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Making it in Germany: an American jokester

The Local's series "Making it in Germany" presents John Doyle, an American comedian with a knack for turning the foibles of expat life into German-language stand-up.

Published: 19 August 2009 10:16 CEST
Making it in Germany: an American jokester
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Doyle gets Germany’s biggest comedy clubs giggling, has competed on the German version of Star Search and most recently hosted broadcaster WDR’s I Love Deutschland. His latest book, which promises to be full of keen intercultural insight, is due out next year.

Name:

John Doyle

Age:

46

Where do you live?

Cologne

Where are you from originally?

Jefferson Township, New Jersey

What did you do before coming to Germany?

I was in the Navy, and then worked as an air traffic controller before going to college to study broadcasting. I met an Austrian exchange student there and started learning German. I moved to Germany in 1991, so I’ve been here for 18 years now.

What was your first job here?

I worked as a freelancer for Deutsche Welle Radio, which is Germany’s version of Voice of America or BBC World Service. I worked in the English Service and did reports and some hosting, which I still do.

How did the leap from journalism to German-language comedy come about?

I remember seeing some Germans on TV, and I thinking, I could do that, and it could be cool. And then I started doing it: I did an open mic, went to another open mic. The motivation was being heard, because in radio I had the feeling that I wasn’t so sure.

What is your life like as a comedian?

You’re always thinking about new material, something in your life that’s relevant to your audience. It’s about re-examining things. When it works, it’s a nice position to be in because you’re in the supermarket and you’re annoyed by something, and then you think, ‘Hey wait a minute, I can maybe make this funny.’ You’ve got a gold mine out there and just have to find the nuggets.

What is your relationship to the German language?

I remember comedy being a way to get over my insecurity of speaking this language that I didn’t feel so secure in. Somehow, if I make it playful, or make a mistake and make a jerk out of myself, I can always say, ‘Well, I didn’t mean it that way.’ Others who are more serious had a harder time learning than I did.

What are the most rewarding aspects of your work here?

The feeling that I’ve been able to communicate with people. When people laugh, I feel like I’m not wasting my time, that I’m not as lonely, I’m not as homesick. I’m where I should be. The flip side of the coin in that when it flops, then I go back to asking myself, ‘What am I doing in this country? Why am I wasting my life in this country?’ But for the most part I feel at home here.

What’s the best advice you would give someone trying to make it in Germany?

Be patient. Because once you get the Germans, you’ll never let them go. Once you’ve got Helmut, you’ve got Helmut for life. Helmut will visit your grave. Bob, Steve and Jim from the States? They’re like, ‘Catch ya’ on the flip side!’ But Helmut, he’s there. He’s sweeping the leaves off your plot and planting flowers. You have to just give them a chance. Germans are people too.

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WORKING IN GERMANY

Which Bavaria-based companies regularly hire English speakers?

Bavaria is no doubt a beautiful state with a strong economy, but can be a hard place for non-German speakers to integrate. The Local takes a look at job opportunities in Germany’s southeastern 'Free State.'

Published: 7 February 2024 10:54 CET
Updated: 10 February 2024 08:20 CET
Which Bavaria-based companies regularly hire English speakers?

Munich ranks third in German cities with the highest total GDP, behind Berlin and Hamburg, but in terms of GDP per capita, it’s higher than both of them.

It also consistently ranks high, often highest, in terms of average household income.

As of 2023, nine of the 40 companies listed on DAX, Germany’s stock index, were based in Bavaria. Seven of those are based specifically in Munich.

While Frankfurt is commonly known to be Germany’s business capital, Munich can claim the title of Germany’s insurance capital, which is saying something, as Germany is home to some of the largest insurance firms in the world, like Allianz.

Beyond the state’s capital city, a number of international companies are based elsewhere in Bavaria, particularly in the Franken region, near Nuremberg.

Which companies actively hire English speakers?

Bavaria, and Munich in particular, is home to a number of companies at the forefront of international business. But the state is known for its traditional, sometimes conservative, culture, which affects its business culture as well.

Whereas companies embracing English as their primary business language are easy to find in Berlin, the practice is less common in the south. That said, there are some notable exceptions. 

Sportswear giants, Adidas and Puma, both have their headquarters near Nuremberg in Herzogenaurach, and regularly recruit English speaking international talent.

“As an international company, our teams reflect the rich diversity of our consumers and communities,” Jon Greenhalgh, Senior Manager Media Relations for Adidas told The Local. “Fostering a culture of inclusion where we value and leverage differences, ensures that we can authentically engage with our employees and truly connect with our consumers.”

He added that around 40 per cent of Adidas’ Germany-based employees are foreign nationals, from over 100 different countries.

Siemens and BMW rank among Bavaria’s top employers, and are also known to hire their fair share of foreigners.

“In Germany, we recently had around 2,000 open positions,” Konstanze Somborn told The Local on behalf of Siemens AG.

He added that Siemens operates in 190 countries. “That is why we value international teams very much…English as a common language is very usual.”

READ ALSO: ‘Which German companies want to hire foreigners?’

Similarly, BMW hires workers from a variety of backgrounds. 

“Every year, we hire lots of internationals and welcome them to the BMW Group,” Dr. Hans-Peter Ketterl, a press spokesman for BMW Group told The Local. 

But not all of these positions are available to non-German speakers.

Ketterl added that BMW’s working language is German in the country, even though, “English is an indispensable entry requirement as the second corporate language in many areas of the company.”

Check job boards and follow best practices

If it’s your first time applying for jobs in Germany, make sure to change your resume to the German format, even for English positions.

While Germany is home to its own job boards, like Xing, LinkedIn is probably the best place to start. In addition to searching for positions based in your preferred location, you can check relevant groups, like Munich Startups, to broaden your horizons.

The English Jobs in Germany website is also a good resource to start with. 

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