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MY GERMAN CAREER

INTERNET

‘Life would be difficult if I didn’t speak any German’

In the next instalment of our new series My German Career, The Local profiles the Berlin-based software developer James Hobson.

'Life would be difficult if I didn't speak any German'
Photo: James Hobson

James Hobson is the director of software development at the Berlin offices of dmc, a digital media consultancy. He is responsible for an international team of software developers building e-commerce solutions.

What exactly do you do?

Our head office is in Stuttgart, where we have about 250 people across the full range of web disciplines but always directed towards e-commerce, which basically means online shops. Whenever you buy something online there is a reasonable chance we have been involved somewhere along the line. The place I work, dmc 030 was created as a subsidiary company to take advantage of the wonderful creative, international and exciting start-up culture of Berlin. Although the business in Berlin is over two years old, I have only been here since the middle of last year when I was brought in to help keeping things moving in the right direction.

What brought you to Germany and how long have you been here?

Quite simply, I came to Berlin because I love the place, and it feels like my home. I found myself looking for a new job, single, my brother needed a place to live (meaning he could take over my apartment) and everything just seemed to point in the direction of now or never. So I took the plunge towards the end of 2010 and never looked back.

Since I learned German at school I had dreamed of one day moving to Germany and spending a few years in this exotic foreign land. Clearly my views have changed somewhat since I was 14, but Germany has always had a special place in my heart and Berlin especially has always had a great attraction for me.

How did you land your job and do you have tips for anyone seeking similar work?

I followed the time-honoured route of looking on Xing, mailing the guy with the most interesting advert and following up by telephone. Luckily for me the process at dmc was very straightforward, we had a telephone discussion, followed by a face-to-face interview and an offer was made and accepted on the spot. The telephone interview was a friendly chat about my background, what I was looking for, and how I saw myself fitting with the new company. It was conducted in a mix of English and German, but I never felt any pressure to use one language over the other, I now know that we conduct something like 25 percent of all interviews in English.

The face-to-face interview was very thorough and aimed not just at my technical skills and background but also me as a person and how I would fit with the team. This was a key to me accepting the role – the people in the room cared about me as a person and how I would interact and work with the other people both already here and in the future.

Do I have advice for people looking for a similar role in Berlin? Well firstly call me, we are hiring! The key things are the same in Germany as they are anywhere else, but I think it’s worth stating some of them again.

Have a plan before you arrive. Berlin does have high unemployment and even in sectors like IT Berlin is not the hottest market in the world. Do your research. I won’t hire someone who doesn’t know what they applied for. Make a proper application, in IT it doesn’t matter so much if it’s a German Lebenslauf or a CV, but do ensure it is well written, understandable and tells the company what you have done and what you can do. Include a picture in the application. I know it seems weird to most of us foreigners, but in Germany it’s best to play by the German rules. Use Xing. LinkedIn is a distant second in Germany. Even if you don’t use it to look for work, employers will check your profile. Network – as with most places in the world the best jobs are found through word of mouth.

Is it important for you to be able to speak German in your position?

Yes and no. While technically I could work here if I didn’t speak any German I think my life would be much more difficult. People are happy to translate, to work in English and to make life as easy as possible. But I do think that for more senior roles, even where everyone speaks English, it is important to be able to take part in German conversation, to pick up the little comments and jokes that aren’t always translated, and to feel like you are really part of the conversation.

I would say that German isn’t a required starting point, but anyone planning to live and work in Berlin for more than a few months should look at picking up a decent level of the language. Not because it’s required, but because it makes such a big difference to feeling a part of the team, to not always be the lost guy asking what everything means.

What are the key differences practising your profession here and your home country?

As anyone will tell you, Germany is efficient but bureaucracy-crazy. It’s hard to tell if those facts are related. An implicit “customer said it was ok” doesn’t fly here, everything needs to be printed, signed and freigegeben [approved]. But other than minor things, I think IT is one of the most international careers, and things vary much less than in other industries. Anyone used to working for a software company in London would very quickly feel at home at any of the places I know here in Berlin.

