IT Sector

Pavan Madhamaiah watches his young daughter giggle as she hoists herself up onto the climbing frame. Moments like these are an integral part of daily life for him – time with his family in the city’s parks alternate with days spent either in the office or working from home. “The balance between work and personal life works really well here,” he says. Madhamaiah has been working as a technical service delivery manager at international payment services provider Worldline in Frankfurt am Main since 2023.
Born in the southern Indian state of Karnataka, Madhamaiah studied engineering and worked for many years in IT. His move to Germany wasn’t planned but came about by chance: his employer at the time had a German client – and Madhamaiah, who was the client’s contact, was sent to Constance. “That was the first place I visited in Germany. A small town right on Lake Constance, very quiet,” he recalls.

Much changed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Travelling to clients was no longer an option,and working from home became the norm. Madhamaiah decided to move to Frankfurt with his wife. The company he had been working for was headquartered in the city. When his projects dried up, he started looking for a new job. His move to Worldline came courtesy of a clear strategy: “I updated my LinkedIn profile and wrote directly to the hiring manager. A short time later I had an interview with HR and was given the job.”

Daily life between meetings and family time

These days his work day begins with a coffee, followed by team meetings. As service delivery manager his job is to ensure the operational readiness of projects before they go live. This involves checking processes, protecting against risks and coordinating interfaces. “We work with teams all over Europe and India. English isour common language,” he explains.

He finds his work model modern and family-friendly: two days a week in the office, three days at home. “This means I have enough time for my daughter. I take her to kindergarten and pick her up again later, and then we go for example to the park. That wouldn’t be possible without this flexibility.”

Childcare in Germany

His wife also works. It wasn’t always easy to organize their family life. “Finding a kindergarten place was harder than finding a job,” recalls Madhamaiah with a laugh. He signed his daughter up in 2022 but didn’t get a place for her until 2024– just in time for her third birthday. Her kindergarten is close to the family’s flat.

Children in Germany normally attend kindergarten between the ages of three and six. These nursery schools are run by municipalities, churches or independent organizations and are educational childcare facilities rather than pre-schools. There are groups with their own teachers and a fixed daily timetable that includes playtime, excursions and early-years learning opportunities. However, there’s huge demand for places, especially in big cities, so it’s advisable to register a child as early as possible.

The costs also differ from one federal state to another. In Hesse, for example, six hours of childcare per day are free for children aged three and above, with fees charged only for additional hours of childcare and for meals. Parents in other regions have to pay monthly fees that are usually based on their income and the number of hours of childcare required.

Tips for finding a job

For Madhamaiah, it was really important to learn German.“At first I felt pretty helpless. These days I can talk to the teachers at the kindergarten and manage well when I have to go to the doctor or supermarket.” He says that knowing the language is also beneficial in career terms and significantly improves one’s chances of finding a job.

He has three recommendations for anyone wishing to move to Germany: learn German – which will make everyday life easier and open doors professionally. Actively use LinkedIn– many jobs are advertised there, which is also how he found his own job. Acquire relevant certificates – such as in project management – to get a headstart in the application process.

These days, Germany means stability and prospects for Madhamaiah. He plays badminton in his spare time, likes to travel and takes advantage of the chance to get to know other cultures. “I am happy and content,” he says. “I have the opportunity here to grow professionally while at the same time spending enough time with my family.”

Translated from German by Chris Cave