What is it like to live as an expat in Croatia? In this interview, Mackenzie, a passionate communications manager and a very positive, interesting person, shares her experience about living in Zagreb, the capital and the largest city of Croatia. Hopefully her story will be a great source of inspiration to you all. Enjoy the read!

What is your name? 

Mackenzie Schnell.

Where are you from? 

I’m from the USA.

What inspired you to relocate to Croatia? How long have you been here? 

The biggest factor in my decision to move to Croatia was definitely the career opportunity with Oradian. The company is growing quickly in so many ways: expanding in its current markets and entering new markets around the world, building new functionalities in its core banking system, recruiting top talent from the microfinance and fintech industries and creating a unique brand. With this much happening, I knew I would be hard-pressed to find another company that would offer the same amount of learning, number of interesting projects and level of autonomy. 

I was open to relocating in the first place because I had the mentality of, “Why not?” Croatia and Zagreb were enticing as a home base. The city and Oradian offer a lifestyle that, I think, is becoming more and more difficult to find. 

I’ve been in Croatia for just over one year. 10/10 would recommend.

What is your current role at Oradian? 

Senior Communications Manager.

Outside of work, what are your passions? 

My passions outside of work are oddly similar to what I do at work. In my free time, I am writing screenplays and documentaries about stories that are worth sharing – kind of like what I’m doing from 9am-5pm by documenting Oradian’s customer stories, writing case studies and creating testimonial videos about our customers’ businesses. 

Besides pressing keys on a keyboard, I also spend a lot of time bicycling, playing sports, wondering what I will make for dinner, traveling and going to random events in Zagreb.

How did you search for a job in Croatia? Any tips for those seeking similar work?  

A) Go through a really laborious process of calling the embassy, hand writing letters to career advisors and researching expat procedures. 

B) Search jobs portals for your industry. I was in the financial inclusion space before joining Oradian and I knew I wanted to stay. I found my job on Microfinance Gateway’s job site. 

Honestly, I only know of a few companies in Croatia that are actively hiring expats – and that expats enjoy working at. I have heard many Croatians say that ‘typical’ Croatian companies aren’t great places if you want a dynamic career in a positive atmosphere. 

What was the visa process like? What type of visa did you apply for? 

The visa process was much easier than I expected. Oradian’s Operations Team sent the forms that I had to fill out so I only need to know my name, birthday, address, etc. With the Operations Team, I applied for a work permit using the employment contract from Oradian and the temporary ‘stay permit’ using my housing contract. In total, I only had to go to one of the dreaded Croatian administrative offices three times. 

How long did it take for you to actually move after accepting the job offer? 

One month. I signed the contract and found someone to sublease my apartment at home. I sold most of my stuff on Craigslist and packed everything I wanted to bring in two gigantic suitcases.

Share a few words about the company and your new team

I like that you can be yourself in the office and there’s not a lot of stiffness (i.e. people pretending not to be humans). The number of people in my team is four, but it’s a growing department. I work with people from Tunisia, South Africa, Slovenia, Cameroon, other Americans, the Philippines, you name it.

What are three things that impressed you the most about Croatia/Zagreb? 

1. When the sun is shining, the streets are filled with people hanging out and socialising on terraces with coffee, beer, wine and good energy. 
2. Croatian is useful but not necessary because 9/10 people that I meet speak better English than I do as a native English speaker.
3. It seems like everyone’s grandma is busy making amazing Croatian food and sweets and inviting strangers to their homes to attest that they make the best ‘insert traditional food name’ here.

What has been the most helpful thing in adapting to your new home abroad? 

Supportive colleagues that invite you places and send you links for helpful resources.

What’s one of the biggest differences between working in Croatia and working in your home country? 

People in Croatia stop working after a certain hour in the day.

According to Number, the average cost of rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the center of Zagreb is €400 + €175 for utilities (electricity, water, etc.). Is that true? 

Seems like a high price for rent to me, or I have low standards for housing. I live 15 minutes from the city center and share my apartment with one roommate. It’s EUR 250 for rent + EUR 80 for utilities.

In general, is it hard to find an apartment for rent in Zagreb? Could you name a couple of websites to search on? 

No, it’s not hard, especially because it’s common for families to own multiple apartments/houses in Croatia and rent their spaces out. It’s easy to find someone who knows someone who is looking for a tenant. Or check out this website. 

If you had to define public transport in Zagreb in 2 or 3 words, what would they be? 

Easy, above ground, only four kunas ($0.50 for 30 minutes).

What is the average software developer salary in Croatia? 

Hard to say because it depends a lot on which company they work for. Oradian’s developers earn competitive salaries, especially for this part of Europe.

If you could pick one piece of advice to anyone relocating here, what would it be? 

Bring sunglasses

Are you looking for the right relocation opportunity? Click here to view software developer jobs currently available.

The post Expat Advice: Moving to Croatia from the USA first appeared on Relocate.me.

Three weeks ago, Oleg, a passionate web developer from Russia, got on a plane and headed to Belgium for a challenging new job at Showpad. We spoke to Oleg to hear first hand what it takes to get a great software developer job abroad and how things are going after his move to Ghent. Here’s his story:

Short Bio

Name: Oleg Merkulov
Current position: Software Engineer @ Showpad
Time in the industry: 14 years
Favorite tech stack: PHP, MongoDB, Yii
Passions outside of work: Riding a motorcycle, a scooter, and a bicycle. Traveling in general.

What made you decide to relocate to Belgium? 

I was inspired by the work-life balance in Belgium.

How long have you been here?

I have been living here for three weeks.

How did you search for a job in Belgium? What was the role of Relocate.me in the process?

