How I Achieved My European Dream: From India to a High-Paying Job in Europe without masters

Summary

An Indian software developer overcame significant challenges, including extensive job rejections and a global pandemic, to secure a high-paying job in Europe without a master's degree.

Abstract

The narrative details the journey of an Indian software developer who, after starting his career with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), navigated through a series of professional and personal hurdles to achieve his dream of working in Europe. Despite facing over 200 job rejections and the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic, he persevered by applying to numerous jobs daily, improving his resume, and crafting effective cover letters. His determination led to a job offer from a startup in Berlin, which was later rescinded, and a significant salary increase offer from a bank in Pune. However, he remained focused on his European dream, eventually securing a position with a major multinational corporation (MNC) in Erfurt, Germany. The process involved five rounds of interviews and a challenging visa application, complicated by misinformation from a consultancy firm. Ultimately, his consistent effort and hard work paid off, and he achieved his goal of working in Europe, demonstrating the power of perseverance and determination.

Opinions

The author believes in the power of perseverance and consistent effort to overcome challenges.
The author values the importance of a good work-life balance, which was a driving factor in his pursuit of a job in Europe.
The author emphasizes the significance of networking and support from colleagues and friends during trying times.
The author suggests that a master's degree is not an insurmountable barrier to achieving professional success in the tech industry.
The author highlights the importance of self-improvement, such as enhancing one's resume and cover letter, in the job search process.
The author expresses the emotional toll of job hunting, especially when facing rejections and uncertain circumstances like a global pandemic.
The author underscores the necessity of thorough personal research, especially when relying on external consultancy for processes like visa applications.

How I Achieved My European Dream: From India to a High-Paying Job in Europe without masters

My journey began at TCS, where I secured a job through campus placement. This was a huge deal for my family because I was the first engineer in our clan. However, I carried a heavy financial burden of about 13 lakhs, which included education loans and some family debts.

I endured a grueling four-hour daily commute to work on a support project as a Java developer. After six months, I switched to a project closer to my home, and six months later, I moved again to a project with a client in Amsterdam. I spent eight months on this project, and then an exciting opportunity came up: a chance to work onsite for two months, followed by another seven-month stint.

Leaving my family behind was tough, but the support of my colleagues and friends made it more bearable. When the project ended, I was sent back to India, and my company had no more European opportunities. But I was determined to continue working in Europe, so during the COVID-19 pandemic, I started looking for new job prospects. Its horrific experience to change job in covid when all the world is in panic

I used LinkedIn to apply for jobs, and rejection became a familiar experience as I faced over 200 job refusals. My total work experience was only 3 years and 10 months, but I didn’t give up. I kept applying to at least 20 jobs every day and worked on improving my resume and crafting effective cover letters, which are crucial for European job applications.

Finally, my efforts paid off when I received a call from a startup in Berlin. I passed the interview and got a job offer, but it was taken back a week later due to the company’s COVID-related issues. I was in a panic since I had already resigned from my previous job. However, I had a backup plan — I had another job offer from a bank in Pune with a 250% salary increase.

Even with these good offers, my goal remained the same: I wanted to work in Europe for a better work-life balance. I continued my job hunt and focused on less competitive cities in Germany. Eventually, I got an interview with a major MNC in Erfurt, Germany. After going through five rounds of interviews, I got the job offer. Despite my past experience in Berlin, I decided to trust the MNC (which was in a small city) and took the risk, resigning from my current startup job.

Getting a visa became urgent, so I sought help from a consultancy firm. However, they initially gave me incorrect information, claiming that the visa office was closed due to COVID-19. I did my own research and sorted out the visa application process. Two weeks later, I finally got my visa after a year of rejections and challenges. My Parents were in tears of joy and I finally achieved my goal. I learned a lot from this journey.

I never gave up on my goal. With consistent effort and hard work, I proved to myself that determination pays off. I hope my experience helps someone to get motivated and believe in consistency.