FEW ARE HAPPY WITH THEIR JOBS IN GERMANY
What’s on this week?
Career satisfaction is at a low. How to watch English movies in Berlin. A 2025 jobs outlook. A €1B funding announcement. A rescue husky enjoying her first snow. American overstep into German politics.
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Authentic Stories: Enjoy a personal touch from me with stories, rants, and reflections that make the newsletter informative and enjoyable.
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Personal News & Musings
🫣 Sometimes, I’ll overshare and/or rant a bit.
No message to share this week – let’s jump right in!
Community News
🤝 News from our community.
⭐ Our last poll asked: How enthusiastic do you feel about your job and/or professional prospects? 105 people took part, with only 10% reporting they love their job and 13% saying they kinda like their job. A massive 57% are looking for a new role, and 22% wish they could retire immediately.
⭐ Take part in this week’s poll: How do you find the salaries in Germany compares to your expectations?
⭐ Recent podcast episodes: I put out a new episode on Thursday. The Many Challenges of Searching for Work in Germany. I put a lot of heart into it, so it would be wonderful if you listened and let me know your thoughts. 👉 Listen to past episodes.
⭐ This week’s featured Berlin Life guides: I wrote a new guide –How to Watch English Movies in Berlin. I also did a big update to Companies in Berlin Hiring Right Now, including fresh employment stats, the addition of new companies, and a more user-friendly list format. 👉 Read our 50+ free guides to living and working in Germany.
⭐ ICYMI: Last week’s edition – Berlin Rents Are Rising Faster Than Anywhere Else in Germany. For past newsletters, browse our archives.
⭐ Our events: Subscribe to our events calendar to see what’s happening and get alerts about new events.
⭐Other events and communities: A shoutout to people in Berlin doing amazing things.
🌟 An after-hours event, I Got Work in the Morning, with Berlin Connect.
🌟 The Future of Work Circle: Shaping a culture of mental well-being with Factory Berlin.
🌟 An Asian Descent Event with Figma & Netlight – Empowering Voices: Navigating Stereotypes and Shaping Careers.
Food For Thought
💡 Interesting articles about the world of work and other random things.
⭐ An overview of the job outlook for 2025, including things like hybrid work, skills-based hiring, and salaries in relation to education level.
⭐ Will 2025 be the year change management dies? Predictions about how businesses will manage change in an increasingly volatile world.
⭐ On why single women are happier than single men. Meanwhile science has proven that things actually do feel better in the morning.
⭐ Adam Grant on how talking about yourself too much shows you’re more insecure than most people.
⭐ Video: Insights into whether tolerance can be learned.
⭐ Wikipedia wants to remain with us and plans to roll out features that protect its editors from authoritarian figures.
⭐ While it’s not likely that it will ever happen, it’s not a bad idea, and that’s Canada joining the EU.
⭐ Defense tech funding has reached an all-time high in Europe, and Germany is a major player.
⭐ A talent professional shares data on job vacancies, aka the areas where Germany needs people, and tips for foreigners looking for work.
⭐ Three purpose-driven, high-impact German startups that are hiring right now.
Companies Hiring
🇩🇪 Companies in Germany hiring right now.
⭐ CureVac – Tübingen | Jobs (28 openings)
⭐ Mindspace – Berlin | Jobs (7 openings)
⭐ Personio – Berlin, Munich, & remote | Jobs (75 openings)
⭐ Schunk Group – Berlin, Balingen, Aachen, Altendorf, Ausburg, Bad Goisern am Hallstättersee | Jobs (18 openings)
⭐ Upvest – Berlin | Jobs (26 openings)
⭐ Wavorly – Berlin | Jobs (2 openings)
🇩🇪 German startups that recently raised new funding also have vacancies.
⭐ Cargobeamer – €65 M | Leipzig | Jobs (15 openings)
⭐ Finn – €1 B | Munich | Jobs (40 openings)
⭐ FTAPI – €65 M | Munich | Jobs (21 openings)
⭐ Integral – €6.3 M | Berlin | Jobs (5 openings)
⭐ Lanch – €26 M | Berlin | Jobs (13 openings)
⭐ Pixel Photonics – €1 M | Munster | Jobs (4 openings)
⭐ Planted – €5 M | Cologne | Jobs (9 openings)
⭐ Roadsurfer – €30M | Munich | Jobs (50+ openings)
⭐ Spark e-Fuels – €2.3 M | Berlin | Jobs (2 openings)
⭐ Wyrld – €1 M | Hamburg | Jobs (1 opening)
⭐ Zellerfeld – $100 M | Hamburg | Jobs (6 openings)
ℹ️ Follow us on LinkedIn, where we share new job postings daily.
I’ve had a tough few days with dogs. Luckily there is always a win around the corner. And what a win it was as. From the streets of Thailand to her very first snow this morning in Germany 🇩🇪 Incredible scenes for Bowie (1/6) 🧵
— Niall Harbison (@niallharbison.bsky.social) 13 February 2025 at 12:25
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General News
⭐ Germany passed a historic law to help protect women from domestic violence. However, it will take seven years for it to come into effect! 🤬
⭐ Berlin’s iconic Karnival der Kulturen won’t occur in Kreuzberg this year and will be moved to a new location.
⭐ Steps on how to get private therapy covered by public health insurance.
⭐ Even though the Deutschland ticket got more expensive, subscription numbers didn’t drop significantly.
Politics & Economy
⭐ Commerzbank plans to cut about 4,000 jobs. Porsche also plans to trim jobs by 2029. Still, a lack of skilled workers is harming Germany’s economy.
⭐ OpenAI plans to open a Munich office, which lol … has terrified Munich startup founders.
⭐ Find out which German political party you most identify with using the Wahl-O-Mat, aka vote-o-meter. Plus, an explainer as to why so many young men in Germany have shifted to the right. Even German churches have publicly pleaded with the country to vote for democracy.
⭐ Opinion: Merz, likely the next chancellor, will not bring stability to Germany. There’s an even bigger existential question of whether anyone can bring stability. Listen to this podcast from The Economist to better glimpse Merz’s lack of character.
⭐ Civil activists won a lawsuit against dick-tator Elon Musk, with courts ordering he share X data to allow researchers to track misinformation and possible election interference. Merz also promises consequences if such information comes to light.
⭐ Meanwhile, activists sabotaged a rail line connected to Berlin’s Gigafactory, where sales are down 59%. 🤡
⭐ Speaking of dicks, the American Vice President spoke at the Munich Security Conference on Friday. He was condescending and hypocritical af, saying that German political parties should collaborate with the AfD. He took it further and even met with their party leader one-on-one.
Immigration & Labor Market
⭐ Immigration is one of the election’s most hotly contested issues. Find out the varying stances of the main political parties.
⭐ Non-Germans make up 20% of medical doctors in Brandenburg.
⭐ One in three refugees in Germany suffers from mental health issues.
⭐ A multicultural band plays concerts to protest nationalist rallies in East Germany.
⭐ Children who don’t speak German at home are less likely to attend Gymnasium (schooling needed to attend university later on).
Fun, Interesting, and/or Useful
⭐ Travel around Germany during winter – visit these spas and/or visit Potsdam.
⭐ Things tourists should avoid when visiting Berlin.
⭐ Art exhibitions that are happening right now in Berlin.
⭐ A German kid made a replica of MySpace.
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.
⭐ Subscribe to local newsletters: 20% Berlin.
⭐ Ask questions about living and working in Germany, and join our chat. 💬
❤️ If you like what we do, support our work.
Unfortunately, few are happy with their jobs in Germany right now. Hopefully, this will change for the better sooner rather than later.
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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.