Joseph Olaleye

Table of Contents Are Nigerians Eligible For The EU Blue Card?2 How To Migrate To Germany With Family Members As a Nigerian3 Is There a Separate Process For Family Members?3 How Best To Express Yourself And Table Your Complaints In German Workplaces4 Are German Employees Treated Fairly At All?6 Does Racism Exist in German Workplaces?7 Is Job Security Guaranteed for Migrants and Foreign Nationals Alike?9 Is There a Support System In Place For Non-native Employees In Germany?10 The Prospects of Securing Another Job After Employees Are Laid Off?11 Some Words of Encouragement From Our CEO13 Migration From Nigeria To Germany This is an excerpt from a lengthy video interview between one of our prospective clients from Nigeria, by name, Mr Ransome and the CEO of Talent2 Germany, Mrs Eleonore Wall. It is presented to enlighten the people of Nigeria about how to go about the pursuit of a possible relocation to Germany.Other relevant issues like job security, workplace conduct, racism, and the likes are well expanded upon in this short narrative. If you are a Nigerian seeking for greener pastures in Germany, then you should read this short piece to get the full gist. Are Nigerians Eligible For The EU Blue Card? Here is the first question from Mr Ransome, “Are Nigerians eligible for the EU Blue Card”? This is an affirmative response from our CEO. If you are a Nigerian seeking to migrate to Germany and you want to know whether you are eligible for a Blue Card, the answer is a resounding yes. How To Migrate To Germany With Family Members As a Nigerian “As someone migrating from Nigeria to Germany, I would like to know how to move to Germany with my family”. This question is often asked by our Nigerian clients. They always want to find out whether it is possible to relocate to Germany with their wife, alongside kids. Thanks for asking this question, Ransome. Germany is home to a good number of migrants from Nigeria, who are hardworking and resilient and this is inspiring. The simple answer is yes it’s possible, especially with the EU Blue Card. The question to ask yourself is whether you are eligible for a Blue Card, if you meet this condition, then you are good to go and you stand the chance of migrating from Nigeria to Germany. Germany offers you a home with open arms, and every Nigerian is welcome to Germany as long as they are eligible for a Blue Card. Is There a Separate Process For Family Members? “Excellent. Thank you Eleanor. And I guess a follow up question to that would be whether there is a separate process for my family members?” Here’s an affirmative answer from the CEO. It's only a single process it takes to accomplish this. How Best To Express Yourself And Table Your Complaints In German Workplaces “Yes, as opposed to the Nigerian culture of politeness and submissiveness in the workplace, can you share some insights into how German workplaces encourage open communication and the voicing of concerns or disagreements in professional settings?” I love your question. Whether you secure an onsite role or a remote one with a German company, as a Nigerian you will observe that, there is always a clear difference in communication and culture at workplaces between Germans and Nigerians. Historically, Germans have been traumatized by the very act of submissiveness. There was a bad dude and leader in our history who abused power by kicking against good conduct and almost conquered the thought of speaking up against authority to a great deal. Today, Germans fear the consequences of not speaking up against authority when things go wrong and something really bad happens. The fear of being docile, makes sense to a great deal. Therefore, if a Nigerian tells me, Nigerians are over-submissive with good intent, I am just confused. I am baffled and would like to know why in the world would a person do that. Nevertheless, it does not mean that every boss would welcome being outspoken because people tend to be self-centered. But as a Nigerian migrant who is new to the German workplace culture, you should embrace the culture of being tolerant and not too outspoken to enjoy a healthy relationship with your boss. “Oh wow, beautifully answered. My question relates to the workplace conduct of Nigerian migrants before their superiors, just to clarify because of cultural differences, when is an employee likely to be considered rude before his boss or a senior when conversing at workplaces in Germany?” This is a difficult one, simply because, the entire populace of Germany is not referring to just one person. This is just to mention that people are different and we are looking at over 80 million people. As engineers and scientist we would want to conclude based on an average figure, you can calculate how certain average figures are different from others. For instance, there is a difference between working in a start up environment and working in a municipal in a government agency. This implies that the workplace culture would be different. It is safe to say there is not just one particular German workplace culture. The German workplace culture is very fast-paced and dynamic. It is true that everyone has a very different threshold when it comes to the subject of ego in German workplaces. Every company can be likened to a football team, speaking of big names like Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. It is all about productivity and getting better results. Expectations are high in every organization, if you are result-oriented and purpose-driven, your colleagues in workplaces would always expect you to speak up when opportunities present themselves, and this is a concept often misunderstood by migrants in German workplaces, it is not an optional thing to do but must be done with caution so as to maintain a healthy relationship with your boss, you must be polite and respectful. Are German Employees Treated Fairly At All? “How would you describe the overall sense of fairness in German work environments, particularly in terms of opportunities and treatment of foreign workers?” I am optimistic that someday there would be a greater degree of fairness on the part of employers and greater commitment on the part of employees. I always tell people, “if you want to respect me, report to work on time, be prepared and purpose-driven, set a goal for yourself”. biggest negative thing you can do to hinder your progress is to report late to meetings or be unprepared. Employers pay high salary for a price, if you want to earn a high salary, then you must be ready to pay the price. Time is a lifetime resource that can’t be regained when lost, it should be treated with respect. To show no regard for time in German workplaces is a serious crime. It’s very serious and can be likened to taking somebody’s life. But if you do this by helping the people achieve something greater, that’s commendable, because you treat the people’s time as if it were your own. Does Racism exist in German Workplaces? “ As someone who wants to migrate to Europe from Nigeria, how does German work culture differentiate between open-mindedness and discriminatory behavior in workplaces?” This is a very relevant question as you have the case of cultural difference present in German workplaces. If you move to Germany as a migrant, you may want to find out if racism exists in German society, the fear of this societal ill