{"id":2066,"date":"2024-03-20T14:30:22","date_gmt":"2024-03-20T13:30:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rrv.rodriguez-iconsulting.com\/?p=2066"},"modified":"2025-04-25T09:05:51","modified_gmt":"2025-04-25T07:05:51","slug":"working-in-germany-what-should-ingeneers-expect","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rodriguez-iconsulting.com\/en\/news\/working-in-germany-what-should-ingeneers-expect","title":{"rendered":"Interview with Dr. Ruth Vijande Rodr\u00edguez by Ingenieur.de | Working in Germany: What International Engineers Should Expect"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Working in Germany: What International Engineers Should Expect<\/p>

International engineers are in demand and increasingly choosing Germany as their destination. Why is that, and what should engineers know before making the switch? Ingenieur.de discussed this with Dr. Ruth Vijande Rodr\u00edguez. She is the managing director of the international consulting firm Rodr\u00edguez International Consulting, as well as a business coach and lecturer at Heilbronn University.<\/p>

Ingenieur.de: Dr. Rodr\u00edguez, what makes Germany such an attractive place to work for engineers from abroad?<\/strong><\/h3>

Rodr\u00edguez: When looking at Europe, Germany has weathered the financial crisis well. Engineers are in demand, and international professionals find themselves in the fortunate position of being able to choose their area of focus. Of course, the automotive industry in Germany is very attractive, but the chemical and food industries are also exciting. From Spanish engineers who have moved to Germany, I\u2019ve received feedback that they\u2019ve been able to take on responsible and exciting tasks even as young engineers, for example, in the field of research.<\/p>

Ingenieur.de: You mentioned industries that attract international engineers. Are there any particular sectors that engineers prefer to work in Germany?<\/strong><\/h3>

Rodr\u00edguez: I would say that despite the ongoing transformation of the automotive industry, it is still a preferred field for engineers in vehicle manufacturing. Engineers believe that the German automotive industry will overcome the challenges and won\u2019t miss the shift toward electromobility. Other industries may have hoped that many engineers would leave the automotive sector, but based on my experience, I can\u2019t confirm that assumption.<\/p>

Another exciting industry is the energy sector. The shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy is a vast area. Energy companies are looking for new applicants. It\u2019s an exciting time for engineers and companies in the energy sector.<\/p>

A third important pillar in Germany, apart from the major players, are the so-called \u201cHidden Champions.\u201d These mid-sized companies are often not located in major cities like Munich, Hamburg, or Berlin but are instead in smaller towns or even rural areas of Germany for familial and historical reasons. These companies are often very appealing employers for international engineers and have a more familial corporate culture.<\/p>

Ingenieur.de: What defines this familial corporate culture?<\/strong><\/h3>

Rodr\u00edguez: Many might call the culture old-fashioned. It\u2019s more family-oriented, and they typically offer traineeships. The companies have achieved success, and continue to do so, through more traditional methods \u2014 and engineers are also in demand here.<\/p>

Ingenieur.de: If I decide to work in Germany as an engineer, what do I need to know regarding qualifications and working and living conditions?<\/strong><\/h3>

Rodr\u00edguez: I would say the top priority is the language. One might think English is enough since German companies are internationally oriented, but candidates who can speak German well are preferred. Engineers don\u2019t necessarily need a C1 language certificate, but they should have at least a B1 or B2 level. Language is incredibly important.<\/p>

Many foreign graduates have already studied in Germany or spent a semester abroad at a German university. That also helps with learning the language. At the workshop for international engineers on May 16, as part of the Recruitment Day in D\u00fcsseldorf, we will also address this topic and, among other things, discuss a typical template for a CV in Germany.<\/p>

Ingenieur.de: What about academic qualifications? Are international engineering degrees recognized in Germany?<\/strong><\/h3>

Rodr\u00edguez: If you\u2019re from the European Union, yes. Thanks to the standardized Bachelor\u2019s and Master\u2019s degrees, it\u2019s easier. Applicants from Spain, France, or Italy aren\u2019t questioned much about their qualifications. Universities also issue international certificates, showing courses and credits in English, so companies have a good overview of what candidates studied. The situation changes when it comes to applicants from India, for example.<\/p>

Outside the EU, degrees are viewed more critically. The question often arises: is the quality of education as high as it is here? In these cases, I recommend that applicants send as much information about themselves as possible. There is also the option to have degrees recognized in Germany afterward.<\/p>

