GERMAN SALARIES DON’T MEET EXPECTATIONS
What’s on this week?
Event co-organizer needed. German salaries don’t meet people’s expectations. A war against workers. A flurry of start-up funding. The German election and blatant American interference.
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Personal News & Musings
🫣 Sometimes, I’ll overshare and/or rant a bit.
It’s been a rough week. My cat, Burt Reynolds, became seriously ill and was rushed into emergency surgery. He’s now recovering, but it came with a lot of stress, and I had to cancel our monthly women’s networking dinner. 😭
It got me thinking – I’d love a co-organizer to help me plan and manage these amazing events. If you’re interested, hmu. 🙏
Community News
🤝 News from our community.
⭐ Our last poll asked: How do you find the salaries in Germany compares to your expectations? 226 people voted, and a surprising 63% reported finding salaries lower than expected. 😲
⭐ Take part in this week’s poll: Would you go into the office more every week if your company gave you a pay bump to do it?
⭐ Recent podcast episodes: Learn more about cold applications in Germany. 👉 Listen to past episodes. Subscribe on YouTube & Spotify.
⭐ This week’s featured Berlin Life guides: I updated The Best Berlin Job Search Websites. I also recommend reading, Sunday Shopping in Berlin – Yes, It’s Possible! 👉 Read our 50+ free guides to living and working in Germany.
⭐ ICYMI: Last week’s edition – Few Are Happy With Their Jobs in Germany. For past newsletters, browse our archives.
⭐ Our events: Meet me and others in our community and attend our mixer on March 6. Everyone is welcome! 👉 Be sure to subscribe to our events calendar to avoid missing out on future events.
⭐Other events and communities: A book dating event in Berlin. ❤️
Food For Thought
💡 Interesting articles about the world of work and other random things.
⭐ Software engineering job openings are at a five-year low. These days, it’s even tough for top talent from Silicon Valley to find work.
⭐ It’s not bad news for workers, as India will see salaries rise by 9.2% in 2025.
⭐ These jobs have the highest burnout rates. Burnout particularly affects those working for non-profits.
⭐ The Forbes team vetted the best CV builders out there.
⭐ In lol news, Duolingo killed Duo with a cyber truck, and user downloads increased.
⭐ Spain’s economy is performing well, and Germany should take note. Norway boasts the longest life expectancy in Europe.
⭐ A dark read about why the US could be so interested in European politics. And the real reason why the new government is such a rabid fan of meritocracy.
⭐ Consider using your noise-canceling headphones less. And be careful about your AI use, as studies show it can make human cognition atrophied and unprepared.
⭐ We’re living out a war on workers, with some suggesting it’s revenge for the “great resignation” era.
🌟 Piece of shit JP Morgan CEO recently ranted about staff complaints about RTO orders and what he saw as “wasted” DEI efforts.
🌟 There are indications that people could soon see pay reductions for “the privilege” of working from home, with some even saying they would accept a pay cut.
🌟 Actual emails from our new tech overlords (president[s]?) – Musk’s DOGE to US government workers on the left and Meta’s automated firing email to the right.
Companies Hiring
🇩🇪 Companies in Germany hiring right now.
⭐ Bettermile – Berlin | Jobs (8 openings)
⭐ Bolt – Various German locations | Jobs (63 openings)
⭐ Legalhero – Berlin | Jobs (12 openings)
⭐ MIKUTA – Berlin | Jobs (8 openings)
⭐ TeamViewer – Various German locations | Jobs (73 openings)
🇩🇪 German startups that recently raised new funding also have vacancies.
⭐ Atmos Space Cargo – €13.1 M | Baden-Württemberg | Jobs
⭐ Bliro – €2.8 M | Munich | Jobs
⭐ Caire – €850 K | Munich | Jobs
⭐ Claro – €650 K | Berlin | Jobs
⭐ DeepEn – Undisclosed | Jena | Jobs
⭐ Deutsche Sanierungsberatung – €3.6 M | Berlin | Jobs
⭐ Floy – €3.6 M | Munich | Jobs
⭐ Handly – €3.75 | Berlin | Jobs
⭐ HYTING – Undisclosed | Wiesbaden | Jobs
⭐ Kynda – €3M | Hamburg | Jobs
⭐ Metergrid – Undisclosed | Stuttgart | Jobs
⭐ METYCLE – €14 M | Cologne | Jobs
⭐ muffintech – €3.5 M | Berlin | Jobs
⭐ Noah Labs – €3 M | Berlin | Jobs
⭐ Reneo – €600 M | Hamburg | Jobs
⭐ Snuggs – €5 M | Berlin | Jobs
⭐ Vivalyx – €8.5 M | Aachen | Jobs
ℹ️ We share startup funding news each week, and not all companies will have job openings immediately. I recommend checking them out regardless. If you like their mission, follow them and stay tuned for updates.
General News
⭐ In transit news: The Deutsche Bahn canceled 4% of trains in 2024, Berlin’s Hbf will be partially closed for 2 months for construction, and plans are underway for direct trains between the UK & Germany.
Politics & Economy
⭐ Today is the BIG DAY – election day! Europe is braced for a changed nation that feels increasingly fascist.
⭐ Crucial info for newbies in DE – it could still take a while to form the new government and choose a new chancellor.
⭐ Ignore the nonsense coming from the US and JD Vance. Make no mistake, Germany has free speech, but hate speech is obviously not permitted.
⭐ Despite the laws, American social media companies aren’t being held accountable, and even Germany’s TikTok FYP is flooded with right-wing bias.
⭐ German businesses are getting more political by speaking out against the far-right. German startup founders are blunt about their wishes, too. People in Germany’s poorest city are also resisting.
⭐ Sadly, many voices in Germany will still go unheard.
⭐ The NYT published an op-ed piece stating that Germany is in big trouble and no one knows what to do about it.
⭐ How the varying political parties plan to “slay the German bureaucracy monster.”
⭐ Germany faces a critical housing shortage, yet it receives inadequate attention in the political sphere. Rising rents are also contributing to the rise of the AfD.
⭐ The chip factory in Dresden will go ahead after all.
Immigration & Labor Market
⭐ The state of Brandenburg doled out 50% more German citizenships in 2024, doubling the numbers in 2022. The country also awarded 200,000 skilled worker visas last year.
⭐ German startup founders are again raising the flag on the immigration system and how it’s driving away talent.
⭐ Local writer Musa Okwonga penned a timely piece for The Guardian – Anti-migrant hate is flourishing in Germany’s ‘time of the cowards.’ Longtime immigrants in Germany are rightly worried about this election.
🌟 I highly recommend reading his novel, In The End, It Was All About Love.
⭐ The far-right and even traditional media tend to sensationalize crimes committed by immigrants, but studies have objectively shown that immigration has not raised crime rates in Germany.
⭐ Unemployment in Germany will likely continue to rise this year.
Fun, Interesting, and/or Useful
⭐ Whether or not you’re seeing a Berlinale flick, check this foodie guide for eats around Potsdamer Platz. Plus, February’s best new restaurant openings in Berlin.
⭐ Apparently, Birkenstocks aren’t considered art after all. A new gallery in Berlin highlights emerging FLINTA artists.
⭐ Tips for your next trip to Hamburg – Cool Things To Do Around Hamburg Schanzenviertel.
How We Can Help
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❤️ If you like what we do, support our work.
German salaries don’t meet the expectations of foreigners after all – they expect them to be higher and, I assume, less taxes. What has your experience been like?
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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.