Diversity Day 2024

In Jena, the Diversity Day will be celebrated for the 11th time on 28/05/2024 with various program items, hands-on activities and a colourful stage program. Read our blog post to find out why we from the Welcome Center Jena are taking part and more about the event.

Weltoffenes Thüringen - we are part of it!

We from JenaBusiness and Work in Jena clearly position ourselves in favour of cosmopolitanism, diversity and tolerance and support the initiative Weltoffenes Thüringen.

Examples for an international Jena: Ralitsa & 2b-special GmbH

Ralitsa is from Bulgaria and has a doctorate in the field of glass chemistry. She now works at 2b-special GmbH in Kahla, a manufacturer of preforms for optical fibres. In this interview, she talks about the hurdles she faced when arriving in Jena and what she particularly appreciates about Jena as an optical centre.

Examples for an international Jena: Nguyen Quoc Hai, Huynh Duy Dang & Truck-Center-Jena GmbH

The two Vietnamese Nguyen Quoc Hai and Huynh Duy Dang began their training as commercial vehicle mechatronics technicians at Truck-Center-Jena GmbH last year. In this article, we find out how it all started and how they like to spend their free time in Jena.

Examples for an international Jena: Xiangrong He & Laser Imaging Systems GmbH

In this blog, we get to know Xiangrong He, who comes from China and now works as a Lab Engineer in Optics at Laser Imaging System GmbH. She tells us how she successfully works through bureaucratic processes despite difficulties with the German language and what qualities she associates with Jena.

Examples for an international Jena: Serena, Shahoud & SCHOTT AG

In this blog post, we get to know Shahoud from Syria and Serena from New Zealand. They both work at SCHOTT AG in Jena and tell us about their arrival and what is typically German for them.

Examples for an international Jena: Abel Gebreysus, Dmytro Stepasiuk, Rafal Zbonik & QSIL Metals Hermsdorf GmbH

Abel Gebreysus from Eritrea, Dmytro Stepasiuk from Ukraine and Rafal Zbonik from Poland work at the metal processing company QSIL Metals Hermsdorf GmbH and tell us about their journey to Germany and the challenges they faced on arrival.

Examples for an international Jena: Djapi Youadjeu Brial Josue & Micro-Hybrid Electronic GmbH

Djapi from Cameroon works as a production planner at microelectronics manufacturer Micro-Hybrid in Hermsdorf. In this interview, he tells us how he arrived in the city and in his job and which sport helped him to make contact with his fellow human beings particularly quickly.

Examples for an international Jena: MEWA Textil-Service AG & Co. Deutschland OHG

At the textile company Mewa, six international team members from Syria and Eritrea tell us how they came to Jena and what tips they have for a successful start here.

Examples for an international Jena: Sangeetha Sasidharan & JENTECH Datensysteme AG

Sangeetha Sasidharan comes from India and works as a software developer at JENTECH Datensysteme AG in Jena. In this interview, she explains why she came to Jena and what Jena means to her.

Examples for an international Jena: Firas Alaji and Anis Harzalli & GÖPEL electronic GmbH

In today's blog post we introduce you to two application engineers at GÖPEL electronics GmbH in Jena; Firas from Syria and Anis from Tunisia. They talk about their arrival in Jena and the challenges they have overcome here.

Examples for an international Jena: Melwin Lobo & Asclepion Laser Technologies GmbH

Melwin Lobo comes from India and works in Jena at Asclepion Laser Technologies GmbH as a systems engineer and project manager. In this interview, he shares his first experiences in Jena and gives us an insight into how his employer supports him in settling in and beyond.

Examples for an international Jena: Mahmud Hossain & Accenture

Mahmud Hossain from Bangladesh completed his Master's degree in economics in Jena and now works for the consulting firm Accenture. In the interview, he tells us how his employer supports him and what is typical of Jena for him.

i-work Business Award

The intercultural business award once again honors companies that are committed to helping people with a migration background. In our article, you can find out which companies have participated so far and get to know the two new official partner cities of the i-work Business Award.

Off to a promising start as a development engineer after studying in Jena

Anoop from India completed his Master's degree at University of Applied Sciences Jena and now works as a development engineer. In the blog, he talk about how he achieved his goal despite the corona pandemic and gives tips on the easiest way to make social connections in Jena.

