One of the most satisfying things is knowing you helped someone’s dream come true. We are happy to be sharing a story of a software engineer Emad Dehnavi, who is currently the Tech Lead at a FinTech company Nuri based in Berlin.

Originally from Iran, Emad was also working in Malaysia, when he pursued his career in Germany with the help of 42matches. Read the first hand experience on how the relocation process went, what makes a perfect job match, how his career progressed in the company and what’s Bundesliga got to do with it.

Why did you dream of moving to Germany and how much did you know about the country?

I’ve always loved Germany as I’m a big fan of the Bundesliga. Before I decided to move and start my career here, I researched how high in demand a position of a software engineer is in the country, especially in big cities such as Berlin. Also, some of my friends moved to Germany and they convinced me that’s it. Moving was definitely the right decision.

Now that you relocated, what are your impressions of Germany?

I loved Germany before, and after living here for a few years I love it even more. Berlin in particular, because here you can be yourself without being judged. From a career perspective, it’s an island of opportunity, especially for software engineers. I started learning German as I think you need to learn the language if you decide to live somewhere, and I plan to live here for quite some time. Also, public transportation is amazing.

“If you’re looking for a job in Germany, just send the CV to 42matches. The moment you get a reply, your life is going to change, no joking.”

What happened after you submitted your CV to 42matches?

It all started when I saw a review at one of 42matches’ employee’s Linkedin profile saying that if she contacts you, your life is going to change. I got in touch and she connected me to the recruiter.

I sent my first message to the team of 42matches in July 2018 and I got my first offer quite fast – in September, after only 2 months! Also, the amount of support I got was simply amazing. I didn’t get the first job which made me pretty sad. I remember the recruiter sending me a message saying he’s not giving up on me and is sure that by the end of the summer I will get an offer.

And I got an offer from my current company – Nuri (previously Bitwala). As soon as I saw the job description I thought to myself that’s it, I love their business model and tech stack. And I got the job!

“The biggest challenge was getting the visa and 42matches helped me a lot with that process, sent me all the documents I needed, and communicated everything with the company. That went really fast and smoothly.”

What was the biggest challenge with relocating and how did 42matches help you?

The biggest challenge was getting the visa and 42matches helped me a lot with that process, sent me all the documents I needed, and communicated everything with the company. That went really fast and smoothly. When I moved to Berlin, I had a 6 month long visa, then I had to get the Blue Card and the long term permit. I called 42matches three times after I moved to Berlin and even then they helped me every single time. That kind of support was amazing.

What was especially important for you in the whole process and you felt supported?

In the process of getting the job offer I really felt the support in finding the best match. And it turns out, I really did get the best match. 42matches was with me during the whole journey, it’s not just the visa support. Ahead of every interview with a possible employer, they helped with preparations and tips on how to do the first interview. Even after I got a positive answer, they showed me how to communicate further.

If someone wants to do the same thing as I did, and is looking for a job in Germany, I can say – just send the CV to 42matches. The moment you get a reply, your life is going to change, no joking. From my experience that’s 100% true.

“One of the most important things I’ve learned in Germany is to have a good work-life balance.”

How did moving to Berlin and working for Nuri shape your new chapter in life?

I didn’t just get a job here. 42matches is a great name because they match you with the perfect job, and Nuri was definitely the perfect match for me. I think that’s the reason why I stayed working with them for 3 years. I grew with the company, and I’ve been there through the ups and downs.

When I came to Bitwala I was one of their 30 employees. Now there are more than 160 of us. I started as a Full Stack Engineer, then I was promoted to a Senior Stack Engineer position and now I’m the Tech Lead. The people and the company culture are amazing. Moving was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

What’s the most important thing you learned while living and working in Germany?

One of the most important things I’ve learned in Germany is to have a good work-life balance, especially working at Nuri. In Malaysia or Iran, it was not something employers cared about, employees usually worked long hours, with a lot of stress and anxiety.

A sneak peek into Germany through Emad’s eyes:

The first thing you take from a Späti (legendary convenience stores open all night) – I would take a Berliner beer and drink it on one of the city’s bridges, where people usually hang out.

The best German movie – The show “Dark” is one of the best I’ve seen, I really enjoy the time traveling concept.

The tastiest German food – I like the traditional bread soup.

Favourite sightseeing spot in Berlin – Potsdamer Platz.

The best selfie spot in Berlin – Berliner Dom.

Are you looking for a job? Simply upload your CV for free or get in touch with us to see how we can can match you with the perfect job.

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Let's Find You Some Rockstar
Tech Talents