I was looking for a new software developer job somewhere in the EU and came across one at Relocate.me that fit me the best. I applied for it without delay. On Relocate.me, I also learned what I could expect in terms of relocation support. It’s incredibly helpful! I already recommended the platform to my friends.

Tell us a little about the selection process for the position of Software Engineer at Showpad. How many interview rounds did you have to pass?

There was an HR interview. Then there was an interview with the CTO that was very cool! We discussed my code on GitHub. Next was a general interview with one of the company’s managers. I was invited to come to Ghent for a day (flight expenses were covered by the company) and complete a test task. Finally, there was an on-site interview in Ghent with various people.

I received my job offer two days after the on-site interview. Each of the stages took about a week. The hardest and most exciting one for me was the test task. 

Going through all that, what advice would you give?

Be honest and keep trying.

Share a few words about the company and your new team

Really nice, open, and hospitable people. Everyone here understands that relocation to another country is a serious step. They are always supportive and ready to help.

The team is mostly comprised of local developers, however, there are some from abroad — from the USA, England, and the Netherlands. It started as a startup, but today Showpad is a close-knit team of 200 workers based in the US (Chicago and San Francisco) and London. I am so happy to be part of it.

What was the visa process like? What type of visa did you apply for?

I applied for the type B work permit. An application must be submitted by an employer, so the visa process for me was really easy. I just sent two documents to my employer: a translated copy of my university degree and a special medical certificate. The latter has to be less than three months old and be issued by a clinic/hospital accredited by the Embassy of Belgium. There are only four of them in Russia. Overall, it took about two weeks to finish the process.

How long did it take for you to actually move after accepting the job offer?

Three months.

What are three things that impressed you the most about Belgium?

The attitude towards the environment (the tidiness everywhere); people’s kindness and willingness to help out; the excellent work-life balance.

What has been the most helpful thing in adapting to your new home abroad?

A hammer to assemble IKEA’s furniture

Is English enough to carry on daily life in Belgium?

I haven’t met someone who couldn’t understand me. Belgians speak Dutch, French, and English. The working language is also English.

According to Number, the average cost of rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the center of Ghent is €700. Is that true?

Yes, it’s something around it. I’m living in the center of the city in a studio flat for €660 a month apart from gas, electricity, and water. The overall cost is about €800 a month. Locals say to me that it’s too expensive and it’s possible to find a cheaper variant. I just didn’t want to waste time so I decided to stay here.

In general, is it hard to find an apartment for rent in Ghent? Could you name a couple of websites to search on?

The problem is that locals tend to rent apartments to students because they will pay lower taxes. If you’re not a student, it can be hard to find good accommodation. A few websites to search on:

• Immoweb
• Realo
• Logic-Immo
• Zimmo
• Appartementen en Studio’s te huur in Gent (Facebook Group)

The sites are mostly in Dutch, but every person here speaks English. Don’t hesitate to contact them in English.

If you had to define public transport in Ghent in 2 or 3 words, what would they be?

Convenient, comfortable, and affordable.

What is the average software developer salary in Belgium?

In Belgium, salaries are not a thing that is openly discussed. However, for a mid-level software engineer, I suppose that figure is €2500 (gross). If you are single, taxes for you will be about 40%. From my experience, I can say that the salaries offered are sufficient to live comfortably here — all your personal needs will be met.

In your opinion, what kind of skills and qualities are the companies looking for in software developers? What was your recipe for success?

First off, be open, kind, and show that you are ready to learn something new. Companies are looking for someone for a long-term position and they can be very picky if you’re a foreigner. However, Belgium has a shortage of tech workers so companies are always after skilled software engineers.

Would you like to move your career abroad too? Click here to view software developer jobs currently available.

The post Expat Advice: Moving from Russia to Belgium first appeared on Relocate.me.

What is it like to live as an expat in Finland? In this interview, Ekaterina, a skilful marketer and a passionate travel blogger, shares her experience about living in Helsinki. Hopefully her story will be a great source of inspiration to you all. Enjoy the read!

What is your name?

Ekaterina Popova.

Where are you from?

I’m originally from Vyborg, Russia. This town is located near the Russian-Finnish border, just 70 kilometers away from Lappeenranta. I moved to Finland in August 2011 and have been living here since then.

What company do you work for? What is your position?

I’ve worked at five Finnish companies so far. In 2016, I moved from Lappeenranta to Helsinki and started working as a marketing specialist at an IT company. Last November, I started my own marketing company that offers content and influencer marketing to companies in Finland and the UK.

Outside of work, what are your passions?

Travelling, writing, and helping others are my three biggest passions and I manage to fulfill all of them through my personal blog where I share practical aspects about life in Finland and diverse how-tos for young professionals (especially expats like me), travelers, and sports enthusiasts.

What inspired you to relocate to Finland? How long have you been here?

When I was 14-years-old, my parents decided that I would get my degree in Finland because higher education was free here and this country could give me good career opportunities. That’s why they invested money into private English lessons and group Finnish classes. In 2011, I got a study place at Saimaa UAS and moved to Lappeenranta. As of August this year, it will be seven years since I relocated to Finland.

How did you search for a job in Finland? Any tips for those seeking similar work?

I found my first job through TE-toimisto. When I decided to relocate to Helsinki, I used LinkedIn and mol.fi a lot. I wrote a blog post and shared a video on YouTube with tips for those looking for a job. Both can be found here.

What was the visa process like? What type of visa did you apply for?

As a student, I had the study permit (visa B) for three years. After getting a full-time job, I got the work permit first for one year and then for four years. Last year, I got my Finnish citizenship. For me, the visa process was never an issue, and I never had to stay in the country waiting for my new permit. Maybe I got lucky or maybe my documents were always in order — who knows!

What are the best things about living and working in Finland? 

