Berlin is the capital of Germany. As of 2022, the
population of Berlin is around 3.7 million people. Around 20% of the residents in Berlin moved from abroad to Germany. This makes Berlin a
good place for foreigners to move and adjust a bit easier in terms of the language as places offer some sort of English support.
Is finding a job in Berlin difficult?
As a city, Berlin has the
highest unemployment rate in Germany. While there are a lot of job seekers, there are also a lot of companies still hiring.
Finding a job can still be tricky depending on the kind of job you are looking for. For English speakers, the number of jobs are still higher than
other parts of Germany. This is common with Software, Startups and also in hospitality services.
Can I find a job in Berlin without any German?
While that is possible in some job sectors, a lot of your day to day might involve knowledge of German. I wrote about my experience
of
living in Germany without speaking German
How can I make it easier to work in Berlin?
I found my job without being in Berlin by applying to a lot of companies that offered visa sponsorship or relocation.
The best way to improve your chances of working in Berlin would be to find a way to move here. This can happen with the help of a
job seeker visa.
When you are already here, companies know that they can hire and train you earlier than hiring someone from abroad. Besides that,
you have an easier time getting interviews. Companies also do not have to spend weeks to ensure you have the right documents to get a work permit from
your country. They also do not need to pay for relocation which saves for money.
Is cost of living low in Berlin?
It used to be the case but it is no longer cheap. For a capital city in Europe, it is still cheaper than other capitals.
Salaries have been increasing a little bit, however I would no longer define Berlin as a cheap city to live.
What are the most difficult parts of living in Berlin?
In my experience, there are several things that could be difficult.
Fair question, it is not all gloom and doom. There are still plenty of positive things in Berlin. It is my favorite city of choice to live in.
There is really something to do for everyone. Particularly for me, the work-life balance and options to travel in Europe while in the middle of it all helps a lot.
Berlin is also fairly relaxed and you can definitely manage with English most of the times. When you speak a little bit of German, it helps a lot and
your experiences can improve greatly.
Berlin is a big city and has great public transportation as well. It is also really walkable (if you like walking!) and bicyclists friendly (most of the times).
It has a good immigrant crowd which means a decent amount of foreign cuisines in restaurants and getting by with English.