From Russia to Germany: rebuilding my career from scratch

In 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Six months later, Russia passed a law banning LGBT propaganda and later prohibited gender-affirming care for trans people. As a political activist and non-binary person, staying in Russia became increasingly difficult, so my partner and I decided to leave.

In Russia, I worked as a product designer and had established myself as a good specialist with great colleagues, a promotion, and the potential to become a senior designer within a year or so.

Then came the emigration to Germany… And my decent Moscow salary of 120,000 rubles (about €1,200) turned out to be less than what a part-time cashier earns in Germany. It was clear I needed to find a new job.

Paradigm shift: from a seeker’s market to an employer’s market

As a budding product designer in Russia, I sent 30 applications and received 3 interview invitations from companies with over 10,000 employees. It took me two weeks to get two offers.

As a seasoned product designer in Germany, I sent 160 applications to get one offer, and it took me two months.

Losing my network right when I needed it most

My professional connections and job offers stayed in Russia. Former colleagues still invite me to work on exciting large-scale products like the Russian equivalents of eBay and Amazon. As much as I’d love to say yes, I have to refuse these opportunities. The frustration is immense.

LinkedIn became crucial

In Russia, I didn’t even have a LinkedIn account. After moving, I developed a complete profile with over 800 connections.

I believe Eugene Trofimov has the best checklist for LinkedIn profile improvement. For my Russian-speaking friends, I highly recommend his Telegram channel about job search.

Seeking mentorship

Even with a polished LinkedIn profile, I still didn’t understand the local job market, so I used ADPList to find free mentors. I sought out senior and lead designers in large German companies to help with my CV, portfolio, and overall feedback.

If you are searching for a mentor in Germany, I highly recommend Melonnie and Diana Aya.

Support systems are a must in forced emigration

For four years, I have been seeing a psychologist twice a week, which has been a great support throughout my immigration process and life in general. Before moving to Germany, I felt the need for more medical help, so I started taking antidepressants as well. The first six months in Germany were tough due to the adaptation process and legal formalities, so having these sources of support was crucial.

Lessons from my experience

• Join LinkedIn and gradually build a comprehensive profile
• Find mentors for more guidance and feedback
• Use Google warmup to prepare for your next interview
• Improve your English skills: Participate in free speaking clubs
• Find sources of support: Lean on friends, family, meditation, or a psychologist — whatever helps you

It will get better

Emigration takes a lot of energy, so it’s okay to take it easy, seek help, and sometimes do nothing. Starting from scratch is frustrating, but with time, you can rebuild your life (and network).

For me, it took a whole year to get used to life in Germany. Now, I finally feel ready for new challenges, like developing my writing skills and starting a comprehensive stretching routine. We’ll see how it goes :)