Seen that story too many times. I’m a technical guy, too, but considerably younger (42). Ten years ago I saw the writing on the wall - lifetime employment, or even the good chance of getting a new job quickly - was disappearing for tech workers.
I started my own consulting business, had a tight few years, but am not reaping the rewards. Yeah, I traded away 5-6 years of my prime earning years (mid-late 30s) but I now have a career, a large stable of current and past clients, and am the one who signs my own check.
Best thing for you or your friend in Germany to do: get a website, write 3-4 pages of technical/impressive fluff, pump up the 1 page resume mightily, then walk in to any potential employer and tell them you’ll consider working on project X/Y/Z (scour the tech journals for their new projects) for only $100-$200 (choose a number at least double, if not triple a typical salary) per hour. You’d be surprised how many companies will take you VERY seriously, and give you shorter (4-8 week) contracts just because of your experience AND confidence.
But it takes big, brass, clanging, shiny balls to do it! Puff and bravado will get you 90% of the way there, so they will look at your abilities and experience and seal the deal.
Good luck, and if you can ever manage it, never, ever let another man sign your paycheck!
Wise words, and so, so true.
I started signing my own paychecks in 1997, and never looked back. The last four years have been very rough, but for most of the years I've been my own man, I've made more than any employer ever paid me.