In the field of technical sales, degrees play a lesser role, as companies specifically look for international employees who speak multiple languages.<\/p>

Ingenieur.de: You have recent study results regarding Spanish engineers in Germany. What are the key findings?<\/strong><\/h3>

Rodr\u00edguez: The study I conducted with my team provides insight into the professional and personal lives of engineers working in Germany. If their families don\u2019t feel comfortable in Germany, the entire relocation experience is often viewed negatively, according to the research results. I first started the study in 2015. This year, I reached out to engineers again and received over 600 responses, including from 220 engineers who participated in 2015. The latest results show that both personal and professional integration has improved significantly and developed positively. This made me and my team very happy.<\/p>

Ingenieur.de: Can you pinpoint what factors led to this?<\/strong><\/h3>

Rodr\u00edguez: Yes, we measured job satisfaction, and it has increased in recent years. Along with this comes a lower \u201cintention of leaving.\u201d International engineers are now less likely to want to return to their home countries. This is a positive development because many companies fear that the international engineers they hire will soon leave the team. The investment would then be almost for nothing. In 2015, the majority of participants hadn\u2019t decided when they would return to Spain. By 2019, most respondents said they probably wouldn\u2019t go back to Spain. You can fly to Spain in just two hours. This manageable distance is another reason why Spanish engineers choose to stay here. Visiting home is easier than for an engineer from India.<\/p>

Germany is often critical of its own welcoming culture. But our survey shows that international engineers enjoy living and working here if they have exciting tasks, are paid fairly, and feel valued by their company.<\/p>

However, things have worsened in areas like private life and housing. The real estate market in Germany is tight; apartments, especially in popular cities like D\u00fcsseldorf, Munich, and Cologne, are very expensive.<\/p>

Ingenieur.de: And when the placement of international engineers doesn\u2019t work out, can you define why that is?<\/strong><\/h3>

Rodr\u00edguez: From my personal experience: when candidates have similar skills, the German engineer is often chosen. This is true in about 70% of cases when the candidates are very comparable. Of course, there are job interviews and a personal impression of the candidate. However, there\u2019s still often a fear that international engineers will return to their home countries, making the investment in the new employee seem wasted. This is especially true for smaller companies that have less experience with international employees.<\/p>

Ingenieur.de: On May 16, you\u2019re leading a workshop for international engineers at the Recruitment Day in D\u00fcsseldorf. What topics can participants expect?<\/strong><\/h3>

Rodr\u00edguez: First and foremost, we\u2019ll discuss why Germany is such an attractive destination for international engineers. Which sectors are exciting, and which industries are booming? Germany has more to offer than jobs in Munich and Stuttgart. There are many other locations with interesting opportunities. We\u2019ll also talk about culture and language. It\u2019s worthwhile to study in Germany and learn the language. In addition, we\u2019ll provide facts about salaries and refer to the salary study by ingenieur.de. International engineers often fear that they\u2019ll be paid less than their German colleagues. I\u2019d like to clarify this with data. At the end, there will be time for networking and advice. The workshop will be held in English and will run from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.<\/p>

Thank you for the interview, Dr. Rodr\u00edguez!<\/p>

You can register free of charge for the workshop at the Recruiting Day on 16 May in D\u00fcsseldorf by e-mail, stating your field of study and nationality.<\/p>

Dr. Ruth Vijande Rodr\u00edguez:
Dr. Ruth Vijande Rodr\u00edguez is the managing director of Rodr\u00edguez International Consulting, an international consulting firm based in Niederzier, North Rhine-Westphalia. She is also a business coach and lecturer at Heilbronn University, Faculty of International Business.<\/p>

Source: Sarah Janczura (09.05.2019)<\/p>

https:\/\/www.ingenieur.de\/karriere\/arbeitsleben\/alltag\/arbeiten-in-deutschland-das-kommt-auf-einen-ingenieur-aus-dem-ausland-zu\/<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Arbeiten in Deutschland: Das kommt auf einen Ingenieur aus dem Ausland zu. Internationale Ingenieure sind gefragt und entscheiden sich zunehmend f\u00fcr den Standort Deutschland. Warum das so ist und was Ingenieure vor einem Wechsel wissen m\u00fcssen, hat ingenieur.de mit Dr. Ruth Vijande Rodr\u00edguez besprochen. Sie ist Gesch\u00e4ftsleiterin der internationalen Beratungsfirma Rodr\u00edguez International Consulting sowie Business 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