What’s on this week? Foreigners in Berlin and Hamburg are among the world’s most unhappy people. Data science and machine learning skills will score you a pretty high salary. Not all companies want you to put a photo on your CV. And a round-up of Berlin’s most beautiful pools.

We cover all this and more in our 19/11/2023 edition of The Berlin Life newsletter.

Personal News

Sometimes, I’m going to overshare.

⭐ To say I’ve been overwhelmed lately would be an understatement. Things aren’t bad, but things are busy AF so I decided to close down the “shop” on The Berlin Life earlier than expected. All coaching and other services are now on pause until the new year and next week’s newsletter will be the last one for this year as well. We’ll be back to business as usual in January.

⭐ Despite the stress I’m feeling atm, there’s also plenty to be grateful for. I’ll be trying indoor skydiving tomorrow for the first time and I’m terrified. This week, I found out I won the lottery for Eurocup tickets and I’ll be watching a quarter-final match at Olympiastadion in July 2024. Last but not least, I’m looking forward to seeing family and friends in Canada soon and eating all the amazing food that Toronto has to offer. 🇨🇦

⭐ My company just moved offices to a WeWork location and I visited for the first time this past week (WeWork Germany locations are safe for the time being). Anyway, we’re now homed in a really beautiful space but I seriously felt like I wasn’t cool enough to be there. Imposter syndrome, anyone? 🫠

General Community News

News from The Berlin Life community.

⭐ If you want to get caught up, read last week’s newsletter: Does the “Open to Work” Banner on LinkedIn Make You Look Desperate?​

⭐ Read one of our timeless Berlin Life Guides: Sunday Shopping In Berlin (Yes, It’s Possible) – Newbies to Germany are often shocked when shops are closed on Sundays. While Sunday shopping in Berlin is limited, there are options.

⭐ If I had unlimited time and money, I’d help all of our community members with their job applications. 😊 However, people keep sending me their CVs, as well as tons of other personal information, with the expectation I work for free. I do not, so please, pretty please, stop sending me your stuff 🙃

⭐ If you want help, talk to other community members on Facebook or Slack, take a look at our paid services and make a booking, or dig through our 50+ free guides for further guidance. If I’m booked up, check our list of qualified and experienced career coaches. Some of them offer their services for free, as it might be possible to get the coaching paid for by the federal employment agency.

Food For Thought

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

⭐ $400k graduate salaries and gun-for-hire ‘SWAT teams’ — inside the wild AI talent market of 2023 – If you want to make big money, you need to start building up your data science and machine learning skills ASAP. 🤑

⭐ ‘When I see you, three young women, I’m not so sure.’ How female founders are faring in the downturn – It’s hard for women founders to secure funding and the numbers support this. While some women manage to achieve success, women in general really have their work cut out for them.

⭐ If you think ‘bossware’ surveillance culture in the workplace is new, think again – Yes, your bosses are watching you and this is nothing new. A true story – I once worked with a guy who wasn’t that good at coding, so he had his wife do the work for him. When they fired him, they had detailed evidence of how he did this, when, how many times, etc. So be careful what you do when at the office or using company equipment. 🤡

⭐ A nice thing I saw on SumUp’s career site recently and a message I fully endorse.

⭐ I get a lot of people telling me that German companies want to see photos on your CV. This company knows what’s what.

Companies Hiring

German companies hiring right now.​​

⭐ BMG – The New Music Company | Berlin

⭐ Doctari | Locations throughout Germany

⭐ Instapro Group | Berlin

⭐ Finanz Informatik | Frankfurt, Hannover, & Münster

⭐ Digit Xperts | Munich

⭐ ING | Locations throughout Germany

⭐ Miro | Berlin

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.

⭐ Retorio| Munich |Jobs​

⭐ Prematch| Cologne | Jobs

News in Germany

All of the news in Germany.

⭐ Berlin and Hamburg expats are among the unhappiest in the world in 2023 – The reasons for people being unhappy are not unexpected, but is everyone really that unhappy?

⭐ Thanksgiving in Berlin: Where to go and what to do– American Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Find out the best spots to get turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie, and more. 🦃

⭐ Scholz rejects prospect of raising retirement age in Germany – Thankfully, they are holding back on raising the retirement age above the current age of 67. When Macron raised the retirement age in France earlier this year, the French took rioting to a whole new level.

⭐ The hidden beauty of Berlin’s indoor pools – A nice way to get exercise, while taking a soak in totally beautiful surroundings.

⭐ Changes to Germany’s skilled immigration rules take effect – While proposed new citizenship laws are being delayed (read What’s the current status of Germany’s new citizenship law?), other positive changes are coming into effect that make it easier for non-EU folks to work in Germany. Developments are also happening on the EU level.

⭐ Germany’s cannabis legalisation law hits a delay – It seems we have to wait longer for weed to become legal in Germany. 🌿

⭐ German budget blow triggers 2024 growth and jobs warnings – It’s too early to know if a recent ruling that blocked billions of Euros the government was going to use to fund struggling industries and green initiatives will have a negative impact on the German economy. Meanwhile, Germany reaches deal on electricity price support for industry and Germany’s lower house of parliament approves tax relief for companies.

⭐ Berlin’s BVG announces musical about a tram – This isn’t a joke put on by the BVG’s infamous social media team. The two-night show is already sold out! 🤣

⭐ Berlin says goodbye to its East German trains – Some of Berlin’s iconic trains are no longer in service. 🚂

⭐ Is Berlin losing the plot? How art world evictions leave us all poorer – There are people who think that gentrification only means “positive development” and that we must all accept change. I was literally arguing with someone about this topic only a couple of days ago. Some, but not all aspects of gentrification are positive, and “developments” like this are things we should fight to keep from happening.

How We Can Help

Some of the good stuff offered by the Berlin Life.

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

We also offer career coaching and other services, as well as free guides to living, working, and moving to Berlin. Be sure to check us out!