Gaurav Kumar, Motor vehicle mechatronics technician

My story

“For me, recognition is the greatest success in my life so far.”

“I had dreamt of living and working in Germany for a long time,” explains 26-year-old Gaurav Kumar from India. For the trained motor vehicle mechatronics technician, Germany is the pinnacle in terms of technology and motor vehicles. Following his training, and with a few years of professional experience, he therefore made the decision to go to Germany. “Germany gives me lots of opportunities for my own career development. This was why I just had to come here.” He used online job sites to look for an appropriate employer, and he found one very quickly. A garage in Hesse needed a skilled worker in the area of mechatronics. Gaurav Kumar wrote to the company and shortly afterwards received an invite to an online interview. Up to this point the young man from India had managed everything on his own without speaking a word of German. He also didn't seek help with recognition initially. With authorisation from Gaurav Kumar, his new employer applied for recognition in May 2018 to the Kassel Chamber of Crafts and Trades. Three months later, Gaurav Kumar received notice of partial recognition of his professional qualification. However, neither Gaurav Kumar nor his employer knew what to do next. 

Gaurav Kumar therefore contacted the ProRecognition Project which currently provides advice on recognition in 10 countries at German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHK). The enquiry from Gaurav Kumar came as no surprise for the advisory centre in Pune. India. “When it comes to recognition, lots of people seeking advice try to run before they can walk. They first look for a job and only then realise they need recognition,” explains Sapna Bhosle. She is one of two advisers who gave Gaurav Kumar a great deal of support as he continued with the process. In order to achieve full recognition, Gaurav Kumar had to complete refresher training in the form of a four-month placement. ProRecognition advised the employer on preparing the continuing vocational training agreement. Gaurav Kumar also received help in obtaining the documents needed for his visa, which proved a difficult task. “Up to that point we had not had much experience of people seeking advice who had completed training in the skilled trades sector. Most of the people seeking advice in India are academics,” explains Isabell Jenninger from ProRecognition.

With a visa and an employment contract, Gaurav Kumar finally began his placement in Germany in April 2019. However, the placement ended after just four weeks. This was because Gaurav Kumar had not done what his adviser had strongly recommended . He had not learned German. It was not possible to work in the company this way. Looking back, Gaurav Kumar believes that “without further advice from ProRecognition I would not be here today. I should have learned German a lot earlier. My tip for everybody who wants to work in Germany is to learn German first!”

“Back then I was really disappointed that it hadn't worked out,” remembers Gaurav Kumar. He went back to India and did not initially contact his advisers. However, they did not give up on him so quickly. “We offered him further support. With his partial recognition he had already achieved so much. We told him that, and explained to him that it was mainly his German language skills which were the problem. But he was able to work on this,” explains Sapna Bhosle. Following this, Gaurav Kuma then learned German at the Goethe-Institut and achieved language level A2. He also found a new employer in Germany. This was Scania Vertrieb und Service GmbH in Bielefeld.

And they were quickly impressed by the Indian motor vehicle mechatronics technician. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic it took a long time before all of the necessary documents were available. This meant that Gaurav Kumar was not able to continue with his placement in Bielefeld until January 2021. For him, the initial weeks were a massive learning process. “I had never seen much of the equipment and many of the tools before. The technical level in this sector in Germany is much higher than in my home country.” However Gaurav Kumar learned quickly. After a few weeks of settling in he was completing his tasks independently and within the time required – and to the full satisfaction of his employer. The business needs more people like him, says his boss. Gaurav Kumar is delighted at this assessment of his work.

In April 2021, he submitted a follow-up application for recognition. In June he finally achieved full recognition – the goal he had been aiming for over such a long time. “There are no words to describe it. It's the greatest success of my life. It's made me much more confident in my career and as a person. It has shown me that I can achieve my goals,” says Gaurav Kumar with delight. And he has already set himself new ones. “I really want to achieve language level B1. That will give me a permanent residence permit. One thing I have realised with recognition is that my future is in Germany.”

The conversation with Gaurav Kumar took place in November 2021. ProRecognition at the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce and the Kassel Chamber of Crafts and Trades advised him on and supported him with the recognition procedure.

My procedure in brief