she said I would get insurance.
Yeah but I heard internship regulations are different in Germany and that it is more ālaid backā then again I donāt know I think I might be thinking very naively. Iām just trying to decide if I should jump for this opportunity or hold back and try to find another option. This would be work over summer break only.
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Oh, hell no. That is shady AF.
Cautionary tale #1: (cue music)
A long, long time ago, I can still remember how much it sucked when I became an involuntary working student. My sister and her friend spent a summer as working students at an eventing facility. Having no competitive aspirations, I had a āregularā summer job. (I already got enough stall cleaning at home, and, while I like backpacking, if Iām not in the mountains, I want a shower, a flush toilet and accomodations other than an elderly camper with no AC.
Long story short, they talked me into joining them for a week, though I opted to PAY for my mare and myself to be there and take lessons. One lesson, day I got there. Rest of the time? I paid to clean stalls and turn out horses. Being a non-confrontational teen, I sucked it up for a while, then packed up my horse and left.
This trainer wasnāt even shady, IMO; I think she was just your typical disorganized horse pro who couldnāt keep track of who was doing what.
Cautionary tale #2 :
Later, as a grown-ass adult, in my first real job as a veterinarian, I took a job with a guy who was a real piece of work. He didnāt believe in contracts, and sold the idea as being safer for both parties not to be ātrappedāāunfortunately, this meant no recourse when I was paid less than promised, wasnāt reimbursed for on-call work, no benefits. That was where I also learned to speak to both current AND past employees before considering a job. If the employer canāt or wonāt provide names of previous people, especially in a working student or internship situation, thatās a bad sign.
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If you are on a student visa then you should go either to an immigration lawyer or to the international student office at your university (if they have a good one) and get it explained exactly what you are and are not allowed to do on a visa. I was a student in the USA and there were different types of student visas. You may only be allowed to work on campus. You may be allowed to work in an internship related to your university course. Etc. donāt go on rumors or what you heard from friends
You and your prospective employer are collaborating to have you work secretly āunder the tableā without documentation or taxes paid, presumably because you are not actually allowed to work. You are both proposing to break labor and tax laws, without you understanding the ramifications. You stand to lose most.
You are dazzled and awe struck at the thought of meeting a hero. Realize you wonāt ever see her on the job except at a distance and will likely get lessons from her junior assistants.
But first go to an immigration lawyer and get actual advice about your particular kind of visa.
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phone calls to who? the visa center?
I feel like the odds are good he had the same view of marriage licenses. Lol.
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Can you tell me specifically what the visa is? Is it a C Visa? Did you obtain this through your uni?
I worked in Germany and Austria (and hired others in Germany) so I have a little knowledge. Typically visas in Germany are very specific about what they can be used for, and you also have to register with the office exactly what your work entails, even for Schengen study. My understanding was that if you are from an EU country, you then do not need a student visa for study. Only non-EU folks do.
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It is hard to think you may pass up an opportunity with a top rider. But this for sure sounds sketchy. I would find out if this opportunity is even legal to pursue with the visa you have.
I have an idea who āsheā is. But I do not think you should post her name publicly.
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It sounds like you are looking for the āyes go for itā answer. So go for it. Report back later if it went ok or if youāre in jail.
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lol what?
I have an EU student visa
Without ever knowing her or anybody who has worked or ridden with her? That is a bit naive. Donāt like the fact you will be āoff the booksā either. It is a cheap way to get labor from non citizens. If shes so awesome why does she need help like that?
Might add in some very famous up to international level riders and trainers here in the US inspired the creation of Safe Sport. Celebrity is not a valid reason to blindly trust. At all.
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As someone who was once young, aspired to work alongside top trainers and enjoyed adventures, I have to echo these three sentiments, which reflect my experiences as a working student:
Iām sure there are posters here who had fabulous working student positions. I, though, am not one of them. The whole proposition sounds sketchy, and the long hours leave me wondering exactly when youāre going to get those riding lessons.
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I meanā¦she gave me the contact of a girl working there.
Iām getting the strong sensation based on your answers that you arenāt super detail oriented.
There are different types of visas and the rules are different in each country. People on this board have experience navigating the bureaucracy and just from these posts, I think you can tell that working in Europe is more involved than getting a job in the US. And that is to protect vulnerable workers.
Your hero knows this. All by itself, thatās a red flag and would be enough for most of us to say no thanks.
But you seem really determined to work for this person. So maybe that overrides the risks for you. What I will say, being a dual French and US citizen is that when you get sideways with visa rules, it can have serious consequences. So while you may not mind leaving this personās farm if it doesnāt work out, it could very well have material consequences for you after the fact.
So why does she get a contract, but you do not? Thatās even worse in my eyes???
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sheās not an intern
also Im not from the US but I have long term residence in the EU and a student visaā¦not detail orientedā¦sure, but you donāt know the whole story too
You are ignoring all the red flags and good advice you are receiving, obviously you are dead set on accepting this position anyway. I think you will regret it.
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Yes, one still there working for her you have never metā¦and who may fear for her job if anything but sunshine and rainbows is said and it gets back to her. Or itās fake. Donāt trust anybody without verifying whatever they say.
Plus that, if there is any possibility this nothing in writing scheme violates German law or your student visa, it.s you who will suffer the consequences, trainer knows that.
Wonder if anything in writing regarding specifics of the position and payment violates the terms of the EU student visa???
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Are you allowed on your visa to walk down the street to a pub, a coffee shop, or a clothing store and get a part time job? Do you even know?
I think you are trying to mentally finesse that having a student visa for one university means you should be able to go take a paid job called working student in a completely unrelated industry
You probably arenāt even allowed to switch universities within your field.
If this visa has any limitations on work force participation they will certainly restrict getting paid barn work no matter what itās called.
A student visa for university does not mean you are cleared for barn work
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