As as nurse to the City of Light - How Jose Christian Santos makes Jena his "home away from home"

Jose Christian Santos comes from the Philippines and now works as a nurse at Linimed GmbH. In the interview he tells us how he came to Jena, what made the city his "home away from home" and what his favourite place in Jena is.

From Sarajevo to Jena - How Almedin Mujezinovic found his new home in Thuringia

35-year-old Almedin Mujezinovic comes from Bosnia and Herzegovina and now works as a bus driver for Jena's public transport system. In the interview, he talks about the reason for his move to Jena, describes his path to the employment contract and explains how he copes with the Thuringian dialect.

One year Welcome Center Jena

Happy Birthday Welcome Center: we are celebrating the first year in our premises in Jena's centre and are looking to the future with a great deal of drive!

Empowerment and networking - International Women's Day at the Welcome Center Jena

For this year's International Women's Day on 8 March, the Welcome Center Jena team invited international women to a networking event. Read more about the exchange and networking of women and why these are essential factors for professional advancement and personal well-being in the blog post.

Jena shines at Photonics West

Photonics West in San Francisco, the world's largest trade fair for research and technology in the field of photonics, will soon begin. Find out more about the 21 exhibitors from our city of light, about innovations made in Jena and what the fair participants like to do most in their free time in our blog post.

Examples for an international Jena: Renato Palavecino & IAD GmbH

Renato kommt aus Argentinien und ist in Jena bei der IAD GmbH als IT Trainer und Consultant tätig. Zuvor hat er bereits als Freelancer bei der IAD GmbH gearbeitet. Im Interview erzählt Renato uns von seinen Erfahrungen in Jena und der Unterstützung seines Arbeitgebers bei den Herausforderungen, die das Arbeitsleben in Deutschland mit sich bringt.

Examples for an international Jena: Ivan Diachuk and Jeff Mercado & Linimed GmbH

Ivan from Ukraine and Jeff from the Philippines work as nursing staff at Linimed in Jena. In this interview, they tell us how they came to Jena and what hurdles they had to overcome when they arrived.

Examples for an international Jena: Nayantara Rose Jose & Active Fiber Systems

Nayantara comes from India and works in Jena as a laser engineer at Active Fiber Systems GmbH. She previously completed her Master's degree in photonics in the City of Light. In the interview, she tells us what challenges she masters in her work and life in Jena and what special features she appreciates here.

Examples for an international Jena: Tetiana Treitiak & Accenture

Tetiana Treitiak comes from Ukraine and fled to Jena in early 2022. Here she works at Accenture and tells us in an interview about her experiences, the differences in the working world and how she experienced arriving here.

Discovering Jena and the region with the "Schleudergang”

In the blog post, he tells us how he found his feet here and what his everyday life in Jena is like. In the blog post, he tells us how he found his feet here and about his everyday life in Jena.

i-work Business Award 2022: practice award

The i-work Business Award Praxis Prize once again honours companies and individuals who work for people with a migration background. We look forward to receiving your suggestions for winners of the intercultural business award!

Counselling centres in Jena: Career Point at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena

In part three of our series on contact points in Jena, we introduce you to Karolin Ulbricht from the Career Point at Friedrich Schiller University.

Counselling centres in Jena: Career Service at the Ernst Abbe University of Applied Sciences Jena

In the second part of our series on contact points in Jena, we introduce you to Franziska Stang, who advises on the optimal transition from study to work at the Career Service of Ernst Abbe University of Applied Sciences Jena.

Counselling centres in Jena: Migration counselling for adult immigrants (MBE) of Caritas

In this series, we will introduce you to counselling centres in Jena. We start with Judith Böhnisch, social pedagogue at Caritas.

Welcome to the "Optical Valley" Jena: Short distances, lots of nature at your doorstep and a great work-life balance

Kseniia Zavatskaia has recently started living and working in Jena. As an engineer for optical design, she moved from Russia to the "Optical Valley". In this blog post, she tells us how she found her job, what hurdles she had to overcome and what differences she experienced between the cultures.

