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How to find a job as Software Developer in Germany

germantechjobs.de

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Re: How to find a job as Software Developer in Germany

#31

Post by gigatexal »

no_one_ever wrote: post #3
gigatexal wrote: post #2

What I did: Check who’s hiring in X on HN. Apply. Realize the company is located in Hamburg, Germany. Get hired. Move. Enjoy life in a stable, wealthy, European country.

Did you move from US? What is the process like?

I did, yes. I moved with my wife and two dogs and most of our stuff to Hamburg.

The startup paid for the flights, the visa fees (if any, I don’t remember), the container to put our crap in (it was a logistics startup so they knew how to do this rather well), and prepaid for an AirBnB for 3 months for us to find housing.

We had hang ups in getting my wife recognized such that we could get on the more lucrative tax schedule of tax class 3 (one earner). The Germans are sticklers for the details but common sense prevailed and our paper work was finally honored and we got a blue card which means my visa is tied to my working and making a minimum amount.

We live now in Berlin and absolutely love it here. We don’t interact with the government much so maybe that’s why but all-in-all it’s awesome out here. I don’t worry about getting shot or anything like that.

Re: How to find a job as Software Developer in Germany

#32

Post by dagw »

dcolkitt wrote: post #5
thanato0s wrote: post #4

Leaving in Germany for 6 years. Moved from France. What I'll say only concern Berlin. The interview process in startup can be more draining than that. Currently, it's more like 4 / 5 steps with (sometimes) 6+ hours homework. Yik. 60k is more for senior developers. Junior get less. Other than that the cost of living in Germany is quite low (lower in Berlin than in the South) and it's a very nice and stable country.

> 60k is more for senior developers. Junior get less. It's always shocking to me how low European SWE compensation is. Is it similar for other skilled professionals? What do accountants, lawyers, civil engineers, pilots, physical therapists, etc. make? I understand the demand side. I think the European tech industry is much less successful than its American counterpart, and therefore has less money to pay. But I don'…

Is it similar for other skilled professionals? What do accountants, lawyers, civil engineers, pilots, physical therapists, etc. make?

In aggregate software engineers don't make less than any of those fields if that is what you are asking.

Why would anyone with the intelligence and drive needed to become a software engineer pursue that field?

Because it's pretty fun, relatively easy if you have knack for it, easier to find a job, and on the whole quite well paid and comfortable work.

Re: How to find a job as Software Developer in Germany

#33

Post by carlmr »

dcolkitt wrote: post #5
thanato0s wrote: post #4

Leaving in Germany for 6 years. Moved from France. What I'll say only concern Berlin. The interview process in startup can be more draining than that. Currently, it's more like 4 / 5 steps with (sometimes) 6+ hours homework. Yik. 60k is more for senior developers. Junior get less. Other than that the cost of living in Germany is quite low (lower in Berlin than in the South) and it's a very nice and stable country.

> 60k is more for senior developers. Junior get less. It's always shocking to me how low European SWE compensation is. Is it similar for other skilled professionals? What do accountants, lawyers, civil engineers, pilots, physical therapists, etc. make? I understand the demand side. I think the European tech industry is much less successful than its American counterpart, and therefore has less money to pay. But I don'…

I mean you can definitely earn more than 60k in Germany. I don't know about Berlin though. In Stuttgart, Frankfurt or Munich this would be too little to get a senior developer.

Most of the other professions pay less. From the list you gave, and the people I know, I would assume the sorting is roughly:

* physical therapists (can't go much lower in pay)

* pilots (there are just way too many, except for those in old contracts at the big airlines they are almost paid like bus drivers)

* accountants (usually a normal salary, but nothing special)

* civil engineers / software engineers roughly on the same level, although the latter has an easier time finding a job

Lawyers and doctors earn a lot more than engineers (at least looking at my friends in these fields), but they usually also work more, leading to a similar hourly rate.

One thing you have to account for in Germany vs the US:

* Much higher job stability.

* Most people work 35-40h a week and never do unpaid overtime.

* 6 weeks paid vacation per year is normal.

* You almost never get called into work on the weekend.

* CoL isn't as insane as in SF or Seattle, so your salary buys you a decent life.

