Success story of Andrii S.
I am 44 years old and came to Hamburg in May 2022. I am originally from Ukraine. As an electrical engineer, I worked in the IT industry for many years, primarily in the areas of system integration, IP telephony and video surveillance. I have 20 years of professional experience. Today, I work full-time as a security systems installer and have a permanent employment contract. My current employer is a medium-sized Hamburg-based company in the security and communications technology industry.
My start in Hamburg
My start in Hamburg was difficult. My wife came to Hamburg alone with our children, who are now between 6 and 19 years old, and lived with our sons in a small hostel room. For a long time, I was unsure whether I should stay in Ukraine and just send my family to Germany. But I had to be with my family and support them, so I followed them later. We had a large, beautiful house in Ukraine, and suddenly we had to live together in this small room in a strange city, far away from home.
During the first month, I tried to work from Germany for my former employer in Ukraine, which was complicated. It was very important for my wife and me to find work in Hamburg quickly. My wife found a job in a daycare centre, where she still works today.
I miss my country, but I am happy in Hamburg. Hamburg is a lovely city and gave us a very warm welcome. Our children love it here. And I am happy to be with my family. That's what matters to me. My family is my little Ukraine in Germany, and my wife and I strive to give our children a good and stress-free life. We are succeeding very well in Hamburg.
My personal tip for anyone starting out
Learning the language is very important! And that doesn't just happen by attending German courses, but also by taking advantage of the cultural offerings in the city. For example, I often visit various museums with my family. Many exhibitions are multimedia-based, with texts, audio recordings and music. These are all great ways to improve your German skills.
I would also recommend that all immigrants find a job where they can speak German. I can understand that at the beginning you might prefer to work among your own compatriots or in English, because English is easier than German. However, it was very important to me to work in a German environment from the start in order to learn the German language quickly and correctly. This also allows you to discover how German working methods differ from Ukrainian ones and to discuss this with your colleagues. It's a real enrichment.
My path to the job: How the HWC made it easier for me to get started
The Hamburg Welcome Center played an important role in my new career start in Germany, and I can only say the warmest words about this institution. I was assisted by a competent, empathetic and dedicated advisor from the Job Centre at the Hamburg Welcome Centre. She was always there for me and took away my worries about starting a new life in Germany at over forty years of age and without knowing any German.
My advisor referred me to various services: I was advised to learn German and have now reached level B2. I also took part in two group counselling sessions with the Labour Market Service. The Central Recognition Office also provided me with information on how to have my Ukrainian university degree recognised.
I would like to express my gratitude to the Hamburg Welcome Center. Thanks to the expertise of various teams and the competent support provided by the Hamburg Welcome Center, I was able to successfully restart my career in Germany.
What the HWC means to me
Please note: This is a translation of the interview. It was originally conducted in German.
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The Hamburg Welcome Center is a central point of contact for all matters relating to professional integration for people who are immigrating or have immigrated to Hamburg, as well as for companies and employers.