There are many things to be grateful for in Finland: security, beautiful nature, free education, high salaries, a healthy and active lifestyle, positive and friendly people… I’ve covered all of them in more detail in one of my recent blog posts.

What has been the most helpful thing in adapting to your new home abroad?

I had a basic level in Finnish when I moved here back in 2011, and I can say that Finnish has been the most helpful thing for sure! Besides, I was only 18-years-old when I moved here, so it was easier to adapt because I was wild, young, and free.

Is English enough to comfortably live in Finland?

English is enough to comfortably live in Helsinki, but if you live in a town like Lappeenranta, I recommend you to learn at least some basics.

How do you find life (housing, cost of living) in Helsinki?

Life in Helsinki is more expensive than anywhere else in Finland. I rent a studio of 27 square meters in the city centre for 850 euros (all costs included). In this blog post you can find more detailed information about cost of living in Helsinki with price examples!

In general, is it hard to find an apartment for rent in Helsinki? Could you name a couple of websites to search on?

I’m getting a feeling that I have a blog post for every question you ask! Finding an apartment is not the easiest thing to do, but still possible. Before you start looking for apartments, first decide how long you’re planning to rent it. In most cases, you have to stay in the apartment for 6-12 months. Besides, keep in mind that you will also have to pay a deposit that’s equal to 1-2 months rent and get some home insurance. Here you can find more tips.

What’s the average software developer salary in Finland?

I assume that the average software developer salary is about 3,500 euros.

Share a few words about public transport in Finland. Is it essential to have a car?

In Helsinki, you can easily manage without a car. Public transport goes regularly and takes you from any place A to any place B. Outside Helsinki, you can’t live without a car. I got my first car two weeks after moving to Lappeenranta and, believe me, I couldn’t manage there without it!

What advice would you give to people who are considering relocating to Finland? Why is it worth moving to Finland?

I can discuss this topic for hours. Tastes differ and different people seek different things in life. Finland is a good country for me. I see more pros than cons in living here and thus I would say that, yes, it’s worth moving to Finland. However, other people might have a different opinion on that.

Would you like to move your career abroad too? Click here to view software developer jobs currently available.

The post Expat Advice: Moving To And Living In Finland first appeared on Relocate.me.

What is it like to live as an expat in Denmark? In this interview, Daniel, a software engineer from beautiful and sunny Portugal, shares his experience about living in Vejle, Southern Denmark. Hopefully his story will be a great source of inspiration to you all. Enjoy the read!

What is your name?

Daniel Luis.

Where are you from?

I’m originally from Portugal.

What company do you work for? What is your position?

I’m a Senior Application Developer at LEGO.

Outside of work, what are your passions?

Traveling, sports, and cooking.

What made you decide to relocate to Denmark?

I was looking for a more challenging position in a good company that would also ensure good work-life balance. Denmark is considered the happiest country in the world and it’s also known for a great work-life balance, so it was a perfect match.

How long have you been living in Denmark?

Two and a half years now. I moved here in November 2015.

How did you search for a job in Denmark? Any tips for those seeking similar work?

I was suggested for this job, but usually LinkedIn is a good starting point.

How long did it take for you (as an EU citizen) to actually move after accepting the job offer?

Three months.

What are the best things about living and working in Denmark? What impressed you the most?

The work-life balance is great, but there were a few things I didn’t know about that made me even more impressed. Things like safety, low crime-rate, cleanliness, and social security make sure you are welcomed.

What has been the most helpful thing in adapting to your new home abroad?

Making new friends. Moving alone to a country where you know no one is a big challenge and establishing new friendships is extremely helpful.

What city do you live in? How do you find life (cost of living, housing) there?

I live in Vejle, a town in the southeast of the Jutland Peninsula. Housing is super expensive compared to the pricing of apartments in Portugal. Generally speaking, the cost of living in Vejle is ok and balanced with wages.

Vejle, Southern Denmark. Image source: Climate-Data.org

According to Numbeo, the average cost of rent for a one-bedroom apartment in downtown Vejle is €700. Is that true?

Yes, the prices shown on Numbeo are quite accurate. For instance, it is possible to rent a 3-room apartment (2 bedrooms + a living room) near the city center for approx. 7,000 kr (~ €900). If it is a 2-room apartment, the prices start at approx. 5000 kr (~ €650).

Can you name a couple of websites that can help in finding an apartment in Denmark?

BoligPortal and LokalBolig are the two popular sites.

If you had to define public transport in Denmark in two words, what would they be?

On-time and reliable. However, a monthly pass is rather expensive.

What is the average software developer salary in Denmark?

That is quite relative, depends on which IT area, experience, where in Denmark, etc… but the union’s website usually has this information available so that is the best source.

Do you have any advice for tech people considering relocating to Denmark?

Companies in Denmark represent a great choice for IT people as they offer a great working culture and conditions as well as challenges. You won’t feel like an IT guy working in a basement away from the stakeholders. Here, you feel IT and business go hand-in-hand for working towards a goal.

Would you like to move your career abroad too? Click here to view software developer jobs currently available.

The post Expat Advice: Moving from Portugal to Denmark first appeared on Relocate.me.

This post was originally published on relocateme.eu.

Short Bio

Andrei Ianovskii moved to London in February 2017. Initially joined Lebara as a Mobile Application Designer, Andrei is now its Senior Product Designer. He is also a talented photographer. Hope his story will be a great source of inspiration to you all.

What has encouraged you to consider relocation?

It all started with a remarkable honeymoon in the USA where my wife and I spent about a month. In particular, we were thrilled with the time spent in New York and sunny Miami Beach. The sharp contrast that caught our hearts inspired me to actively search: I’ve updated my CV, completed a portfolio and began actively seeking my dream job.

What kind of advice would you give to those of software developers and designers, who are looking for job opportunities abroad at the moment?

