Equivalent of Singaporean Polytechnic Diploma in Germany?

The German employer don't or won't recognize a degree unless it is from a German University. Some even require that you complete the 13 years of High school here in Germany in addition to a German degree. If you have a lot of the right experience that they are looking for, then you have a chance.

I also discovered that employers in Germany prefer to hire Germans.

Good Luck!

Hi afu49!

Thanks for your reply.

I've read around on the employers in Germany and it is reported that they are beginning to open up to hiring foreigners, and the reason they are so resilient to hiring foreigners is because it is a huge hassle to get the residency permit for the employee, having to justify they are unable to hire a local for the job, and therefore need a foreigner.

I was thinking, since I would be married, and by that way, I should be getting the residency permit, employers would have that one part of consideration about applying the residency permit for me, out of the way.

But if going by your reply, I don't think the experience I have qualifies as 'right experience' that would make my employment appealing to any German employer.

Things are looking bleaker than before. Sigh!

Hi,

Don't believe the above poster: The situation isn't nearly as bad!
I am German, married to a Singaporean and we settled successfully in Germany, built a home and both worked there for a number of years. (Now we're back in Asia, but that's another story!)

1. If you get your visa (and subsequently work permit) based on marriage, an employer has no additional paperwork (compared to hiring a local) and everything is much easier. You basically have the German equivalent of a Singapore PR right from the start!

2. There might be employers that prefer Germans, but you don't want to work for those. There are also plenty of others! Focus on jobs with international (Asian?) connection, which should exist in investment banking.

3. There is no equivalent of a Singapore polytechnic (a German "diplom" is a M.Sc.). I think the nearest to your diploma might be "Bankkaufmann", which is a vocational training. You might want to focus your CV on work experience and skills gained, rather than certificates.

4. Learn German first! There are excellent (and reasonably priced) full-time courses available in most German cities - and attending a class with others in the same situation will also give you an instant circle of friends. You'll have much better job prospects after a few months of such classes. Ask for "Volkshochschule" (similar to a CC) or sometimes universities also offer them.

Please feel free to contact me (by PM first, I don't publish my email address) if you have further questions!

Frank

Dear Frank,

I am very very very thankful and grateful for your reply. I just had a quick brief look at it, and it definitely brought some light to the end of the tunnel for me.

I'm at work now, shall go back and read more in detail about it, but I thought I should drop a quick BIG THANKS! to you for the reply and the offer to further help out with advices if I need them. ))