Finished Your Au Pair Year but Want to Stay in Germany?

Consider an FSJ

So your time as an au pair is getting close to an end or has already ended and you’re not ready to go back to your home country yet? Well you’re not alone. 2 months before my au pair year officially ended I was scrambling to try and figure out what exactly I could do in Germany so that I could stay even longer. I was constantly researching places I could work without having any type of degree and that’s when my guest mother suggested I do something called a '“FSJ'', also known as “Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr”.

Now, you may be wondering, what exactly is an "FSJ"?

It is a 12-month program (which, in some cases, can be extended) that provides valuable experience in the social sector, often leading to further opportunities in social professions or education. An FSJ primarily focuses on social services, such as work in hospitals, nursing homes, childcare centers, and social organizations.

My FSJ took place in a first-grade classroom as a teacher's assistant for children with disabilities. I worked essentially a full-time job and received 450 euros per month, along with room and board in a shared flat with other FSJ participants. If we’re being honest here 450 euros a month really isn’t that much, but somehow I made ends meet and you will too.

In Germany, an FSJ is a good starting point for laying the foundation for further education ,as well as a valuable addition to your resume if you're considering staying in Germany or starting any kind of “Ausbildung” or internship. So if you know you want to stay in Germany but aren’t sure how then here is your answer.