What’s on this week? Does the “open to work” banner on LinkedIn make you look desperate? What’s better – natural or learned talent? Spicy chips were banned in Bavaria. The €49 ticket will be around a bit longer. A timely remembrance of the fall of the Berlin wall.

We cover all this and more in our 11/11/2023 edition of The Berlin Life newsletter.

Personal News

🙋‍♀️ Sometimes, I’m going to overshare.

⭐ As mentioned last week, the newsletter and all of our other services will be paused in December while I visit Canada and take a much-needed break. Business will resume as usual on January 8, 2024. Also, it feels really weird to write 2024! 🙃

Community News

🗣️ News from The Berlin Life community.

⭐ If you want to get caught up, read last week’s blast: Good Are Your Intercultural Communication Skills? We touch on lots of stuff, like that the importance of intercultural communication skills has never been more vital than now. A Berlin founder shares advice for what not to do on your CVs and cover letters. Unemployment went up a wee bit in Germany. Berlin clubs are in danger (and not just because of plans for a highway!).

⭐ I completely redesigned our Partners page. Check it out if you want to snag some discounts on various products and services to help you get settled into your Berlin Life.

⭐ As you know, I opened an Etsy shop where I’m selling some limited-edition Berlin Life merchandise. Be one of the first to sport our gear.

⭐ Read one of our classic Berlin Life Guides: Why Knowing Salary Ranges In Germany Is Essential – Know salary ranges in Germany for your profession, as it’s one of the first things companies will ask about during the recruitment process.

Food For Thought

🤔 Interesting articles about the art of looking for work, humourous memes, or other useful gems floating around the web.

⭐ Reno Perry, the founder of Wiseful, shares his advice for recruiters and hiring managers on how to better treat candidates during the interview process. His words are frankly, refreshing AF, as it’s usually all about what the candidates should do.

⭐ There’s been a pointless fiery debate on LinkedIn after a Google recruiter (aka pretend influencer) said that displaying the green “open to work” banner on your profile makes people look desperate and that no one will want to hire you because of it. The banner simply only states an obvious truth and in these times of serial layoffs and corporate bankruptcies, I say it’s fair to say that some people are actually desperate and there isn’t anything wrong with sharing that you’re on the prowl for a job. Anyway, the VP of Talent at Nike has even better words to say about why that dude is full of 💩.

⭐ Do you learn the most from your successes or your failures? Do you feel comfortable with failing? Check out this read from one of my favorite Berlin-based companies ever, Blinkist.

⭐ I just finished a module in a career coaching course I’m taking right now, where they talked about natural talent vs learned talent and how those who are perceived to have innate talent tend to be more favored at the workplace (and in life in general). The instructor shared the story about how Michael Jordan didn’t make his high school basketball team. Taking advice from his mother, he didn’t let it stop him from pursuing his dream and he worked super hard to hone his skills. It also made me remember how a famous NHL hockey goalie used to practice with white pucks so he could learn how to better anticipate incoming shots. The tenacity of people like them is something to be admired and this article goes into how practice and learned talent can actually be more of an advantage.

Companies Hiring

🇩🇪 German companies hiring right now. ​​

⭐ Wooga | Berlin

⭐ YAGER | Berlin

⭐ Personio | Munich, Berlin, Remote

⭐ Channable | Berlin

⭐ Moss | Berlin

⭐ Etribes | Hamburg

⭐ Hive | Berlin

⭐ FRIDAY Insurance | Berlin

⭐ Aspire Software | Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt

Be sure to check out our complete list of Berlin companies hiring.

German Startup News

🚀 German startups that recently received funding, were acquired, built up staff, etc., and could be good places to look for jobs.

⭐ Wefox | Berlin | Jobs​

⭐ Doctorly | Berlin | Jobs

⭐ Aleph Alpha | Berlin | Jobs​

⭐ Raus | Berlin | Jobs​

News in Germany

🗞️  All of the news in Germany. ​

⭐ Bavaria bans dangerously spicy crisps – We know it’s easy to poke fun at Germans who think paprika is spicy. But daaaaaang, people were eating chips containing the Caroline Reaper – which is a whopping 200 times hotter than a Jalapeño. 🔥

⭐ Tesla to build 25,000-euro car in Germany – source – Musk just gave his workforce a raise to avoid them forming a works council. Now he’s getting ready to roll out a cheap car.

⭐ Paw patrol: dogs soothe nerves at Berlin’s ‘cursed’ airport – I think these dogs are definitely needed at the airport, but can we bring them into the Auslanderbehörder and Bürgeramt too?

⭐ Why does Berlin keep trying to build housing on Tempelhofer Feld? – Berlin needs 194,000 more apartments by 2030 and there is space for 200,000 new flats without ever having to touch Berliner’s most beloved park. The TL;DR is that it’s all about money. Meanwhile, Berlin’s housing crisis is driving residents to the edge.

⭐ Germany no longer fears cold winter without gas – I just got my bill for last year’s Nebenkosten and thankfully only had to pay an extra €175. Seems my frugality with heat and hot water paid off and I won’t see a huge increase in my rent. Experts still advise us to continue to conserve our energy this year, as not only will it help us maintain our existing supply, but it will save you money as Germany had the fourth highest electricity prices in the EU in 2023.

⭐ Online Meldebescheinigung service to launch across Germany – Everyone was excited for a hot minute when they thought you could get your Ameldung online, but alas it’s only the Meldebescheinigung. Not exactly a cause for celebration, but it’s a positive sign that more and more forms (like Berlin’s Blue Card) are going online.

⭐ Run-n-Rave: Berlin’s early morning jogging party – Now this is my kind of party! It’s healthy and doesn’t come with a hangover. 🏃

⭐ Why are German police carrying out checks on hikers at the borders? – A registered hiking group comprised of mostly Syrians coming from different parts of Germany had someone call the police on them, as it was thought they were “illegal refugees”. Channeling their racist Karen vibes, instead of apologizing, the police doubled down and advised that checks like this are routine and should continue to be expected.

⭐ German dual citizenship law paused at Bundestag reading stage – Continuing the theme of blatant racism, political parties who are all pandering to their bases want to revise the proposed plans for citizenship laws. I won’t be counting on my ability to apply for German citizenship anytime soon. Aside from that, the astounding backlog of applications only means years-long delays.

⭐ Everything you need to know about Germany’s €49 and €29 tickets – After some worry that the €49 ticket would be cut, it’s safe for now.

⭐ Association wants Berlin Spätis to have same status as petrol stations – As a steadfast lover of Späti culture, I support this notion.

⭐ The fall of the Berlin Wall: The moment that reshaped Europe – Someone shared this on X this week and it made me feel a little hope and faith. While our world sees dark times as we certainly are right now, there are also moments of incredible good like the fall of The Berlin Wall.

How We Can Help

😎 All the good stuff offered by the Berlin Life.

⭐ Get help creating a job application that will get you noticed by German employers. Work with me to develop a CV or cover letter that showcases your profile and makes people want to hire you.

⭐ If you are nervous about an upcoming job interview with a German employer, I am here to help you figure out how to answer the typical questions, practice mock interviews, give you actionable feedback, and more.

⭐ Get connected with other like-minded professionals in our community by adding yourself to our LinkedIn Connect and Exchange list.

We offer even more services, as well as free guides to living, working, and moving to Berlin on our website, so be sure to check us out!