The teenage me learned English by translating music lyrics long before they were available on Spotify. I always dreamt of living overseas, but adulting got in the way, and that dream got shelved as “too silly for real life”.
Fast forward to the 33-year-old me. Sheer luck triggered this life-changing event.
The mentorship
After changing careers, I attended some GDG-SP events in 2020-21 and followed many GDEs on social media. Roque Buarque, living in Germany at the time, shared insightful interviews with immigrant developers on his YouTube channel. One day, he posted about a small-group mentorship for preparing to move abroad.
That’s when everything started. I thought, “I haven’t been actively seeking this, but I want to understand how applying to positions abroad works for future reference”. The price was a bargain, so I had nothing to lose.
The mentorship weekend was a blast. We covered everything from LinkedIn revamps to interview strategies. Roque and his guests shared unique perspectives and experiences, emphasizing that we didn’t need to be 100% ready to apply for a job.
And just like that, my plan was ruined. The purpose was to prepare for future applications, but I didn’t think I was ready yet: my level of English was upper intermediary and I was doing a lot as a mid-level engineer, but not for too long. You’ve probably read somewhere that women are less likely to apply for a job if they don’t feel they fit 100% of the requirements—I was one of them.
Roque encouraged us to practice in actual interviews and learn from experience, especially failures. At the end of the mentorship, they posted some job openings so we could start understanding this “new world”. I decided to take a shot. Curiosity has led me so far, and the worst that could happen was a polite “no thanks”. One of the positions was on the Accessibility team at Delivery Hero in Berlin. Given my awareness of accessibility issues in “top” Android apps, I was hooked by the challenge.
Evaluating the change
While waiting to hear back, I started drafting a plan. The first step was choosing potential countries to move to, with Germany in my top 3. My journalism background and love for history made German interesting for me. Plus, its location was ideal for attending metal concerts - a passion of mine. My German was as fluent as a newborn kitten’s meow, but that’s what adventures are for, right?
Then, the email arrived: interview time! Buckle up, because this was a five-step interview marathon, complete with live coding (don’t worry, no actual marathons were involved, just gallons of coffee). Being my first interview in English, the anxiety was over the roof. But here’s my secret weapon: a pre-interview jazzy song by Elf - featuring Ronnie James Dio. It worked wonders, putting me in the “rock this interview” zone. It’s now a ritual for all kinds of situations.
As I progressed in the interviews, the possibility of moving became real. I had to deal with the impact this would have on my life and my family. From here on, everything happened fast, like a different dimension - I only realized these events months later.
Moving and joining Delivery Hero
I started working for DH remotely a few months before moving to Berlin. Planning for the move - visa, housing, my dog’s documents - took about four months from contract signing to my start date in Berlin. Looking back, it was the bravest thing I’ve ever done. The feeling of suspension during the 14-hour flight - having no home at the origin or the destination - was surreal.
Despite challenges—apartment hunting, a foot injury, German bureaucracy—Berlin looked like a world of new possibilities, a fresh start. I had never visited another country before, so the city expanded my horizons suddenly, like a shock. The new job was as exciting as it was unexpected: being part of a fresh team, working in another language, with people from different backgrounds.
Initially, I struggled with the changes at work and in life. My mind wandered, and I was anxious and unfocused. With time, therapy, and daily short walks in the sun, I learned to manage my anxiety, becoming more productive and calm. My journey with Delivery Hero recently ended, but for almost the past 2 years, I gained a new perspective on accessibility that transformed my work and worldview. I had incredible teammates and learned so much by co-creating a Kotlin Multiplatform library for other Android developers.
So, the moral of the story? Be brave if you can. Be curious. Give a chance to the wishes you kept locked away, thinking that you never stood a chance. As we say in Brazil: you already have the no…