Examples for an international Jena: Jakub Struczynski und Accenture GmbH

Jakub is originally from Poland and now works as a Cloud Migration & Imp Analyst at Accenture GmbH in Jena. He tells us how Accenture makes it easier for international employees to start their new job and settle in Jena.

Examples for an international Jena: Oleksandr Volynets and Salesforce.com Germany GmbH

Oleksandr Volynets is originally from Ukraine and now works as a senior technical employee at Salesforce.com Germany GmbH in Jena. He tells us how Salesforce promotes an open and family friendly workplace and how he settled in Jena.

Examples for an international Jena: Sherwan Shokri und Dunkel, Veit & Heppner GmbH

How people and companies in Jena live interculturality Every year, the i-work Business Award recognises companies in Jena that are exemplary in promoting intercultural openness in the business environment. The many practical…

Examples for an international Jena: Sait Birkan Mutluer and TD Software GmbH

Sait Birkan is originally from Turkey and now works as Software Developer at TD Software GmbH in Jena. He tells us how TD Software makes it easier for international employees to start their new job and settle in Jena.

When good conditions meet difficult situations

Ravi Srivastava from Malaysia tried to settle down in Jena with his family in the middle of the corona crisis. In addition to the new culture and foreign surroundings, the lockdown presented the family with major challenges in arriving in the City of Light. In particular, the difficult conditions for his teenage children make Srivastava decide to shift the centre of his life back. He tells his story and whether it was worth coming to Jena in the blog post.

Career meeting for job seekers to be continued

Round two for our format on the topics of job search, application and career entry in Jena for professionals from Germany and abroad. We provide tips and look forward to supporting you on your career path.

i-work Business Award 2021: the practice award

Do you know entrepreneurs who are particularly committed to helping people with a migration background? Then nominate them for the i-work practice award!

“Growth is only possible outside one’s comfort zone.”

In order to address the shortage of skilled workers, many larger companies are turning to international recruitment, thus increasing their chances of attracting qualified candidates. But one should always remember: If companies…

"People have always helped me."

In the middle of the corona pandemic, 26-year-old Hitesh Jayaprakash signed his employment contract in Jena. The Indian-born student had already moved to the city on the Saale three years earlier.

Is job hunting purely a matter of luck?

A recruiter sits in front of a huge pile of applications. He takes the first twenty and throws them in the bin, unseen. His reasoning: “They're unlucky and we don't need unlucky people.” As this little joke shows, the start of an application process is a bit of a challenge. What is luck in this? What is skill? What can I influence and what not?

Examples for an international Jena: Kostiantyn and JustOn GmbH

In our series on the i-work Business Award, we introduce Kostiantyn from Ukraine, who works as a software engineer at JustOn in Jena.

Career meeting for job seekers

Careers don't just happen, they are made. Why can a good career plan be useful, when is the best time for it? Which steps are important and how do you set realistic goals? We give tips.

A place of welcome

Enabling barrier-free access The relevant information can be found here: school and university graduates, employees and skilled workers, scientists from Jena and the region, other federal states and also from abroad. Of…

WORK-IN-JENA is online

We hope that the portal will show as many people as possible what a great "overall package" Jena has to offer in terms of work and life. And even if the world…

i-work applicants 2020 - Wasem Atoh Mishli

This year, eleven great applications from companies in Jena and the region were received for the intercultural business award. The series presents all the candidates and shows how intercultural openness in business…

i-work-applicants 2020 - Atefeh Javadzadeh

i-work-applicants 2020 - Atefeh Javadzadeh

Examples for an international Jena: Atefeh Javadzadeh and FBGS Technologies GmbH

How people and companies in Jena live interculturality Every year, the i-work Business Award recognises companies in Jena that are exemplary in promoting intercultural openness in the business environment. The many practical…

i-work applicants 2020 - Franco Jesus Sabino

This year, eleven great applications from companies in Jena and the region were received for the intercultural business award. The series presents all the candidates and shows how intercultural openness in business…

i-work applicants 2020 - Felipe Zampa Fonseca

This year, eleven great applications from companies in Jena and the region were received for the intercultural business award. The series presents all the candidates and shows how intercultural openness in business…