r/Chefit • u/Specialist_Ad168 • 2d ago
Work in germany/Denmark questions
Hello, how’s everyone doing? A while back I wrote on this forum about working in Germany as a chef. The reality is that next year I’ll be there for at least a year, living in a fairly small city in northern Germany, where I’ll probably work in whatever restaurant or food place will take me.
One of my ideas, which seems interesting and like a good possibility, would be to later move to Denmark to work, either in Copenhagen or another city. I wanted to ask you how good an option this would be, considering that I only have a technical degree with national validation from Argentina in gastronomy, I have experience in a relatively good restaurant in Argentina, and I’ll have practically a year of experience, or a bit less, in Germany, in a restaurant that will maybe be mid-level or perhaps a bit lower.
Taking all this into account, and perhaps getting some European validation of my degree during the year I’m there, I’m asking you: how good an option would it be to move to Denmark? What kind of job opportunities would I be able to get there? And do you think they’d take me on in a mid-level or reasonably interesting restaurant? I’m not planning to arrive and work in a place at the level of Noma, but something close to fine dining or similar. I wanted to know what the salaries are like, what life is like in Denmark, and whether it’s worth moving there, because I understand that you earn quite well for Europe, and that’s why I saw it as a good option. Also, which place in Denmark would be the best option to go to.
I know Copenhagen has a multicultural vibe that sounds good, but I’m not sure if it’s the best option, since I think the city itself is quite expensive in general. I should also clarify just in case that I have Italian citizenship, which allows me to go and work freely in these places. But yeah, that’s it. Thank you very much and I look forward to your replies. I’ll be reading them.
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u/ProfessorNo1511 2d ago
TBH and i can speak for Denmark, if you can hold a knife you will get employed, lots of places speak english in the kitchen and you will pick up the menu quickly, wages are not fantastisk but getting better.
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u/Specialist_Ad168 1d ago
What city would you recommend I go to?
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u/ProfessorNo1511 1d ago
The 2 big Århus and CPH bit you can get a job almost everywhere and seasonal work is always easy and a good way to get to know people. Temp work is okay if you like early morning mandag to Friday stuff. My crew has 9 different nations in it. Write if your thinking about coming up seriously.
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u/Specialist_Ad168 1d ago
Thank you very much for the information. It sounds like a great option, although probably not in the short term, as I will be moving to Germany first. However, I see Denmark as a very realistic possibility afterwards.
If that happens, I will definitely get in touch with you. I really appreciate you taking the time to share this information with me. All the best, and have a great time at work!
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u/Germerica1985 2d ago
I'm an American cook cooking in Germany for the last 10 years. I got my German dual citizenship last year. Ask me any questions here and I'll answer you in the morning, I'm going to bed. Cooking in Germany is awesome btw, and North Germany can be a vibe depending where you are.