Razhan Mahmood · HR, immigration & people consulting · Berlin
400,000
skilled workers a year. That’s how many Germany needs, net, just to keep its workforce from shrinking.1
Bringing people here is the easy part. Making them want to stay is HR’s job — and mine.
I’m Razhan Mahmood. I came to Germany as a labour migrant, and I’ve spent my HR career on both sides of that journey: getting hired, and hiring. Today I advise professionals who move here — and the companies that hire them.
1 Source: IAB report 15/2025
The route so far
Sulaimani
2015–2019
Civil engineering degree at Komar University; first job in B2B sales.
Erbil
2019–2022
People & Culture Manager at Codbel. Built D&I and benefits programmes.
Remote · USA
2022–2023
Talent Acquisition Lead. Global hiring and mentoring junior recruiters.
Berlin
2022–2024
MBA in HR & Recruiting. HR Coordinator at P1 Performance Fuels.
Heidelberg
2024–2025
Head of HR at Breer: 2,500+ employees, two business units, works council.
Berlin
Now
HR operations at Securitas Germany, Berlin/Brandenburg.
For the first time since coming to Germany, I feel like I truly belong to something bigger.
Razhan, on LinkedIn, 2026
For professionals
Moving to Germany — or already here and ready for the next step.
Arrive.
EU Blue Card and residence permits
CV and Anschreiben for German recruiters
Interview practice in German or English
Settle.
Your first German contract, explained
Getting through the Probezeit
Degree recognition and the next career step
For companies
International hiring is an HR project, not just a visa application. I help employers get the route, the contracts and the processes right — so new hires start on time and stay.
International hiring & relocation
§ 81a AufenthG
The right visa route, pre-approval, and the accelerated skilled-worker procedure.
Contracts & compliance
KSchG · DSGVO
Employment contracts, termination processes and GDPR in HR, set up cleanly.
HR processes & tools
Personio · DATEV · SAP
HR systems and time tracking configured so payroll runs without surprises.
HR operations & works council
BetrVG
Structure for large operational workforces, built with 2,500+ employees and a works council.
2,500+
employees in my remit as Head of HR
2
business units led at the same time
6
languages to speak with your international hires
MBA
HR & Recruiting, IPMA-CP certified
“Razhan has the rare combination of strategic thinking and emotional intelligence. A true HR partner.”
Sevkan Saylik · Head of People & Culture, P1 Performance Fuels GmbH
I advise on HR, processes and paperwork. I don’t provide legal representation; when a case needs a lawyer, I say so early.
Six languages, used every day
KU
کوردی
Native
EN
English
C2
DE
Deutsch
C1
AR
العربية
C1
TR
Türkçe
C1
FA
فارسی
B1
In other people’s words
„Er versteht es, sein Team zu motivieren und die individuellen Stärken jedes Einzelnen zu fördern.“
Görkem Sözlü · former team member, via LinkedIn
“Razhan’s commitment to staff development and nurturing an inclusive organizational culture was evident throughout his time at Codbel.”
Samrand H. · Managing Director, Codbel Inc.
Notes
Germany’s most qualified immigrants are the most likely to leave. Why?
What the IAB study says about belonging — and what HR can do about it.
Recruit, integrate, retain: notes from the AOK Impulse Forum
Why labour migration and asylum need to be discussed separately.
What finally made work in Germany feel like home
On finishing a Probezeit — and the kind of manager that makes people stay.
Hiring from abroad — or moving here?
Write a few lines about where you stand. German, English, Kurdish, Arabic or Turkish are all fine.