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How I landed a relocation job in Germany as a Software Developer

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Introduction

In September 2022, I moved to Berlin, Germany from Kampala, Uganda after having been offered a job as a Software Developer at a mid-sized health and nutrition company. At the time, I had about 4 years of experience as a Software Developer working with JavaScript, React, Vue.js, and Node.js.

I had previously(2017) lived in Germany for a year as an exchange student during my master's degree. While this provided some basic familiarity with the culture and language, it did not directly contribute to my job search efforts. I secured the role through a rigorous online application and interview process. German language skills were not a requirement for the role and for the Visa.

Why I relocated to Germany

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic's onset in early 2020, widespread layoffs and the shift to remote work became the norm for many companies. Unfortunately, I found myself among those affected, compelled to seek out new professional avenues.

However, amidst the upheaval, a silver lining emerged: a growing demand for remote Software Developers across the globe. This presented a unique opportunity for individuals like myself hailing from third-world countries, who previously faced barriers to accessing international job markets.

Subsequently, I secured contractor positions and commenced remote collaborations with startups based in the US and Europe. While the financial compensation was favorable, my aspirations for stability grew, especially with plans to start a family looming on the horizon. Regrettably, the local job market for Software Developers in my home country offered limited prospects.

Determined to secure a more permanent foothold, after approximately a year and a half of remote contracting, I actively pursued full-time relocation opportunities in Europe or North America.

Germany stood out as an appealing destination given its strong economy, growing tech sector centered around cities like Berlin and Munich, and cultural familiarity from my previous student exchange experience. Also, Germany has a dedicated EU Blue Card visa program that facilitates highly-skilled immigration for professionals like Software Developers.

Embarking on my job search, I delved into extensive research on tech companies in Germany utilizing platforms such as LinkedIn, AngelList, and Stack Overflow Jobs. Amidst this exploration, one platform in particular stood out - Honeypot, a job board focused exclusively on tech roles in Europe which I came to know about through former colleagues who had successfully landed jobs in Europe using the platform.

I created a profile and was contacted by a recruiter from the company who reviewed my profile and experience. A fter a week, my profile went live on the platform. The cool thing with Honeypot is that companies can directly contact you if they think you are a good fit for their open roles.

Within a month of my profile going live, I started receiving interview requests from companies in Germany and then interviews started rolling in.

The Interview Process

The interviews were mostly conducted online via video calls. For the role I eventually got, there were 5 rounds of interviews:

  • An initial screening call with the Director of Engineering to learn more about my background and experience.
  • A take-home coding challenge where I was asked to build a small application based on provided specifications. This was to assess my coding skills and ability to work independently.
  • A code review session via screen sharing with the Director of Engineering where we discussed my submitted solution to the take-home challenge. Feedback was provided to help improve my skills.
  • A culture fit interview via video call with the HR Director to learn more about my motivations, interests, and how I would fit into the company culture.
  • A video call with my potential team members where we discussed the role responsibilities in detail and how I would work with the team. This helped assess team dynamics.
  • Finally, an offer call with the HR Director where a formal offer was extended along with details on compensation, relocation package, and next steps.

I vivdly remember the excitement and relief I felt after receiving and accepting the offer.- it was a dream come true! The months of hard work and persistence had paid off. I remember the HR Director telling me to go and pop some champagne to celebrate this new chapter ahead! It was truly a surreal feeling to know that I would soon be relocating to Germany to kickstart my career there. All the uncertainties that came with relocating internationally were now behind me. I was filled with gratitude for this opportunity and eager to get started.

The Relocation Process

With the offer secured, the next steps involved obtaining a work visa and preparing for the big move. The company assisted with the visa application by providing documents like a formal employment contract, proof of suitable health insurance coverage, the Fast -Track pre-approval letter from the Federal Employment Agency e.tc. I will write another blog post detailing the required documents. Subscribe to my newsletter to stay updated!

Additionally, they covered costs for my initial flight and administrative costs involved in the entire relocation process. This greatly eased the logistical and financial burdens of relocation. I however, had to arrange accomodation on my own. I will have to write another blog post about apartment hunting process and lessons learned there!

The hardest part during my relocation process was finding a Visa interview appointment slot with the German Embassy in my home country. There is a trick to it though - Check at midnight(German Time) when new slots are released. I managed to snag an appointment this way after several failed attempts during normal working hours. My appointment was scheduled for 1.5 months later.

The Visa interview was a breeze. I was asked a few questions about my job, the company, and my salary. I had all the required documents in order which helped. Within 1 week, my Visa was approved and I was ready to flyout.

It took me around 3.5 months from job offer to relocation. I got an offer on June 3rd 2022 and started my work on September 15th 2022. I obviously arrived a week earlier to get settled in and have some time to get acquainted with my new city before starting work.

Conclusion

Overall, my job search and relocation process to Germany was smooth thanks to extensive research and preparation. I'm grateful for the opportunity to kickstart my career in Europe's thriving tech city. While it was certainly challenging at times, the rewards of living abroad and gaining international experience have been well worth it. I'm excited to continue growing in my role and exploring all that Germany has to offer both professionally and personally in the coming years.

For others considering a similar move, my advice would be to thoroughly research the country and job market, leverage all available resources, and most importantly - don't give up! With persistence and patience, the right opportunity will come. Wishing you all the very best in your search.

Feel free to subscribe to my newsletter for career tips, tech blog posts, and lessons from my relocation experience. I'll be sharing more details on the visa application process and apartment hunting in future posts. If you have any questions or need further advice, feel free to reach out to me on Twitter or LinkedIn.

NOTE: A lot of immigration changes are happening in Germany as we speak and it's going to be easier for skilled workers to find jobs and immigrate starting June 2024. Stay tuned for more updates on my blog and social media channels.

You've got this! Till next time, Tschüss! 🇩🇪

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