Would you consider moving to Berlin, Germany from the Bay Area for working at a start up?

New
BNFy07

New

BNFy07
Dec 17, 2018 13 Comments

What would be some factors to take into consideration?
Software engineer role
Ivy League graduate

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TOP 13 Comments
  • New
    0racle

    New

    0racle
    Having lived in Berlin, I can tell you some things about it. It has a high standard of living. It’s the dirtiest city in Germany but it’s way cleaner than London - I live in London now. It’s easier to find a job than getting an apartment in Berlin, I mean this in no small way. People like to say Berlin is diverse, it’s not, it’s just different kinds of white people & a few Turks. Berlin Germans are close minded fuck whatever you are sold about being open it’s BS. Be ready to learn Deutsche if you want to have anything close to a sane social life. The salaries are so low-half whatever you get in the bay, taxes are so high- single persons pays up to 42% (fucking take all my money then Merkel). Healthcare is waaaay better than in the US. Lots of tech startups offering shit salary. Amazon has an office there but it’s still shitty, a former colleague left just after 4 months of joining, terrible work conditions. Transport system is really good you hardly need a car. It’s a very green & beautiful city too. If you don’t understand German sorting out paperwork will almost drive you nuts. And also don’t forget to enjoy the casual racism that seems to be allowed in corporate environment.
    Dec 17, 2018 0
  • Flagged by the community.

    • Uber
      zvartpietj

      Go to company page Uber

      zvartpietj
      hahah comparing berlin and SF, and calling the former a shithole: jesusland trumpster gtfo to market st
      Dec 17, 2018
    • New
      stuY17

      New

      stuY17
      Meh, stupid advice. What are you looking for out of the move?
      Dec 17, 2018
  • eBay / Eng
    Buidl

    Go to company page eBay Eng

    Buidl
    U guys forgot to talk about the best underground music scene in the world .....for all you house and techno heads
    Dec 17, 2018 0
  • If you don't know German and don't plan to learn it, don't go. Even though Berlin is very international, living in Germany with no German knowledge is hard. Been there, done that. I know German, but my English speaking friends had a hard time there.

    Make a research on who your coworkers will be. Germany is not an IT star and most probably you won't meet as talented/hard working people there as you meet in the Bay.

    Their current immigration situation is bad, think of the impact of the amount of refugees on their economy and also on the quality of their every day life.

    Anyway, I wish you good luck on your choices :)
    Dec 17, 2018 0
  • Bloomberg / Eng
    iVX372

    Go to company page Bloomberg Eng

    iVX372
    Meh. London, Zurich and Munich are better European cities imo.

    Berlin is like a poorer, less international, less globally relevant, worse compensated, cheaper version of London with crappier architecture, less food variety and a language most can't speak. And it looks like a third world country in comparison to London, Zurich or Munich. Germany and France are also about 10-15 years behind the US in race relations and integrating immigrants.

    I can say this because I'm German.

    Actually, I like SF far better than anyplace in Europe. It seems that Blinders never venture outside of the grimy, homeless-infested neighborhoods of Downtown, SOMA, the Mission and the Tenderloin.
    Dec 17, 2018 0