Diving into the German Tech World: My Experience with “Erfahrung”

Okay, deep breath. Moving to Berlin felt like stepping onto another planet. I’d been building web applications in London for years – Java backend, full-stack development, the whole shebang – but suddenly, everything was…different. It wasn’t just the language, though “Ach du lieber Gott!” became a frequent exclamation when I inevitably messed something up. It was this concept they kept throwing around: Erfahrung. It felt like more than just experience; it felt like a key to everything. And frankly, at first, it was terrifying.

What Ist Erfahrung Anyway?

Initially, I thought Erfahrung meant just “experience” in the general sense. Like, “Ich habe viel Erfahrung mit Java” (I have a lot of experience with Java). But then I started hearing it used in conversations around work, and it shifted. It wasn’t just about the years I’d spent coding. It was about the type of experience, the depth of understanding. It’s related to expertise, or “Know-how.”

I was interviewing for a role at a company building a platform for insurance – Check24 (you can see the job listing here: Read More The recruiter, Steven, asked me, “Erzählen Sie mir von Ihrer Erfahrung mit Microservices?” (Tell me about your experience with Microservices?). My immediate reaction was to rattle off a list of frameworks I’d used – Spring Boot, REST APIs, the works. Steven just nodded politely, then said, “Das ist gut, aber können Sie mir erklären, warum Sie Microservices gewählt haben und wie Sie die Herausforderungen bewältigt haben?” (That’s good, but can you explain why you chose Microservices and how you handled the challenges?).

Suddenly, it hit me. It wasn’t about reciting technical details; it was about demonstrating understanding. I realised I’d been focusing on what I’d done, not why I’d done it, or how I’d learned from mistakes.

Java, Backend, and the Importance of “Bugfixes”

The German tech scene felt particularly focused on backend development, often with Java. My team, “das Backend-Team” (the backend team), were constantly talking about “Bugfixes” – Fehlerbehebung (troubleshooting). A simple bug fix became a huge discussion. One afternoon, we were tackling a problem with a database connection. My teammate, Lena, said, “Wir müssen diesen Bugfix so schnell wie möglich machen!” (We need to fix this bug as quickly as possible!). It wasn’t just about fixing a bug; it was about understanding the root cause, preventing it from happening again, and documenting the solution meticulously.

I learned quickly that “schnell” (quickly) was often code for “efficiently” and “well-documented.” The concept of “clean code” was very serious. I made a classic newbie mistake – I just slapped a quick fix together, pushed it, and hoped for the best. Then the bug reappeared the next day, and the frustration was palpable. Lena patiently explained, “Es geht nicht nur darum, den Fehler zu beheben, sondern auch darum, den Code zu verstehen und zu verbessern. Wir müssen ‘clean code’ schreiben!” (It’s not just about fixing the error, but also about understanding and improving the code. We need to write ‘clean code!’). I started really paying attention to code reviews and documenting my changes thoroughly.

Teamarbeit and Zusammenarbeit – More Than Just Working Together

The word “Zusammenarbeit” (collaboration) was thrown around constantly. It wasn’t just about sitting in the same room; it was about sharing knowledge, asking for help, and offering help. There was a strong emphasis on Teamarbeit (teamwork). My first big challenge was understanding the team’s workflow. Everyone used Slack constantly – “Wir kommunizieren über Slack” (we communicate via Slack). I quickly realized that asking for help wasn’t a sign of weakness; it was expected. I asked a senior developer, Markus, for advice on a particularly complex algorithm. He didn’t just give me the answer; he walked me through his thought process, explaining the trade-offs and potential pitfalls. “Das ist wichtig, um ‘Zusammenarbeit’ zu gewährleisten” (That’s important to ensure ‘collaboration’).

Entwicklung und Design – Seeing the Bigger Picture

Eventually, I started to understand that Entwicklung (development) wasn’t just about coding. It was about understanding the user’s needs, designing a good user interface (UI), and ensuring that the system was scalable and maintainable. I started to take a more holistic view of the project, and it made a huge difference. I realized I needed to learn more about design principles and user experience (UX).

Looking Ahead: Building My Erfahrung

Now, several months into this adventure, I feel much more confident. I’m still making mistakes, of course – “Entschuldigung!” (Excuse me!) is now a regular part of my vocabulary – but I’m learning from them. I’m focusing on building my Erfahrung, not just accumulating it. It’s about demonstrating expertise, contributing effectively to the team, and continually striving to improve. It’s not just about the job; it’s about embracing the German approach to work – a serious, collaborative, and focused approach. And honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Do you have any questions about my experiences? Let me know!