friendly and helpful. The work itself was demanding, and I often worked long hours but at the same time, I met some very nice people and my knowledge of the German culture, as well as the language, improved.

I would definitely recommend applying to the ZAV as they were quick and efficient with my application. However, it is important to bear in mind that you cannot be too choosy about the type of work offered to you.

Katharine Ashton