It’s worth noting that the job search for software developers is a lot easier than for other professions because of the rapidly increasing demand in the market. Day by day I was tirelessly looking through LinkedIn, Dribbble, craiglist, AngelList, Stack Overflow, Behance and other websites of interesting agencies to find that special company, hiring international talent. In the end, I have sent approximately 450 CVs to various European and American tech companies in less than a year, writing down their names not to be messed up. It was a truly long journey… I should say that over half of my applications didn’t get any feedback. About 20 companies invited me for a Skype interview, I did 5 test tasks, got rejected twice, 2 of them went missing, and one of the companies offered to contact them one year later.

Going through all that, what advice can you give?

First of all, believe in yourself and don’t give up trying! If you see a job description in German, send your CV anyway. Vacancy in Poland available in English? Apply for it too. Netherlands? Why not? If there is no response from a company, send your CV again and again!

What was your recipe for success?

There is no specific recipe, I would rather describe it as a happy coincidence. I remember when I felt like giving up. At that moment I was waiting for a reply from one interesting company in Berlin. I will never forget that casual Thursday morning when I was scrolling down news on Facebook and suddenly noticed a job opening in London for a Mobile App Designer with just 2 years of experience. I found that interesting and have applied.

What was the selection process like?

The selection process consisted of three stages. The final one with the CEO I found very interesting as we were talking about life rather than work. But at the end of the talk, he made me an offer so casually that I couldn’t believe it until I was sent a draft of my contract. Something that I had been aspiring towards for more than a year was achieved in a week.

If you could travel back a year in time, would you change anything?

We have the culture of mistrust towards the recruiting agencies, and there is no clarity that there are no costs connected with their collaboration with the software developers. I also didn’t know that the majority of companies in London do work through the middleman (except for Facebook, Google, etc. who have their own recruiting departments). If I would have known that, I would appeal/go to the recruiting agency in the first place.

Westminster Bridge. London, UK (Photo: ESB Profession/Shutterstock)

How long did it take for you to actually move after accepting the job offer?

The relocation process took me about four months. I went to Moscow to pass IELTS and to do the X-ray photography, application fee at the same time, expecting an invitation, sponsorship form and it has taken three months. In addition, we asked for an additional month for relocation. But it’s realistic to complete all of that in three months.

How would you compare your expectation vs. the reality of life in London?

I have been to London two times before the relocation, so I knew exactly what to expect. London is a stunning city with lots of opportunities available, an amazing cultural scene, a great variety of exhibitions, theaters, beautiful architecture. There are so many museums here that you may go to one every weekend of the year but still won’t visit every single one. I adore Georgian and Victorian style in architecture, neo gothics in London. On the other hand, the city has a diverse community and a stable economy, it is very green and clean. I really loved the moderate climate, which gets up to 25°C in the summer.

How do you find life (housing, cost of living) in London?

Accommodation prices here are changing rapidly due to the London housing bubble. In terms of standards of living, can’t say that we are showing off here. I am really glad that I have some budgeting experience and relocation — it’s a responsible step, you have to get ready and think everything through, start saving beforehand.

How did your adaptation go? What were your first impressions of the team and the company?

My first one was just one big amazing day and week. I was welcomed happily by the great team — we have people from Ukraine and Russia, Argentina and India, Poland and the Netherlands. I still can remember that delightful and inspirational atmosphere, when we were invited to the house party at our colleagues’ house, the way we were grilling Franburgers and enjoying ourselves. Unexpectedly, we were all lucky to witness our colleagues fantastic flamenco dance skills. It was tremendous.

Work at Lebara has opened so many opportunities for everything. It’s like entering a good, prestigious university and then trying to get a job or entering a usual vocational school and then trying to get a job. Both here and there is education, but the usual education in a good place gives you a promise for something better in the future. Same principles apply here.

What kind of effect does London have on you career-wise? Does it inspire you?

London’s vivid IT and design scene has allowed me to expand my horizons endlessly. Conference on Virtual reality, meeting with the designer of gov.uk and BBC has been great highlights for me. Networking opportunities are truly great. I had a chance to meet some amazing industry influencers. For instance, I have been to one Instagram meet up and have casually chatted with one designer, when later, he turned out to be the designer from Skype. Also, when I’ve been to the Facebook event, one of the lecturers, who had been talking about Origami, turned out to be the one I was watching two years ago.

Street view of Trafalgar Square. London, UK (Photo: Songquan Den/Shutterstock)

It sounds like London had a significant influence on you as a designer. What would be your advice for Mobile App Designers all around the world? What skills are worth developing to stay on top of the trends?

I would advise designers to become familiar with programming and learn to present the projects to stakeholders well. I have some knowledge of HTML, CSS and I am learning FramerJS at the moment.

I fully agree with Koen Bok, who said that every week hundreds of new and even better instruments are coming out and a good designer is defined by his curious mind, endless wish for development and growth.

The post The Recipe For Success Or How To Get A Job Offer In London In A Week first appeared on Relocate.me.

This post was originally published by @ejaypcanaria.

It’s almost a year now since I flew here in Singapore. It’s a bit silly to admit but it was my first trip overseas and my first time to ride a plane, yikes! Actually, I was able to board a plane when I was in kindergarten, but it didn’t take off.

It was early January of this year. I packed my bag, went to the airport and ride a plane to Singapore. This is not a vacation nor a business trip. I will be working as a Software Engineer in the Lion City. I joined TradeGecko — an awesome startup founded in this very country. It was a very exciting moment for me.

First thing I need to do is to find a place to stay prior to actually moving here. I did a search at the popular room hunting websites in SG like EasyRoomMate, 99.co, and RoomsDB. I wanted something close to CBD as I don’t like a long commute to work. Obviously, the closer the place is to CBD, the more expensive it is. Rent, in general, is very expensive here.