* No copays if you get chronic conditions, cancer or some such. So you don't need to save up for a medical catastrophe.

Re: How to find a job as Software Developer in Germany

#34

Post by estaseuropano »

ChuckNorris89 wrote: post #16
sdevonoes wrote: post #8

> To sum up: if you are single and opt for "live cool and don't care about expenses" style, then an average developer salary will be enough (it might be harder if you have a family to feed). > On the other hand, if you choose to go the student-like route (living in Wohngemeinschaft and not eating out too much), you can easily manage with just 1.200-1.500 EUR per month, and save the majority of your salary. I know it…

Sorry, but even 450k Euros for a house is very cheap for the current crazy market in Germany. At that price don't expect to be in a nice area or be close to any major city or good facilities.

Totally depends on the region..and public transport such as local trains tend to be good and most cities small enough for cycling to work or commuting in. Even hlHamburg or Munich is not like London or New York.

Re: How to find a job as Software Developer in Germany

#35

Post by [deleted] »

rapsey wrote: post #13
dcolkitt wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 60k is more for senior developers. Junior get less. It's always shocking to me how low European SWE compensation is. Is it similar for other skilled professionals? What do accountants, lawyers, civil engineers, pilots, physical therapists, etc. make? I understand the demand side. I think the European tech industry is much less successful than its American counterpart, and therefore has less money to pay. But I don'…

What you are not taking into account is that health care costs compared to the US are almost nothing. So is the cost of higher education.

[deleted]

Re: How to find a job as Software Developer in Germany

#36

Post by nicoburns »

lbrito wrote: post #14
sdevonoes wrote: post #8

> To sum up: if you are single and opt for "live cool and don't care about expenses" style, then an average developer salary will be enough (it might be harder if you have a family to feed). > On the other hand, if you choose to go the student-like route (living in Wohngemeinschaft and not eating out too much), you can easily manage with just 1.200-1.500 EUR per month, and save the majority of your salary. I know it…

I assume engineering positions are on the top bracket of salary distribution. If not even this is enough to pursue home ownership, what kind of people are able to afford a house? Honest question.

> If not even this is enough to pursue home ownership, what kind of people are able to afford a house? Honest question.

Yeah, nobody can. At least not without a huge mortgage. That's why house prices are one of the biggest political issues in Europe.

Re: How to find a job as Software Developer in Germany

#38

Post by ChuckNorris89 »

lbrito wrote: post #14
sdevonoes wrote: post #8

> To sum up: if you are single and opt for "live cool and don't care about expenses" style, then an average developer salary will be enough (it might be harder if you have a family to feed). > On the other hand, if you choose to go the student-like route (living in Wohngemeinschaft and not eating out too much), you can easily manage with just 1.200-1.500 EUR per month, and save the majority of your salary. I know it…

I assume engineering positions are on the top bracket of salary distribution. If not even this is enough to pursue home ownership, what kind of people are able to afford a house? Honest question.

>what kind of people are able to afford a house

The kind where both partners have top jobs (less common) or receive inheritance (most common).

Re: How to find a job as Software Developer in Germany

#39

Post by sneak »

gigatexal wrote: post #31
no_one_ever wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did you move from US? What is the process like?

I did, yes. I moved with my wife and two dogs and most of our stuff to Hamburg. The startup paid for the flights, the visa fees (if any, I don’t remember), the container to put our crap in (it was a logistics startup so they knew how to do this rather well), and prepaid for an AirBnB for 3 months for us to find housing. We had hang ups in getting my wife recognized such that we could get on the more lucrative tax sch…

Did you worry about getting shot in the US?

Re: How to find a job as Software Developer in Germany

#40

Post by rm445 »

lbrito wrote: post #14
sdevonoes wrote: post #8

> To sum up: if you are single and opt for "live cool and don't care about expenses" style, then an average developer salary will be enough (it might be harder if you have a family to feed). > On the other hand, if you choose to go the student-like route (living in Wohngemeinschaft and not eating out too much), you can easily manage with just 1.200-1.500 EUR per month, and save the majority of your salary. I know it…

I assume engineering positions are on the top bracket of salary distribution. If not even this is enough to pursue home ownership, what kind of people are able to afford a house? Honest question.

A couple who are both in a good income bracket?
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