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, which I completed 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. This 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 Studentenwerk, I was able to move into an apartment in the student dormitory. At the university, I immediately signed up for a German language course. I also improved my language skills using apps and YouTube, so I’m now at the B2–C1 level. To prove this, I’m currently working toward enrolling in the next German 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 at a global multi-energy company, where I had the opportunity to spend two days learning about the company and its career opportunities. Following discussions with the company’s executives there, I was offered the opportunity to complete a two-month internship in the safety department. Afterward, I had the chance to switch to the process engineering department.
After that, while continuing my studies, I worked three days a week for seven months in Leuna on a major rationalization project. This job was challenging because the commute by public transportation took three hours each way. Nevertheless, this experience greatly 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 three companies in the surrounding area, one far from Magdeburg, and one company in Magdeburg itself.
During a visit to the “Returners’ Day” event 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 meeting 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, too, 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 helped me gain the confidence I needed. This ultimately enabled 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 “Landesinitiative Fachkraft im Fokus” and the WelcomeCenter Saxony-Anhalt for their support. Magdeburg is an attractive city with plenty of green spaces, a friendly atmosphere, and a peaceful setting. 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.
