“It's just a great feeling”

Esra Guzeltepe is a recognition adviser with ProRecognition at the German-Turkish Chamber of Commerce Abroad (AHK) in Turkey. Since April 2024, she has been supporting Turkish skilled workers in making their move to Germany and has been helping them with recognition. In the interview she talks about joining ProRecognition, the challenges facing skilled workers and those special moments which make her day-to-day work so rewarding.

What brought you to ProRecognition at the AHK in Turkey?

Esra Guzeltepe: I spotted the job ad at the German-Turkish Chamber of Commerce Abroad and was immediately interested. The chance to help people make their move to Germany really appealed to me. I was definitely jumping in at the deep end as this was a new area. However, I learned the ropes quickly and I now find the work hugely enjoyable.

What are your responsibilities at ProRecognition?

Esra Guzeltepe: I am the point of contact for Turkish skilled workers looking to settle in Germany. It is my job to help them with the recognition of their qualifications. Together we take a look at their training qualification and their professional qualification. I help them to identify the appropriate reference occupation and to compile the necessary documentation. And I answer their questions about the recognition procedure.
I also organise events in cooperation with our partners such as the German Consulate in Turkey and the Goethe Institute. We run information events, for example for engineers and physiotherapists – there are just so many questions, and people want a lot of information.

Who comes to you for advice and what qualifications do they have?

Esra Guzeltepe: We get a real mix. Around 55 percent of skilled workers come from the non-regulated sector such as IT or electrical engineering. The other 45 percent are mostly engineers and teachers or they come from the healthcare sector, for example doctors, general nurses and healthcare and nursing assistants.

What sort of questions do Turkish skilled workers ask you?

Esra Guzeltepe: The questions differ a lot, but they often cover very practical aspects: How can I get to Germany? Do I need recognition? How can I speed up the process? Many people also ask about the costs of the recognition procedure and how long it takes.

The majority of enquiries are currently about the opportunity card. I help the skilled workers to understand the points system. We often do the self-check on ‘Make it in Germany’ together. So far there have not been many questions about the recognition partnership – maybe just one or two. In total, since April 2024, we have provided advice on recognition to more than 95 skilled workers.

Can you recall a consultation you particularly enjoyed?

Esra Guzeltepe: One consultation I recall in particular was with an electrical engineer who wanted to go to Germany. He was already very experienced in his profession. Having provided him with detailed advice and after putting together his documents, he applied for recognition. We also discussed career options in Germany. It was great to see how he really got going following the advice. He applied to a number of companies and received a job offer. Now he's just waiting for the recognition notice. Witnessing stories like this and seeing how people make their dreams come true is just fantastic.

In your view, what are the major challenges facing Turkish skilled workers who want to emigrate to Germany?

Esra Guzeltepe: Definitely the language. Many people come without sufficient German language skills and it's a huge stumbling block. There are also cultural differences – you have to be able to cope with two cultures, German and Turkish. That can be a real challenge.

And then there are the long waiting times. After skilled workers have received their recognition notice, they sometimes have to wait months for an appointment for the visa. A six-month wait is not unusual. It is generally much quicker with the Blue Card. Those who apply for the Blue Card generally hear back within one month.

What do you like most about your work for ProRecognition?

Esra Guzeltepe: Being able to really help people with their next step is simply a great feeling. Many people dream of living and working in Germany and I'm one of the first contact points for them. I take a great deal of pleasure in seeing somebody succeed.

The interview with Esra Guzeltepe took place in August 2024. The ProRecognition project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and implemented by DIHK Service GmbH, and besides Turkey is represented in 8 other Chamber of Commerce Abroad locations: Algeria, Brazil, Columbia, India – and new since 2024 – Indonesia, Morocco, and the Philippines. Further information is available about the project in this portal and on the ProRecogniton project website.

Information about responsibility for, and details on, the recognition procedure for the German reference occupations is provided in the Profi-Filter here in the advisor section and in the Recognition Finder in the Skilled workers section of “Anerkennung in Deutschland”.