With help from my cousin who has been working here, I was finally able to find a good place through PinoySG. It’s just four train stations away from work plus a couple of minutes of walking — not bad.

This is where I live

View from my window

Say hi to my roommates

When I’m not reading or writing (codes) in my room, I’m most probably playing with these guys. Otherwise, I’m out for a gym or a grocery. That is my kind of weekend in here.

Transportation in Singapore is very efficient. Primary transportation is by train, bus or cab. You can almost go everywhere using the train. I think that’s the safest and cheapest way to not get lost if you don’t have a map or the gothere.sg app.

A reloadable card, used for public transportations. You can easily get one at the 711 store

Buses are predictable. You can download an app like MyTransport to know how much time it will take for a certain bus to arrive at a certain bus station. Taxis are everywhere though it’s a bit expensive. You can always use GrabTaxi if you need a cab.

The train station near my place

Yup, buses here are Mercedes-Benz

Almost always, you need to walk for at least five mins to get to the train or bus station (at least in my case). This is a tropical country hence you will find your self sweating under the mighty sun. It’s a good thing for your health as an exercise, but I kinda miss the Tricycle in the Philippines. It’s a cheap and convenient way of replacing the walking part. But no, I don’t miss this kind of thing back home:

The dreaded EDSA road. Source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Food is everywhere and from everywhere. From local delights, Indian cuisine, Filipino food, Italian, Mexican you name it — foods from all over the world. You can easily find them here. Most likely, you have a Hawker Centerbeside your building or across the road. So far, my favorite local delight is the ever famous Singapore Chicken Rice.

Ironically this is from a food stall called Hong Kong Street

Grocery stores and small shops are easily accessible too. Shopping malls are everywhere — almost always there are malls near or inside the MRT station. Everything is just interconnected. One thing that you will find very expensive here aside from rent are products like alcohol and tobacco. The price is more than double than the usual price in other countries. That for sure will lower your alcohol and cigarette consumptions than usual.

Overall, I would say living in Singapore is easy but expensive. Well, that’s a compromise. Almost everything is provided — efficient transportation, good housing, a plethora of food choices, and security. You have peace of mind while walking back home very late at night. There’s good diversity as well. It’s true that Singapore is a melting pot. It is such an overwhelming experience for me to meet a lot of people from all over the world in one country. It is such a privilege to live here.

The ideal place for me is the one in which it is most natural to live as a foreigner — Italo Calvino

The post Life As An Expat In Singapore first appeared on Relocate.me.

This post was originally published by @filipeabreu.

Getting a job in Germany may be a great idea, especially if you are into the tech industry like me. It is not a hard thing to achieve, specifically if you have some experience and a university degree. I have been working in Berlin as a web developer since April 2017, and I will share my experience working here so far. I found some blog posts, articles, and even videos about living in Germany, especially Berlin, but I felt it still lacked some information. I will try to get more deep into the details. Note that this post will mostly be related to working in the IT sector and about my personal experience here.

About Germany

Aerial view of Berlin skyline with famous TV tower and Spree river (Photo: canadastock/Shutterstock)

Germany is a great country to live in. It provides a great quality of life, with great social security, educational, and health systems. Also, the German economy is very strong, being nowadays the strongest economy in Europe and the fourth strongest economy in the world. Yet, you may find some differences in public governance here, especially if you are from more liberal countries like the USA (I’m from Brazil).

The German government is very serious about social politics, providing quality health care and education, as well as subsidizing public transport, among other things. But, for that, people pay a lot of taxes. Health insurance is collected from your salary, so each person pays a different value, but everybody gets the same health services. This is a solidarity model that is present in every aspect of German politics. I won’t go into details about tax calculations, as you can calculate using this calculator.

But one thing to note is that if you are married and your partner does not have income in Germany, you pay less taxes, and if you also have children, you pay even less. Choose the right tax category in the calculator above if you fit into those categories. Also, your health insurance covers your partner and children as well. Among other things, education is free in Germany, even universities. Some university courses are even in English, focusing on foreign students.

Another thing to note is that in Germany, and overall in Europe, you will find that social and economic gap is much lower than in other countries. While in Brazil, as a skilled worker in tech, you can get paid 8 to 10 times what a regular blue collar worker is getting paid, in Germany you will probably be earning 2 or 3 times what the regular worker is getting. While everybody is able to sustain a decent lifestyle and the smaller social and economic gap leads to fewer crimes and violence, my purchasing power is actually less than I had in Brazil. Germans living in big cities often live in small apartments (30–50 square meters kitchenettes) and don’t have a car, instead rely on public transportation or ride a bike (like me!).

Taken that, Germans often value quality of life more than economic success. Companies will not put pressure on your shoulders or give you unachievable goals. If you are staying late, your boss will even ask you why and tell you to go home. Germans believe that work is better done if it’s enjoyable, and I agree! Yet salaries in Germany are often a bit lower than in other countries, like the UK, especially in Berlin (overall salaries in Hamburg, Munich, and Frankfurt are often higher than in Berlin).

Still, you will find people all over the world moving to Germany to work. I even have two colleagues from the USA that chose Germany as their new home. The German government and labour policies are very open to foreigners, especially if you are a highly skilled worker.

German Efficiency

Germans are often known and praised for their efficiency. As I have to agree that mostly things work better here (for example, trains and people are often on time), this efficiency happens as a result of very strict rules and people following this rules strictly. That even means that German rules are even more important than social empathy. Germans are not confortable on bending the rules, as this would imply that their rules don’t work. So instead of applying a work around, the rules should be changed, but that would require following the protocols of rule changing. Even than, sometimes German eficiency fails. We have several delayed constructions, like the Schönefeld airport in Berlin or the Elbphilarmonie in Hamburg (this was finally delivered with a 5 year delay and at 10 times the budgeted costs).

