THE BILDUNGSGUTSCHEIN: BEWARE OF FALSE ADVERTISING
What’s on this week?
False advertising about the Bildungsgutshein. Berlin vs. Munich rivalry. The cringe of the new “bro-archy”. The 50 best German employers in 2024. National salary data for 2025. Some Wank related fun.
Join Our Community
Stay Ahead of the Game: Get the latest news on immigration, job opportunities, and life in Germany delivered straight to your inbox.
Expert Career Advice: Benefit from my 10 years of experience as a career coach. From CV workshops to personalized coaching, I’ve got you covered.
Insider Tips & Guides: Access 50+ free guides to living, working, and moving to Berlin. Whether navigating bureaucracy or finding the best local spots, I’m here to help you easily navigate life in Germany.
Community Events & Networking: Join our events to connect with like-minded professionals, make new friends, and build your network in Berlin.
Authentic Stories: Enjoy a personal touch from me with stories, rants, and reflections that make the newsletter informative and enjoyable.
⭐ “Can I just say, even though I live in Munich and am not looking for a job – I LOVE your newsletter. Anyone who is a German expat should sign up for it – a lot of value, humanity, and humor in there.”
- Eleanor, Munich
⭐ “Thank you, Cheryl! Always find your newsletters brilliantly written and full of useful tips and insights! 🙏”
- Liudmyla, Germany
⭐ “Always short and sweet - if you want a sharp update on Berlin life, this newsletter will help you keep up with the latest topics.”
- Alexandra, Berlin
Don’t miss out on the insights, support, and opportunities that The Berlin Life offers. Subscribe now to become part of a community here to help you thrive in Germany.

Personal News & Musings
🫣 Sometimes, I’ll overshare and/or rant a bit.
A few months back, I ranted about the rumored digital nomad visas in Germany and the fact they don’t exist.
My latest rant is about the misleading advertisements on various social media platforms saying Germany will pay for foreigners to go to school – no strings attached. As with anything in this country, nothing is ever that easy.
You can read more about it: Mythbusting Germany’s Bildungsgutshein in English.
Community News
🤝 News from our community.

⭐ Our last poll asked: 🇩🇪 Which German city do you think offers the best job opportunities? It was a fun poll encouraging regional rivalries, with almost 300 people taking part. Berlin was the big winner with 51% of the vote. For anyone thinking otherwise, Munich is no joke. For the first time ever, Bavaria took home more startup funding than Berlin last year!
⭐ Take part in this week’s poll: With Germany’s economic growth forecast lowered for 2025, what’s your job search strategy?
⭐ This week’s featured Berlin Life guides: Companies In Berlin Hiring Right Now – Are you looking for a job in Berlin, Germany? Then check out this ever-growing list of 150+ Berlin companies hiring right now. And, How Much Does It Cost To Move To Germany? Use Our Calculator! – How much money do you need to move to relocate to Germany? Use our calculator to find how much it will cost to move to Germany.
⭐ ICYMI: Last week’s newsletter, Are Worker Rights in Germany Declining? For past editions, browse our archives.
⭐ Save money with our partners: Rent an apartment in Berlin with Homelike. Use BERLINLIFE50 for €50 off your first booking.
⭐ Recommended reading: 20% Berlin – Berlin news in English and TLDR Berlin – a glossary of every term you need to know to figure out life in Berlin.
Food For Thought
💡 Interesting articles about the world of work and other random things.

