Christian Giordano, Surveying technician

My story

32-year old Christian Giordano did not have an easy time of it when he first arrived in Germany. When he left his home near Naples in Italy to seek a secure job, the only employment he could initially find was in an Italian restaurant. “I was clear that working in the catering trade would only be a temporary solution for me. But because I couldn’t speak any German, I had no chance of getting a better job,” he relates.

In order to improve his prospects, Christian attended German lessons at an evening school in Mannheim. His continuing professional development did not, however, really get started until he lost his job and the clerk at the Job Centre pointed out the possibility of acquiring recognition  for his Italian vocational training qualification. “I have held a qualification as a surveying technician since 2002, but I had no idea that I would be able to work in this occupation in Germany,” he says. His father sent him all the necessary certificates and paperwork.

Christian Giordano then submitted his translated documents to the Foreign Skills Approval Competence Centre of the Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHK FOSA). The costs of translation were paid by the Job Centre. “After that, all I could do was wait. It wasn’t certain whether I would get recognition at all,” he recalls. Once the statutory deadline of three months had expired, however, Christian Giordano received an assessment notice from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce granting him full recognition as a surveying technician.

Nevertheless, a further six months were to pass before he made his first application. “I didn’t feel confident enough to apply for a job until I had passed my language examination. But ultimately I obtained my job as a surveying technician.” Christian has been working for an engineering firm in Ludwigshafen for a year and remains ambitious. “This was only the first step for me. I’m learning something new every day, and I will keep working to improve my German. Thanks to the recognition process, I have been able to make great strides in terms of my professional advancement!”

Prior to submitting his application, Christian Giordano was advised by the Rhine-Neckar Chambers of Industry and Commerce , a partner of the Baden-Württemberg Integration Through Qualification (IQ) Network . The interview with Christian was conducted in July 2014.

My procedure in brief