So, don’t try to get smart here (take note Brazilians!), things can get worst for you. But if you follow the rules, everything works just fine. Just be patient and follow all the required protocols. For example, in traffic people are very polite, drivers stop on each red light and respect pedestrians and cyclists very much. But if you try to cross the street in the red light, possibly you will get run over by a car, drivers won’t stop for you in this case. You can get also earn a ticket and get strange looks, especially if there are children around (don’t be a bad example).

Every step you make living in Germany is filled with bureaucracy, which you must follow step by step. For everything here, especially public services, you will need to make an appointment. The problem is that you can only get free appointments slots within one month ahead. Also, there are often several forms that you must fill, sign and send the original forms by post. Digitalization is still not very trusted here. That also means that most places don’t accept credit or debit cards, most restaurants and cafes only operate on money. Another interesting thing in Germany is that people often have insurances for everything, as if you mess around you can end up having to pay huge amounts of money. So, get a liability and a residence insurance as soon as you arrive.

About Berlin

Most tech jobs and startups in Germany are concentrated in Berlin, but still, you can find tech companies in Hamburg, Munich and Frankfurt, as well as in other smaller cities. So if you are considering a tech job in Germany, most probably you will find one in Berlin.

Urban city life with famous Reichstag building in the background, Berlin (Photo: canadastock/Shutterstock)

Berlin is the capital and largest city in Germany. There are around 3.5 million people living here. People are living spread all over the city, so you don’t have a large concentration of people and jammed traffic. The city is filled with parks and green areas all over, and there are beautiful canals where you can have a nice walk or even a boat trip. There are cozy cafes all over the city, especially in neighborhoods like Prenzlauer Berg (my favourite!), Mitte and Schönenberg, and the biergartens are very busy during summer.

About Berlin weather, the summertime is great! You actually can get around 25°C temperatures and sunny weather to enjoy a day in the park. You will often find people having barbecues and bare naked sunbathing in parks and lakes during summer. Days lasts for very long, getting dark after 9h30 PM. Summer weather lasts for around 2 to 3 months, then it’s back on being gray, cold and rainy. You will probably get more rain than snow in Berlin. And during winter you will get dark, depressing days, getting dark as early as 4 PM, as opposed to the long days of summer.

Berlin is one of the most culturally active cities in the world. The city has 175 museums, 140 theaters, 300 cinemas, 4650 restaurants, around 900 bars and 190 night clubs. You will find a show or event on any day of the year, many of them as open-air events in parks. During the 1st of May, there is a massive party and events all over the city, especially in Kreuzberg area, characterized by leftist and social movements and manifestations. It’s a city that you can find anything to do, for any taste, at any time. You can’t ever get bored in Berlin.

Konzerthaus Berlin on the Gendarmenmarkt square (Photo: meunierd/Shutterstock)

Yet, Berlin is not a regular European city. You can even hear Germans saying that Berlin is not really Germany. Berlin is truly unique and has its own characteristics, but not everything is for the best. I myself find the city to be very dirty and sometimes even messy. There are a lot of constructions happening in old buildings, blocking the sidewalk, all over the city. The U-Bahn stations are in bad shape, although they work very well. You will find homeless people and often people begging for money inside the U-Bahn trains and stations. Also, Berlin is under constant renovation, with a lot of constructions happening, especially in the Friedrichshain area. Note that the city was divided into two less than 30 years ago and the differences between east (soviet) and west (capitalist) Berlin are still notable.

Rent prices in Berlin are rising every day. It is still cheaper than other cities in Europe like London or Paris, and even other German cities like Munich, but the super cheap rent prices days in Berlin are over now. You will be paying around €600–800 monthly for a single room apartment.

One thing to note when searching for apartments in Berlin is that they count all rooms, not only bedrooms. So a one-room apartment has only a single room (consider it a living room or bedroom), often with a kitchen inside too. A two-room apartment often has a living room with a kitchen plus a bedroom. There are still some apartments with a separated kitchen. Another thing to note is that most buildings are old, but with a renovated apartment. The city is filled with old buildings with 5 floors at most, without elevators or automatic doors. Rarely there are new buildings, that count with elevators, mostly in Mitte, Litchenberg or Friedrichshain, but are overall more expensive. And you won’t find buildings with a doorman, which is very common in Brazil. Also, if you are planning on owning a car, note that old buildings do not count with a garage, so you will have to rent a parking space on the street. Even new buildings with a garage, the parking space is rented separately, which costs around €60-90.

Finding an apartment in Berlin is also becoming harder every day. You will have a lot of competition, it looks like getting a job. Often when visiting an apartment for rent, you will find 10-20 other people also visiting at the same time. I heard stories of lines with over 100 people to visit an apartment. You will have to provide work contracts, proof of income, and documents proving that you don’t have any unpaid debts (the so-called SCHUFA). That’s why so many people often share apartments or rent rooms in other people apartments. This is possibly the best option you get when arriving, but note that these room rentals are often temporary, sometimes even less than a month.

Overall Berlin is a great city to live, but it has it’s problems too. It is an always changing city, culturally active, filled with green areas and much fun. It is a big city, with a lot of people, and if you are seeking a calmer and more settled atmosphere, maybe you won’t find it here in Berlin. Finally, the city has a lot of immigrants and welcomes expats, with a lot of people speaking English at most any restaurant or shop.

Conclusion

This was my personal experience on working in Berlin so far. Many of my opinions reflect my personal taste and feeling about Germany and Berlin. If you want to know more details about my personal experience or any tips on how to get a job here, please connect with me on LinkedIn or Xing and send me a message there! I will be more than happy to help you out!

