Foto: Vahid Nooriniya © Privat
In my home country of Iran, I earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Tabriz, graduating in 2014. Afterward, I worked first in research and then in quality control and technical supervision at a plastics company and a bitumen company. Most recently, I worked as a refinery engineer.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, I felt the desire to change my life and decided to move to Germany, where I enrolled in the process engineering program at Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg. The master’s program complements the degree I already earned in Iran. My arrival was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so I arrived in Magdeburg as a student in October 2021. Thanks to the support of the Student Services Office, I was able to move into an apartment in the student dormitory. At the university, I immediately signed up for a German language course. In addition, I improved my language skills using apps and YouTube, so that I am now at the B2–C1 level. To prove this, I am currently aiming to take the next German language course.
Since there is no financial support available in Germany for students from Iran, I quickly found a part-time job and worked as an assistant in pizza production in Osterweddingen and as a cleaner in a café.
In June 2023, I participated in the Discovery Days of a global multi-energy company and had the opportunity to spend two days there getting to know the company and its career opportunities. Following discussions with the company’s executives, I was offered the chance to complete a two-month internship in the safety department. Afterward, I had the opportunity to switch to the process engineering department.
Afterward, I worked for seven months—while continuing my studies—three days a week in Leuna on a large-scale rationalization project. This job was demanding, as the commute by public transportation took three hours each way. Nevertheless, this experience significantly advanced my professional development. My goal was to find a job in Magdeburg. To that end, I wrote nearly 100 applications, received 23 rejections, and got 4 positive responses. I had job interviews at 3 companies in the area, one far from Magdeburg, and one company in Magdeburg.
During a visit to the Returnees’ Day in Staßfurt, I had the opportunity to get in touch with Ms. Hilbert from the WelcomeCenter Saxony-Anhalt. She initially helped my girlfriend find a job in Staßfurt. During a subsequent conversation with Ms. Kegel, a regional advisor for skilled workers with the state initiative “Fachkraft im Fokus,” at a job fair in Magdeburg, I realized that I also needed support with my own job search. We then agreed on the next steps, and I got back in touch with Ms. Hilbert. Ms. Hilbert gave me valuable tips on the application process, conducted interview training sessions with me, and thereby gave me the confidence I needed. This ultimately allowed me to find a position at a Magdeburg-based company specializing in engineering and plant construction for the chemical, pharmaceutical, and food industries, as well as the energy sector. Here, I will be working as a project manager for process engineering. To be able to stay in Germany permanently, I have already applied for the “EU Blue Card.”
I am very grateful to the regional advisors at the “Fachkraft im Fokus” state initiative and the WelcomeCenter Saxony-Anhalt for their support. Magdeburg is an attractive city with plenty of green spaces, a friendly atmosphere, and a peaceful environment. The city boasts a beautiful location on the Elbe River, excellent housing options, and a diverse business landscape. My girlfriend and I feel very at home here and plan to stay for the long term.
