They want to use their time in Germany sensibly and earn their own living. Many Ukraine refugees are looking for a job. In a country where there is a shortage of workers, they are in great demand.
Dresden (dpa / sn) - It doesn't have to be the dream job right away. A doctor from the Ukraine, who fled the war in her homeland and now lives in Dresden like around 8,500 compatriots, would like to work as a beautician until her professional qualifications are recognized. A railway worker has applied as a warehouse worker, a civil engineer as a draftswoman. Jan Pratzka, head of the employment agency in Dresden, knows several examples of this type. He speaks of "people with potential". They are highly motivated and would like to get involved. There are around 5,700 vacancies in Dresden. "There is something for everyone, there are opportunities for everyone."
The interest of the refugees is definitely great. When the first Dresden job fair for Ukrainians began on Monday morning in the World Trade Center, the stands of around 40 companies and associations were immediately crowded. Many of those affected communicated with the company representatives via Google translator due to a lack of German language skills. Most companies had native speakers with them. Just like the chip manufacturer Infineon, who brought along his Ukrainian employee Mariia Kozachok.
"We have an office in Lviv and had recruited employees in Ukraine before the start of the war," reported Felix Krackau, Talent Attraction Manager at Infineon in Dresden, who is responsible for recruiting skilled workers. Five employment contracts had already been signed, and then Russia's war against Ukraine made it impossible for the new employees to travel. Now the search for skilled workers should continue here.
At the neighboring booth of the chip manufacturer Globalfoundries, among others, a woman who studied metallurgy and is now looking for a job in the technical field reported. The stand manager can imagine her working as a process engineer. However, the job exchange is not primarily about concrete employment contracts. It's more of a scanning and sounding out, you exchange contacts and invite people to the company if you're interested.
For example, Verbraucher Dresden offers a test day. "The applicants are very ambitious and motivated. They tell us that they have done a similar job in Ukraine," said an employee from the consumer's human resources department. In the branches, they could be used even if they only spoke a little German, for example when stocking the shelves.
However, almost all employers have to solve an organizational problem. Since many refugees usually complete language courses in the morning, they are only available on an hourly basis for the time being. This is probably one of the reasons why two young women asked the Backhaus Dresden whether they could only work three hours a day and how good their German skills should be. The manufacturer of baked goods reassured: German is not a mandatory requirement for all work.
According to agency boss Jan Pratzka, language is the biggest hurdle when starting a job. In professions such as that of a doctor, the recognition of qualifications is also more complex. "The Ukrainians usually have a good education." That makes them attractive for companies in Germany. The Dresden employment agency currently lists a good 500 people whose profile lists the Ukrainian language as a skill.
Several companies have also seen their presence on the job fair as an offer of help for people in need. "We are aware that these people will not stay with us forever," said managing director Tino Gierig. But it is a win-win situation for both sides.