Note: I wrote another post on how you can find a tech job in Europe and especially Berlin. If you think Berlin is for you I recommend you check it out!

The post So, I heard you want a job in Germany… first appeared on Relocate.me.

This post was originally published on relocateme.eu.

Short Bio

Michele Bertasi, extremely passionate software engineer with years of C++ development experience, moved from Italy to the Netherlands in May 2016. Initially joined Bright Computing as a Software Developer, Michele is now leading its TPSI team (Third-Party Software Integration).

Could you tell us about your journey back in Italy and why did you consider relocation?

I was a software developer, of course, and I was working in the industrial automation field. I didn’t think about relocating, at first, I was only considering changing my job because I needed a new opportunity for me. Having done a few interviews in Verona and other cities in Italy, I found that there was nothing satisfying — all other jobs were similar to the one I’ve already had or even worse. So, I didn’t find enough opportunities for me. The relocation was a chance to change my field and improve my skills.

How did you find out about opening with relocation?

I had many contacts via Linkedin and Daria from RelocateMe contacted me at the right moment. That was only the reason.

In the beginning, she has encouraged me to read about the country and the company. Daria, basically, convinced me to do an interview and helped me to be focused on it, to try it. I was skeptical in the beginning, but in the end, I thought: ‘Just try and see what will happen’.

Daria has assured me that RelocateMe has many contacts in Amsterdam and that they have successfully relocated other people there, so I thought maybe I could also get some help. Because when you move abroad, you know nothing basically. You haven’t visited the country, you don’t know what the life would be, accommodation, etc. She has brought out people that could help me and answer my questions. So, it was useful.

If you could go back in time 1 year, would you change anything?

I think my experience in Italy was necessary to get my position here. When opportunities come, you have to take them. In the end, I can’t ask for more than that.

If you could give 3 pieces of advice for software developers, who are doubtful about relocation or general career advice?

First of all, think about what do you have on: if you are happy with your job, there is no point in relocating, if not, then think why. Such issues as management or career opportunities can be resolved, as there are much more opportunities for software developers in this kind of countries.

Think about relocation itself and its consequences, you have to start a new life. That’s real, and it’s not a joke: you have to start from scratch again with many other things. My girlfriend couldn’t come, I had to search for a new football team and friends, so my life is a little bit more difficult. However, from the work point of view, everything went smoothly and the relocation was really easy. Especially for me, as I am a European: the only thing I had to think about is about relocating. Also, the sooner you start, the better, cause the later you start, the harder is the process.

What kind of skills and qualities are the companies looking for in software developers, in your opinion?

I think that companies are always looking for people who have done many things, prove to be flexible about their abilities and the way they work. They also need people, who are able to work in a team — this is a very very important skill.

In my case, the best skill I had was that I knew C++ very well and this is not a common skill. So I would advise if you have a very special skill, you have to develop it. Also, I’ve never stopped learning, and it’s very nice to see a person, who always looks to improve herself/himself. This way companies are more comfortable hiring people if the person is going to the company not to ditch, but to learn, even if they are already good… that is a good skill/quality of character to have.

What was the hardest part of the relocation process?

The hardest part was not having family and friends around. In the end, you will get used to that, it’s just that the very first moments that are really bad. Apart from that, everything else was really smooth.

The best part was that I was lucky to find an apartment easily because housing in Amsterdam is really crazy. The guy has helped me with housing, it was really good and it helped me a lot. That’s a mandatory thing to have if you are willing to relocate and you don’t want to end up in a crap apartment or in another city.

How do you find the Netherlands? How did the expectations compare to reality?

I didn’t know much about the Netherlands, apart from people, who came on vacation to Italy. I found it very nice. It’s quite different from Italy, especially from the surfaces point of view and the weather. The weather really sucks, but for the rest, it’s a very beautiful country. Services are nice, people are nice, they’re very open to other people and this is something we miss in Italy. Amsterdam is an international hub. Things have changed for the better.

Another good reason to come to the Netherlands: there are so many conferences, meetups, etc. I had opportunities to go to some of them: Dutch C++ group and Software Circus were especially remarkable. It’s very nice to meet people who do the same as you and to know what’s happening in your field. Also, I went also to other meetups for non-nerds, just to meet new people and have some fun together, what helps very much if you are looking for new friends.

What did you find interesting about the Netherlands?

One interesting thing is that all Dutch people speak good English. So, you may have a hard time learning Dutch, because it’s not mandatory to survive and the Dutch switch to English easily, if you see that you are struggling. So, it’s not that easy to learn Dutch there.

During the summer, when it’s good weather many people go to the public parks to play, listen to music and dance, have barbecues. It’s very busy and nice. You have the feeling that people know how to party here.

How did you find life in the new company? What are the perks of working in the Bright Computing?

Bright Computing is expanding, so I have more opportunities in the company, but the best part is that if my expectations didn’t match, there are plenty of other companies here. I am happy with my company, my colleagues are nice, my boss is nice. So, for now, I am happy with the company.

I love being part of a very international team. We have a company outing twice a year, go out, organize meetups and share various activities sometimes. However, everything depends on the type of the company.

We went on a mountain bike trip to the dunes of Zandvoort a few weeks ago. It rained a lot and some people felt down and had a hard time with the dunes. I couldn’t imagine it would be so hard, but nonetheless, it was so funny and uniting. After the biking, we had a barbecue with a lot of drinks. Everybody was relaxed and even drunk with the atmosphere of freedom and delight. It was not easy to come back home with the bike at the end, but those were such a great moments to share together.

How has Amsterdam affected you? Does it inspire you?

It has expanded my horizons. My path was quite narrow in Italy, and here, I have the opportunity to expand my specialty, my field. Many companies are narrow, except for the biggest but Bright Computing is touching many things, adds lots of variety, lots of things to do in my career.

