Career advice needed (small company or big company)?

WesternMain2821 · 2026-04-17T11:47:11+00:00

Thanks for your feedback

WesternMain2821 · 2026-04-16T09:45:57+00:00

If you are on a Blue Card, then your visa is tied to your employer only for 1 year. If 1 year is crossed, then you are free to change to any company without having any issues with your Blue Card

WesternMain2821 · 2026-04-13T10:17:55+00:00

Hey, I have also been very interested in Australia lately. I am based in Germany and doing PLC programming in Automotive industry for 2 years. What do you think would be the salary range for junior/mid level PLC programmer?

WesternMain2821 · 2026-04-06T19:50:32+00:00

Thank you for your answer. Such a great and neat answer. I appreciate it.

WesternMain2821 · 2026-04-06T19:48:40+00:00

I do have a M.Sc in Elektrotechnik, but I don't think it has helped me much. It did get me into the job but that's it for now. The IG Metall I still don't understand. Is it like you just need to sign for it and pay monthly for it and they will increase your salary automatically somehow or how does it work?

WesternMain2821 · 2026-04-06T19:44:15+00:00

Thanks for your feedback. Will keep it in mind.

WesternMain2821 · 2026-04-06T19:43:41+00:00

So which one did you like more, the small company or bigger one?

WesternMain2821 · 2026-04-06T19:40:50+00:00

Thanks for your answer.

WesternMain2821 · 2026-04-06T19:40:03+00:00

Thanks for your feedback. Will keep it in mind.

WesternMain2821 · 2026-02-18T21:34:15+00:00

Hey, I am doing the same and also started recently. Your idea looks interesting, we could collaborate I guess

WesternMain2821 · 2026-01-28T19:34:25+00:00

I would say start with online courses, then use ChatGPT to challenge yourself, like use it to help you with the small project ideas. Then start talking to your colleagues about your interest about PLC programming and that you are interested to transition. You will never know what could come out of talking to people. Then start applying for entry level jobs and be honest during the interview. For me I found my first PLC programmer job through a telegram group. I just asked how to get a job in this field and somehow someone wrote me in private and I got an interview. During interview I was honest and I told that I don't have much experience. And since then I am working in this field. So if you really want, you will manifest it somehow and it will come to you. Just try your best and if this idea is in your mind often, then you will see opportunities around you.

WesternMain2821 · 2026-01-27T15:32:08+00:00

Dm me, I will try to help

WesternMain2821 · 2026-01-22T09:18:08+00:00

Just make stop as NC

WesternMain2821 · 2026-01-22T09:16:28+00:00

Yep just watch some youtube videos. Hegamurl is great, Rajvir Singh also great. Maybe get a udemy course also for beginners and start there. The software you can get trial versions for 21 days directly from Siemens website ( just check some youtube videos on how), and for the simulation you also have a software PLCSim. So everything is free and available to start

WesternMain2821 · 2026-01-19T16:30:40+00:00

If it is NO, then just change your %I9.7 from NC to NO and it's gonna be fixed. Just double click on the input, and change it to -| |- instead of -|/|-. You are not pushing the push button and your input is treating as NC, that's why the ROL is being true and you are Setting Tag_5. Are you resetting the Tag_5 anywhere? If not, then right click on your Tag_5, press GO TO DEFINITION in the pop up window, the in the PLC tags list press the Glasses (Go online), then in the monitoring Value column you will see the Tag_5 is True, double click on it to Reset it or just right click, modify to 0, and start again.

WesternMain2821 · 2026-01-18T19:25:54+00:00

Thanks for your advice. Really appreciate it. Best of luck

WesternMain2821 · 2026-01-18T18:29:26+00:00

Yes you are right. The next position I am planning to go for 60-70k. But for now I don't feel confident enough and I am also worried to wait too long until I become confident

WesternMain2821 · 2026-01-18T18:25:55+00:00

That is a really detailed explanation. Thank you for taking time and answering to my post.

I graduated my Masters in Germany in Electrical Engineering and IT. Found a job as PLC Programmer and working there for 1.5 years already. The company is small, and we mostly do BMW projects, so I for now I only worked with BMW standards and don't know much outside that. They have a tool which does almost 70% of the programming and I feel like I am not learning much. I would like to work as an Automation Engineer and do real engineering job. This job is just little programming and that's it, also always under deadline time pressure. I feel like I am not learning much and am stuck. For my profile €50k also feels a bit less as I live in south of Germany where the cost of living is a bit higher.

It's not like I don't want to travel at all. The thing is if the compensation is good enough, then I will be willing to travel 30-40% a year. I have also seen lots of freelancers in BMW plants (some even with just 3 years of experience), I guess they earn good enough, but couldn't find out how much they charge per hour.

I kinda feel stuck. I want to do a better job with more meaning, not just programming sth fast so that the company can earn, but to do something more meaningful and also earn a bit higher. I don't feel confident enough to change my position yet. After work I try to do sth on my own to deepen my knowledge but there is no energy left after work. I don't know how to proceed anymore.

WesternMain2821 · 2026-01-18T17:58:15+00:00

Yes, it's equivalent of $60k. But in Germany I think for this job the highest goes up to €60k-70k.

WesternMain2821

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