⭐ Over time, AI learns biases from humans, ultimately reinforcing biases we already have, which results in a never-ending feedback loop. Case in point, one study showed that people working with AI became more likely to underestimate women’s performance and overestimate white men’s likelihood of holding high-status jobs.
⭐ In more proof, women are discriminated against in the workplace; studies show that male-dominated teams tend to ignore women’s contributions, and female-dominated teams tend to appoint males as their spokesperson.
⭐ The new American oligarchy is here, and we can all feel outraged by Meta’s new inhumane policy to eliminate 5% of “low performers” over the next year. Or how their so-called “war on the woke” is nothing more than an attack on us plebs.
⭐ Take joy in this deserving sick burn on that oligarchy, which has officially become my favorite read this year.
⭐ You might soon be able to ditch your Instagram, as Bluesky is about to get its own photo-sharing app. Btw, Bluesky’s CEO Jay Graber is female! She promises to keep the platform free from “Enshittification” – aka billionaire proof.
⭐ For our readers who are leaders (I’m a poet, and I don’t even know it!), We Are Xena provides insights into how to have difficult conversations and handle conflicts with your team.
⭐ “About Laziness (And Why It Doesn’t Exist)” and how doing nothing is difficult for many people.
⭐ Another good one from the Marginalian: “Knowledge vs. Understanding and the Antidote to Our Existential Helplessness.“
Companies Hiring
🇩🇪 Companies in Germany hiring right now.
⭐ Celonis (Munich, Darmstadt, & remote, 69 jobs, EN &/or DE required)
⭐ Datarade (Berlin, 2 jobs, EN required)
⭐ Deutsche Bank (Various locations across DE, 600+ jobs, DE required)
⭐ FREENOW (Berlin & Hamburg, 22 jobs, EN &/or DE required)
⭐ MongoDB (Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, 10+ jobs, EN &/or DE required)
⭐ SoundCloud (Berlin, 6 jobs, EN required, DE a bonus)
⭐ Zendesk (Berlin & remote, 6 jobs, DE &/or EN required)
A bonus feature – The Berliner is looking for an assistant editor.
🇩🇪 German startups that recently raised new funding also have vacancies.
⭐ AUDAVIS – €1.1 M | Munich | Jobs (4 openings)
⭐ Circunomics – €400 M | Mainz | Jobs (5 openings)
⭐ Green Flexibility – €1 B | Kempten | Jobs (23 openings)
⭐ Formo – €35 M | Berlin | Jobs (4 openings)
⭐ Nelly Solutions – €50 M | Berlin | Jobs (30 openings)
⭐ Neura Robotics – €120 | Metzingen | Jobs (43 openings)
ℹ️ Follow us on LinkedIn, where we share new job postings daily.
General News
⭐ In all things lovely, Berlin is set to become an even greener city.
⭐ A local health commissioner is recommending a mobile phone ban in German schools.
⭐ Germany finally launched electronic patient file records, which doctors can view online (with your permission) to see your entire medical history. At the moment, it’s available in only three regions.
Politics
⭐ The German election is almost here and will be heavily influenced by the disgusting Trump and Musk.
⭐ The nation’s love for paper is not making it easy for Germans to vote from abroad.
⭐ The German army did the right thing and left X, and hopefully, other parts of the government will follow.
⭐ The AfD continued their unhinged, brazen acts of hatred against immigrants after leaving “deportation tickets” in people’s mailboxes.
⭐ UnHerd asks, “Can Germany afford to keep the AfD out?” – quite literally advising the CDU/CSU to partner with Nazis. 💀
Economy
⭐ Volkswagen is facing an existential crisis with lower European demand, stiff competition from China, and the threat of US tariffs.
⭐ Current economic difficulties in Germany have caused “under-the-table” or “cash-in-hand” work to rise.
⭐ Sick leave taken by Germans reached an all-time high in 2024.
Immigration & Labor Market
⭐ Tech bros might be trying to kill DEI, but in Berlin, it remains a priority. Numerous companies are committed to it, and various government initiatives are in place to support ongoing efforts.
⭐ From Statista (auf Deutsch): The 50 best companies to work in Germany in 2024. German classics like Adidas, BMW, and Porsche took the top three spots.
⭐ From Stepstone (auf Deutsch): A 2025 salary report for Germany. Most importantly, the report contains national salary data, offering reliable and meaningful insights. Key insights include that the gender pay gap continues, the average salary is around €52 K annually, and top earners reside in Munich.
Fun, Interesting, and/or Useful
⭐ German copywriters love their puns and, sometimes, a little too much. Some people take life way too seriously, and a marketing campaign out of Wank was banned at a skiing world cup. 🤭
⭐ Germans may love the fax and mounds of paper, but Ahaus, “Germany’s smartest town,” is our digital hope for the future.
⭐ Tips for first-timers visiting the German sauna. Even better, read my personal story capturing my first visit.
⭐ Local cultural institutions are finding creative new ways to fund their existence, with the Berliner Ensemble auctioning off a one-night stay on their stage. Bids are open until January 21.
How We Can Help
😇 Good stuff from the Berlin Life.
⭐ Get help preparing for job interviews and creating standout job applications through our career coaching and review services.
⭐ Connect with other professionals in Germany with our LinkedIn Connect & Exchange list.
⭐ Settle into your new life in Germany and save money with our partners on insurance, banking, and more.
⭐ Read our 50+ free guides to living, working, and moving to Germany.
⭐ Ask questions about living and working in Germany, and join our chat. 💬
❤️ Thanks for being part of our community. Support us by buying us a beer.
You now know that the Bildungsgutshein program is (slightly) more complicated than advertised. Subscribe to our newsletter for more fact-checking content just like this.
RELATED CONTENT
The Fastest Growing Jobs in Berlin
A new podcast episode about German CV photos. The fastest growing jobs in Berlin. Wild political developments and steadfast protests. 💪
Announcing Our New Podcast About Living & Working in Germany
Tune into our new podcast. Job search strategies & workplace trends in 2025. Startup funding in Germany is up. German election interference.
Are Worker Rights in Germany Declining?
Are worker rights in Germany declining? 100 new citizens daily in Berlin, 2025 hiring trends, and unexpected U-Bahn art.

Cheryl Howard, Founder @ The Berlin Life
Hi, I’m Cheryl. My mission is to help you move to Berlin and find work.
A Canadian in Berlin for 10+ years, I have the unique experience of moving to Berlin – not once, but twice. During my time in Berlin, I’ve had five different visas and worked as both a freelancer and a permanent employee for numerous Berlin companies. I even managed to find a new job during the pandemic and again in 2023, during Germany’s recession and massive layoffs in tech.
My day job has involved work as a hiring manager, overseeing the recruitment of countless people, as well as a team coach helping teams and individuals work better and find happiness in their careers. Through my side projects, I’ve also shared my personal experiences by publishing a series of helpful blog posts, creating a thriving community of job seekers, and hosting events to help people find work in Berlin. In 2021, I decided to put my coaching and recruiting talents to use by creating The Berlin Life, bringing my existing content and community together in one spot.
The combination of my personal and professional experience means I know exactly what it takes to move to Berlin and find work.