What kind of periodicals do you read to keep your skills updated? A piece of advice for our followers?

Following news and the right people on Twitter is very important. They can point out interesting stuff, and you will expand your network. The result is not immediate, but noticeable.

Blogs can be useful too. I read C++ blogs (like Herb Sutter and Andrzej Krzemieński) because it’s my specialty and a great variety of others, like Brian Krebs for Software Security, This week in rust for Rust and famous Diary of the Reverse Engineer, I have written an article for.

I also do many courses on Coursera, that are interesting for me. For example, I followed Software and Hardware Security, etc. Stanford Online, Yale online, Coursera are excellent starting points to reach a better understanding of more complicated topics, and they are free.

The things I have pointed out to you are not specific to what I am doing now, I am expanding on it. Even if you’re varying your job, your skills improve, but you can always expand more if you want — that’s my advice. IT moves really, really fast, faster than any field. The more you can learn the better for you. And that’s it. The more, the best. Even if the company develops your skills, it doesn’t matter that you can’t develop it furthermore, if you want. This is the best advice I could give you: develop yourself cause nobody will teach you after school.

The post How To Move To Amsterdam And Expand The Horizons Of Your Dreams? first appeared on Relocate.me.

Quick Background

Before moving to Sydney, I had studied Media/Marketing at Nottingham Trent University. After (unsuccessfully) pursuing a career in the Media/Marketing space I decided to relocate to Australia for a while as the global financial crisis hadn’t really affected the country and there seemed to be a lot more opportunity here.

How long have you been living in Australia?

In April 2018 I’ll have been in Australia for 6 years!

How did you search for a job in Australia? Any tips for those seeking similar work?

Some of the local job boards such as SEEK, Indeed, Gumtree, etc. are a good starting point for more generalist role. However, if you’re relocating with an in-demand skill (Software Engineer, Data Scientist, Growth Marketer) I would recommend connecting with local Talent Acquisition Specialists.

What was the visa process like?

I initially applied for a Working Holiday Visa which can be done online. It probably took me about an hour all up, and was approved within 24 hours so it was a great turnaround. From there and once I’d moved, I received sponsorship where I was working and have now obtained permanent residency. The process for me was about five years but that’s because I changed around. One pathway you can take is if you’re on a 457 visa and you’ve been working full-time for two years, you should be eligible to apply for permanent residency.

Current laws are that you can apply for permanent citizenship within 12 months from receiving permanent residency. However they’re always subjective to change.

How long did it take for you to actually move after accepting the job offer?

When I relocated to Sydney I hadn’t secured an actual job yet, however since becoming Head of Talent at finder I’ve placed people in roles who’ve relocated from overseas. This has taken, on average, between 3-6 months roughly depending on circumstances. This is where tools like Relocate.me really help to give you a broad overview of what it’s like to move and show you the opportunities in the market you’re exploring.

Finder Team in Sydney, Australia

If you could travel back in time, would you change anything?

I’d influence the Australian government not to make some of the recent changes to 457 visas locally!

What are the best things about living in Australia?

The people, the culture, the work-life balance, the ever-evolving tech landscape, the weather, the growing economy, the nature, I could go on for ever.

New Year 2016. Sydney, Australia

What have been some of the most challenging moments so far?

In my role as Head of Talent at finder it’s challenging to deal with the sheer volume of hires and the incredible amount of growth we are experiencing! We’re growing globally so there are new challenges every day which is great.

And the most memorable one?

My engagement in Amsterdam last June 

Getting engaged in Amsterdam

According to Numbeo, the average cost of rent for a one-bedroom apartment in downtown Sydney is A$ 2,700. Is it true?

Sydney is a massive city and because of our great public transport system, people don’t worry about living too close to the Central Business District (CBD). It’s extremely rare for people to live right in the city center, because it’s expensive but also because it’s not a necessity. Also, who would want to live in the city when you’ve got the beaches and the coast?!

Bronte Beach in Sydney, Australia (Photo: Dan Breckwoldt/Shutterstock)

Housing is great here but buying a property, for example, is fairly tough with the market growth over the past decade.

Can you name a couple of websites that can help in finding an apartment in Australia and Sydney specifically?

Domain and realestate.com.au are two of the most major platforms Aussies use to find properties for rent or for sale, but I know a lot of expats also use Flatmate Finders and find it helpful too.

Cost of living in Sydney compared to your home city

I’m from Birmingham but the most fair comparison is probably between Sydney and London; the cost of living is relatively similar between the two places, especially if you’re based quite close to the city. There are so many factors that can influence the costs of food and housing in both places, but it is quite similar. The closer you are to the city center the more expensive it gets.

A few words about public transport in Sydney. Is it essential to have a car?

Public transport here is great, we’re currently having a tram-line installed through the town centre of Sydney which will improve these even further. Transportation can be cheap if you want it to be — our Opal card system on public transport (trains, buses and ferries) provides a discount after 8 trips, so that’s good. Also everything is pretty interconnected by public transport so there’s always a way to get around. Most city workers commute to work by public transport — the traffic can be bad sometimes at peak hour. The upcoming tramline will help with that as well.

Sydney City Highway (Photo: Taras Vyshnya/Shutterstock)

I’d say you probably can get by without a car but most locals do have one. They’re more useful if you’re planning on heading away or to the coast.

Do you have any advice for people considering job relocation to Australia?

Do it! The more you know about the country and city you want to move to, the less stressful your relocation will be. I suggest you check out this article to learn more about moving to Australia. Here’s another useful link where you can find out more about health insurance, especially OVHC (Overseas Visitors Heath Cover).

The post Expat Advice: Moving From The UK to Australia first appeared on Relocate.me.