Comment by seppel

3 years ago

"Software Engineer" (without German translation) is used as an official job title by many German companies and the German linkedin is also full of people describing themselves as Software Engineers. This is the first time I hear such an objection.

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seppel

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Archelaos  3 years ago

From the German Wikipedia article on "Softwareentwickler":

My translation:

  The job title _software developer_ is not a protected job title in Germany and Austria.

  According to German law, the job title _software engineer_ may only be used by those who have successfully completed a technical degree. In Austria, the title of engineer can also be acquired through training at an HTL [Höhere Technische Lehranstalt, aprox.: Higher Technical College].

Original:

  Die Berufsbezeichnung _Softwareentwickler_ ist in Deutschland und Österreich keine geschützte Berufsbezeichnung.

  Die Berufsbezeichnung _Softwareingenieur_ darf nach deutschem Recht nur führen, wer ein technisches Studium mit Erfolg abgeschlossen hat. In Österreich kann der Ingenieurstitel auch durch die Ausbildung an einer HTL erworben werden.

Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softwareentwickler#Berufsbezei... (in German)

  • seppel  3 years ago

    This all might very well be, but it does not reflect reality. Everybody calls himself Software Engineer, nobody calls himself Softwareingenieur.

    As if Google Deutschland would not hire you as a Software Engineer (or SRE, ..) if you are missing a B.Sc. (or did it in a non-technical field) but everything else is perfect.

    • Archelaos  3 years ago

      This is not about hiring, it is about what you are allowed to call yourself, i.e. what you are allowed to write into your CV on your buisness card, on your Web site or use for self advertisment. Don't expect to get away with calling yourself an "Engineer" if you are not an "Ingenieur". Judges do not like to be fooled.

      Job adverisments in German almost exclusively use the term "Software-Entwickler" ("software developer"), indicating that an IT degree is not necessarily required for the job.

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