Many students and young professionals pay up to €20,000 to migrate to Germany, only to find themselves trapped in an illegal gig economy. But moving to and integrating in Germany is no easy task, and landing a good job - especially as a new arrival - can be exceptionally difficult. In that conversation, The Local asked John what advice he would give a friend or family member who was thinking about taking the leap and moving to Germany. 2) Be cautious of 'sham' private universitiesFor people coming to Germany for education, be careful about the university you enrol with. As The Local previously reported, subcontracted workers are notoriously vulnerable to exploitation.