WHY PEOPLE ARE THINKING ABOUT LEAVING GERMANY
What’s on this week?
Reasons people may leave Germany. Celebrating 10 years in Berlin. The last newsletter of the year. The beginning of the end for big tech? Some of you will get a bigger pay slip this month.
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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.
A bit of news from me:
⭐ Last Monday, I celebrated 10 years in Berlin. See my post. 🎉
⭐ Oh yes! It’s time to enjoy a restful December, as this is our final newsletter of 2024. I’ll still post pretty regularly on socials, including some long-overdue video content. Check Bluesky, LinkedIn, Threads, and Instagram.
⭐ Thanks for everything, whether you subscribed to our newsletter, booked a coaching service, shared and read our content, attended a community event, or something else. I am so appreciative of your support. 🥹 I also wish you all a happy and safe holiday season!
Community News
🤝 News from our community.
⭐ Our last poll asked: What makes you feel unsure about your life as a foreigner in Germany and could potentially make you leave for good? The current state of the economy, high taxes, and lack of available jobs topped out as the number one reason.
⭐ Take part in this week’s poll: What do you like about life in Germany?
⭐ This week’s featured Berlin Life guides: Why You Should Stop Using the Word Expat in Germany and Everything You Need to Know About Probation Periods in Germany.
⭐ Read last week’s newsletter: The Changing Sentiments Of Foreigners Living In Germany. For more, browse our archives.
⭐ Save €15 with our link: Take out insurance with Getsafe and get support in English. They offer pet, health, liability insurance, and more.
Food For Thought
💡 Interesting articles about the world of work and other random things.
⭐ Talent Berlin has a brilliant newsletter (in EN & DE). Subscribe for job tips, notifications about career fares, and, best of all, perspectives from a diverse range of people. Subscribe.
⭐ Why bad-ass women over 50 are leading the way in entrepreneurship.
⭐ The common signs of a good leader and the steps you can take to become one.
⭐ These days, C-Levels in defense tech command multi-million dollar salaries.
⭐ A new app, Intenty, powerfully asks you why you pick up your phone each time you try to use it.
⭐ AI may soon be able to act on our behalf, but before this becomes a reality, there are big ethical dilemmas to work out.
⭐ Wired posits that it’s the beginning of the end for big tech and why it may not be the worst thing. Following that, how small 100-person startups are defeating big corporates.
⭐ The European startup scene is floundering (compared to the US) and needs a major shakeup.
Companies Hiring
🇩🇪 Companies in Germany hiring right now.
⭐ Netflix (Berlin, 8 jobs, EN &/or DE required)
⭐ Orange Cyberdefense (Augsburg, Munich, & Frankfurt, 12 jobs, EN & DE required)
⭐ PharmaHera (Berlin, 5 jobs, EN &/or DE required)
⭐ selected heads (Berlin, 20 jobs, EN &/or DE required)
⭐ smartvillage (Berlin, Cologne, & Munich, 18 jobs, DE required)
🇩🇪 German startups that recently raised new funding also have vacancies.
⭐ Akhetonics (€6 M) | Berlin | Jobs
⭐ Apaleo (€20 M) | Munich | Jobs
⭐ etalytics (€8 M) | Hessen | Jobs
⭐ HyperHeat (€3.5 M) | Offenburg | Jobs
⭐ Predium (€13 M) | Munich | Jobs
ℹ️ Good to Know
⭐ Some startups may only be at the beginning of their journey and might not yet be hiring. If you believe in their mission, follow them on LinkedIn for future hiring updates.
⭐ Follow us on LinkedIn, where we share new job postings daily.
General News
⭐ Various changes are set to happen in Germany this month, including the Christmas holidays, the deadline for inflation bonuses to be paid out, and a bigger payslip for some.
⭐ The BVG is planning for autonomous buses in Berlin by 2027 … meaning we’ll have them in 2037. 🧌
⭐ Measles cases are on the rise in Germany because people think they know better than proven science that can prevent such diseases. (Proudly double-jabbed last month for the flu and Covid-19.)
Politics & Economy
⭐ Former Chancellor Angela Merkel published her memoir and, to the dismay of many, defended her controversial past decisions.
⭐ The AfD has a new party policy: They want Germany to leave the Paris Climate Agreement, EU, and NATO. 🙄
⭐ Fortune 500 companies in Germany have announced 60,000 layoffs, with more expected in 2025. Case in point: steelmaker giant ThyssenKrupp plans to slash 11,000 jobs.
⭐ Inflation rose a wee bit to 2.2% in November, and consumer sentiment was also affected.
⭐ Not only is Berlin’s €29 ticket set to be discontinued, but the price for the Deutschland ticket is set to rise. If you can’t afford it, you’ll lose your subscription.
⭐ In obvious news, some people think Germany needs to make tough decisions to get the country back on track. Like should the government consider removing the infamous debt brake for some time?
⭐ Intel paused plans for its German chip factory, so the government is planning for billions in subsidies to kickstart the industry.
⭐ German startup Vaeridion is crafting a sleek battery-powered “microliner” for regional flights and just scored a major win with the EU Aviation Safety Agency to fast-track its certification.
⭐ The Berliner wrote an in-depth piece on Berlin’s housing crisis, and meanwhile, the mayor asked the federal government to regulate rents more strictly.
Immigration & Labor Market
⭐ Red Tape Translation advises whether you can freelance in Germany on a working holiday or youth mobility visa. I always thought the answer was yes, as I freelanced when I came to Germany on this visa, but it turns out it’s complicated.
⭐ German unemployment increased slightly in November but remained low despite economic challenges. Germany is also experiencing a trucker shortage and has looked to Uzbekistan for help.
⭐ Something on many people’s minds: Despite Germany needing foreign workers (at least 288,000 annually until 2040), will the far right allow it to happen? The far-right no longer keeps their plans a secret. Recently, the AfD had yet another Nazi-inspired conference, where they talked about deporting all non-Germans, as well as German citizens from a “migration background.”
Note: The AfD will not win the upcoming election, as no other German party will form a coalition with them. However, their growing popularity is to be taken seriously and will pose a seriously big challenge for the new government.
Fun, Interesting, and/or Useful
⭐ It’s that special time of year again—time to visit all the Christmas markets. Read about what makes them so special and the must-try foods. Be sure to visit these markets in Berlin that reflect the city’s growing international diversity.
⭐ A three-armed robot conductor was unveiled in Dresden, challenging us to think about the changing role of tech and music. 🤖
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.
Now you know why people are thinking about leaving Germany. Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter for more content just like this.
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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.