is understandable. There are two sides to the coin, there is a way of viewing this based on policy level and there is also a subjective feeling, you may see it based on your personal ego system. On the policy level, as of today, there is an enormous amount of campaigning going on, not just against racism in the German society, but great emphasis is placed also on gender equality. There is also the fight for an all-inclusive workforce in the German society, and there is a lot of attention given to the subject of inclusivity with diverse issues ranging from policy, governmental to societal level. That being said, there is some statistical evidence that supports the claim for the presence of racial discrimination and the likes in the German society. If you wish to verify, we have linked an article as regards this, if you want to know about the facts and figures. We want you to focus on some key messages here. You may want to satisfy your curiosity by diving deeper into this subject. Yes, there exist some level of racial discrimination in Germany. Your goal is to work on yourself and improve with every day that comes. Therefore, as a migrant from Nigeria facing issues like this, don’t feel excluded. Not every treatment that appear to be harsh is actually racism, sometimes it’s a case of candour. Is Job Security Guaranteed For Migrants and Foreign Nationals Alike? “As a resident of Germany, if you get a job offer, how does Germany ensure job security for its workforce, particularly for migrants and foreign nationals?” Thanks for the question, if you migrate from Nigeria to Germany and you want the same treatment given to a German citizen, the first thing you would have to do is to erase the world from your mindset. You don’t want to be treated in a poor manner, right? Therefore, your responsibilities and perks are no different from others. Let me describe the case as it is for the Germans, because the same applies to you. Apparently, let’s assume you secure the EU Blue Card in Germany, and you have the permanent residency permit within two years, then it’s the same for everybody else. You typically have a six month probation period, meaning we have one of the strictest laws protecting employees in the world that is arguably no where else in the globe. During this period, you can be laid off, typically within a period of two weeks. If you have the EU Blue Card, you have three months to find another job at the moment. This is very important, and after this phase of probation, employers try to help their employees secure a lifetime employment. This comes as a surprise to many, especially those who are familiar with the hire-fire mentality when they go in pursuit of the green card in the US and learn about how things work in Germany. Typically, there is a great degree of commitment coming from both sides, the employers and you as an employee. The fact is that, the salaries are really high, so also is the cost of training people. Is There a Support System In Place For Non-native Employees In Germany? “Excellent answer. But I would still like to know in the event of an economic downturn or a company's restructuring, are there any protective measures or support systems in place for non-native employees in Germany?” Based on the Nigerian experience here in Germany, there is a high level of responsibility and commitment on the part of the social welfare system in Germany. After two years of stay in Germany, with the EU Blue Card, you are entitled to enjoy a permanent residency with your family. You could build a life and future also for your children. There are mechanisms in place to support the employee should there be the case of company restructuring affecting individual companies, for example, the unemployment insurance policy. This is why 40% of employee’s salary is deducted to ensure that this system or provision is put in place. An example of such payments is the child health insurance fee, which is an employment insurance fee that is mandatory. This also implies that if you become unemployed, you have a mandatory insurance for which you are entitled to 60% of your previous salary with respect to the number of months you have committed yourself to this insurance policy. That’s actually a non-governmental service. Therefore, it’s a mandatory insurance service. You will have probably 18 months, don’t quote me here, I am not a legal expert. This ensures that your needs are covered for the 18 months of your search for a new job, provided you have invested into this insurance program long enough. If for any reason this system is no longer in place, then we have a social welfare system. The social welfare system is without conditions, in theory for a lifetime. But that is, as I say on a personal level. Ideally, this should not be your case. But if you stumble or fall in your pursuit for financial security, there are safety mechanisms in place to protect you. The Prospects of Securing Another Job After Employees Are Laid Off. “Excellent, answer. I would just ask one last question, and this would be straightforward. How easy or difficult is it to get another job in the unfortunate case of a layoff?” To answer your question, ask yourself, how hard it is to get to play in Bayern Munich? It’s always about quality, it’s always about how good you can play. Government can never guarantee job security for anybody, it is determined by your own performance. Don’t forget it’s a market. Companies hire the best hand they can find. The reason is simple, there is a high level of competition among companies. Every car manufacturer is competing against choiced brands like Porsches and other great car brands and need to kick them out of the market. Employers would therefore hire people that can help them kick their rivals out of the market. You can be rest assured that you would be hired once you work on your performance. Besides, if you migrate to Germany from Nigeria, you are new in the country, so I strongly recommend that you build networks. Make sure people know you. You build a reputation not of being late but of being reliable. People should be able to recommend you to prospective clients and employers in the marketplace. They should be able to say “If you know someone who wants to get things done, ask Ransome. He will get it done”. Build a solid relationship with people, with the customer experience people get from you, it is enough to propel you forward, especially in economic downturns. Some Words of Encouragement From The CEO Of Talent2 Germany Alright, ladies and gentlemen. I hope I haven’t scared you. If you are somebody who is ready to work hard and who is not afraid to take the bull by the horns, you are most welcome to Talents to Germany program. We connect you to employers who are ready to give you a chance to chase your dreams here in Germany. If you can make them proud, they are ready to welcome you onboard. If you do not need this connection, other opportunities await you. Bloggers alongside, professionals in the field of statistics as well scientist are all welcome to our company. Please follow the links provided, if you want the full details. Kindly share this information with anyone that may be in need of it, don’t hesitate to share it to their DMs, tell them that this piece of information is vital and would help them. Thanks for staying updated, we look forward to seeing you soon.