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+--- Thread: Job opportunities (/thread-17275.html)
- Duane Meissner - 12-13-2003
Where would be the best place to go to search for job opportunities at German wineries? I'm looking into moving to Germany for a year this summer. Will need a full time job. I'm not an expert yet when it comes to wine knowledge, so I couldn't do anything that would require me to be one.
DM
- hotwine - 12-13-2003
If I were wishing to do that, I'd select the region in which I'd like to live and work, then identify good producers in that region, then apply to one or more of them directly. A Google search for "winery jobs in Germany" turned up a list of wineries with addresses and Websites at http://wine.about.com/cs/germany/. That might be a place to start. Personally, I'd look into the Mosel region, because I most admire the wines from there; but it's relatively remote, and wineries in the Rheingau, Rheinhesse and Nahe are more centrally located, providing easier access. Also, you might try contacting a German consulate here (Houston, maybe?) for assistance in your search.
- hotwine - 12-13-2003
There is indeed a German consulate in Houston. For location, contacts, etc. see http://www.germany-info.org/relaunch/info/missions/consulates/houston/business.html
The page includes a link to the German federal labor office.
- Duane Meissner - 12-13-2003
Thanks, I'll check out those sites.
DM
- wondersofwine - 12-16-2003
You also might be able to leverage your knowledge of both English and German by working in the hospitality business or with American or other English-speaking tourists in a wine-producing region. One caveat--the European Union makes it fairly easy for citizens of other EU nations to get work permits in Germany (British, French, Danish citizens, etc.) but it may be very difficult for an American citizen to get a work permit. I know Switzerland is a tough country for Americans to get work permits.
- hotwine - 12-16-2003
Good point. You'll be a "gastarbeiter" (guest-worker) and "auslander" (foreigner), and from a non-EU country. All you'll have going for you is language ability and surname (which admitedly can mean a lot).
- Duane Meissner - 12-16-2003
Yeah. I'll probably end up having to work for the US Army over there. At this point, I'll take what I can get. Luckily, I have a 1st cousin who has lived in Germany for most of his life who may have some contacts for me. I just sent him my resume yesterday.
Thanks for the suggestions.
DM
- quijote - 12-16-2003
If you don't mind teaching English to Germans in Germany, consider getting in touch with Berlitz to explore opportunities. A student of mine did just that a couple of years ago, and he is still happily empoyed in a town in central Germany.
If you're still affiliated with a college or university (UT?), have you looked into internships through the German Department or the Career Center?
Just an idea or two....
- hotwine - 12-17-2003
There are many options available, depending on which part of the wine business you'd like to work in. For example, if you would like to learn grape-growing, you could work for room and board and little or no pay for a family vineyard in your preferred region. They would also likely teach you at least the basics of wine-making. (Beware of winsome daughters who want to practice their English...) If you would like to learn the distribution end of the trade, you could try to land a job with one of the retired GIs over there who stayed on after separation from service to buy wines from producers and sell to exchanges' liquor shops (Class VI stores) and officers' and NCO clubs. If you would like to learn wine retail, you could try to get a job in a wine shop there, and such a job on post or base at the Class VI store, or the clubs, would be a possibility. Or work in a winery's hospitality room, and if they don't currently have one, offer to set one up for them for a commission on sales. Lots of possibilities, with your language skills.
- hotwine - 12-17-2003
Here are some interesting Websites that turned up with a Google search on "winery Websites in Germany":
http://www.ehotelier.com/cgi-local/frameset.cgi?frame=www.wein.com (Website of a winery in the Mosel; you could send them an email for information on employment)
http://www.ehotelier.com/cgi-local/frameset.cgi?frame=www.georg-breuer.com (Website of a winery and negotiant in the Rheingau, with email address). The root of this address (ehotelier.com) provides access to many additional related sites.
Also, in looking for US European installations on-line, found http://odin.aafes.com/employment/pledge.asp?user=entry (AAFES, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, is Hq in Dallas; includes toll-free number for jobs info by location)
- Innkeeper - 12-17-2003
Back when Class VI stores came under Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR) and not yet moved to AAFES, I had responsibility for five and a half years of the Class VI and club operations of the then 25 bases of the old Strategic Air Command. Just in a supervisory capacity I received a huge background to my otherwise "layman's" knowledge about wine. The four years I've spent on this board have helped a little too. In sum, I think working in the AAFES Class VI system in Europe would be a terrific experiance.
- Duane Meissner - 12-19-2003
I was out for several days and didn't realize I was still getting suggestions on this post. I appreciate it. Will look into all of them soon.
DM
- Duane Meissner - 12-27-2003
How do I find job opportunities for "Class VI stores"? I couldn't find those words anywhere in the AAFES website Hotwine linked me to.
DM
- hotwine - 12-27-2003
Sorry 'bout that. Class VI is an old Army Supply classification - Food, Ammunition, POL, etc. were other classifications. Alcohol was Class VI. Probably now deprecated. IK was running O' clubs when AAFES took them over, so we'll wait for him to chime in.
BTW, officers' clubs are now frequently found as "all ranks" clubs in the new PC Army and AF. How many private E-nothings do you know who drink fine wines? So the best clubs are located on installations with major headquarters, where there are flag officers (general officers, admirals) stationed. For example, Ramstein AB GE would have a good Class VI store, as would Heidelberg, because USAFE and USAREUR respectively are headquartered at those locations; but I would expect any Class VI store found at Grafenweher to suck wind, because it's an Army field training facility. Stock would probably be limited to Bud Light.
- Innkeeper - 12-27-2003
Actually AAFES has integrated all the alcoholic beverage sales into their retail stores on most bases. Probably on really large installations they could be in free standing structures. Even then they would be called "Package Stores" or "Beverage Sales" or something like that. Tell the folks at AAFES that your would like to get into alcoholic beverage distribution in Germany.