German Santas Brush Up for Jobs

With Christmas just round the corner, it's business as usual at Munich's Jobcafe - and the season's first Saint Nikolases have arrived for duty.

But the Jobcafe doesn't just take anybody, says the centers director, Jens Wittenberger.

[Jens Wittenberger, Director, Jobcafe]:
"Well, a good Saint Nikolas has to fulfill a lot of criteria. First, he needs to have empathy, he needs to be good with kids, and he needs to be able to act. He needs to be organized and good at keeping appointments. It also helps if he can sing, and he needs to be creative. You know, if kids ask where his sleigh is or how he can be everywhere at once, he needs to have an answer."

The idea behind the school-cum-job center is to avoid Santa faux pas.

People who hire Santa Clauses want to know there aren't going to be any embarrassing situations that could upset children.

So prospective employers ring Wittenberger and tell him what they are looking for - and he tells his Santas what he needs from them.

The future Santas will often drop in just before their shift for one last practice.

And then it's off out into the December chill to spread some Christmas cheer.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• NTD
• NTDTV
• Germany
• Christmas
• Santa Claus
• Children
• December