Finding a Software Job in a New World

Yes, I said world. Because that’s exactly how it feels. I found a job as a DevOps Engineer in Germany — not a remote position, but an on-site one. The funny part? I’m actually a software developer, not a DevOps guy. I speak English, and “ein bisschen” German. Put these together, and you get… an alien.

I’m very new in this world. Let me explain. “Let me tell you something!“

Back in Turkey, I worked remotely as a software developer. I was happy. But deep down, I had a plan: to move to another country for very specific reasons. I started learning German — as a hobby, as preparation for the future, or maybe just out of curiosity, you name it.

Section 1: Searching a new job

I began applying for software developer positions in Germany, especially the ones that required English. I was hopeful. My CV was strong, I had years of programming experience, and there were plenty of job postings. I applied. And waited, waited. Germans don’t reply quick.

Section 2: Job interviews

Rejections came. Silence too. But also some positive responses. I landed interviews, even with Amazon. Most of them went really well. I passed technical rounds, spoke with team members, CTOs, and even CEOs. Everything seemed promising.

Section 3: Silence

And then… silence. My old friend.

Why? I was a great fit for those roles. I was at the very last step, waiting for an offer that never arrived.

I believe there were two main reasons:

1- I wasn’t “German” enough. I had never lived in Germany, and my German wasn’t strong. For many companies, that made me a risk, for the team and for the company. Even if I spoke English well, they preferred someone who could speak both English and German “gut”.

2- I wasn’t cheap enough. Some companies treat foreign applicants as cheap labor. If they can find someone even cheaper, they wait. For the record, I wasn’t asking for a high salary, but apparently, cheaper options always exist.

Section 4: New job

In the end, I found my job through networking. A friend knew I was searching and shared my CV with his company. The position was in DevOps, not software development, but I was ready for a new challenge.

I passed the interviews and got the job, thanks to my Linux and database experience, and yes, my German language skills. Sometimes I switched to English, but most of the time, I had to speak German. Not just daily small talk, but technical conversations too. It was scary at first. But it worked.

Section 5: Culture shocks

Working in Germany is a whole new experience. Germans think and do things in their ways. It is not news, until you work with them. Here are a few things that stood out:

Clear roles: Your job description is written down. Your team and tasks are clearly defined. You know exactly what’s expected from you.

Less small talk: Everyone focuses on their work. Conversations are professional, not personal.

Coworkers are not friends. You’re colleagues, and that’s it. If you want friends, you’ll have to find them outside work.

Few compliments. Doing your job well means… you’re doing your job. Don’t expect praise for simply meeting expectations.

On the other hand, when something is agreed upon, it gets done. Reliability is a huge plus here.

In the end, moving to Germany taught me something important: growth often feels uncomfortable. Stepping out of my comfort zone, new job, new language, new culture, sometimes makes me feel like an outsider, but it also pushes me forward every single day. I don’t know exactly where this journey will take me, but I know one thing for sure: I’m building a new life, a new me, piece by piece, in this “new world.”