I am a chemistry graduate, which many Germans find incredible. The idea that someone here can change careers seems shocking. It has never been a problem for me that I have the “wrong” qualifications, but I regularly get asked about it.

What are the best and worst parts about working in Germany?

Salaries are much lower here than in London, but due to the cost of living differences I don’t think that is as much of a big deal as it seems on the surface. The best thing is of course having someone pay me to live in the best place in the world. I have the life many people dream of and it’s all paid for by a job I love. I am very fortunate to be in this position.

The worst part? That’s a very difficult question. I find the bureaucracy difficult, constantly finding that I cannot do things because someone somewhere has to approve or sign something first. In London I was expected to be a Swiss army knife, constantly picking up anything that needed doing. Here this is looked upon with a degree of suspicion – why are you doing that? it’s not your job!

Do you plan on staying?

Yes, absolutely. Like most of the people who come to Berlin, I did so because I love the place. I love the arts, the creative and the musical scene here, I love the people and I love the language. I love being surrounded by the history and I love the freedom here. I can get anywhere in Berlin from anywhere else in about an hour, I can have a great meal for less than €10, and I can see the concerts from the world’s greatest stars every month.

I think the “poor but sexy” brand has been overused, but to some extent it’s still true. Many of the problems of Berlin, the high unemployment for example, are key to keeping prices down and allowing the arts scene to develop.

I don’t believe my home-town, London, will ever have the raw excitement of Berlin; it’s too grown up. London wears a suit, works in a bank, and drinks in a wine bar. And I love London for that, but after 30 odd years, it’s time for a change, and Berlin is my new home.

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STUDYING IN GERMANY

What’s it like to study abroad in Berlin?

Picking the right city to study abroad in Germany can be a tricky decision, and there are numerous factors to consider. Freya Jones shares her experience of doing a year abroad in the capital and explains why Berlin could also be the right choice for you.

What's it like to study abroad in Berlin?

Five months after moving to Berlin for my year abroad (a compulsory part of my German degree from the UK) the German capital is certainly a destination I’d recommend. 

Although it’s less “traditionally German” than many other corners of the country, and simultaneously more comparable to the blanket big city experience worldwide, Berlin’s unique history and culture make it a great place to explore – and unsurprisingly very popular with international students. 

Like all capitals, it has its pros and cons, so here’s what stood out to me during my experience so far.

Arrival

You’ve probably heard horror stories about the Berlin housing market, and from experience I can say they’re largely true. Finding an apartment here before moving to the city is notoriously difficult, and more expensive than in other parts of Germany. 

What you should bear in mind, however, is that unlike other German cities, Berlin doesn’t impose fines if you’re unable to secure a registration appointment within two weeks of arrival (three months if you already have a visa). This makes searching for a good WG, Studentenwerk, or other rental far easier post-arrival if your first stop is a homestay or somewhere else temporary. 

Blocks of rental flats in Berlin.

Blocks of rental flats in Berlin. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Monika Skolimowska

Despite a recent wave of strikes and construction work, transport links in Berlin are still very strong. If you’re enrolled as a student during your year abroad, you’ll be entitled to a discounted pass for city transport, including a number of tram, bus and train options that run all the way to the city’s outskirts and even into Brandenburg (Zone C).

What’s more, direct trains from Berlin’s BER Airport make it more accessible than more remote locations in Germany when you arrive equipped with a year’s worth of luggage.

English

My German tutors in the UK were slightly concerned when I chose Berlin, because they didn’t think I’d have much opportunity to practise my German. Looking back, this worry wasn’t without cause, and if your primary goal is German language improvement, it may be worth considering somewhere more rural or less international. 

Unlike small towns I’ve visited elsewhere in Germany, where many people speak little to no English, it’s everywhere in Berlin. Because the international population is so large, new friends from any country are likely to speak it by default.

However, this can obviously be mitigated by signing up for German-only university classes, as I’ve done as an exchange student at Humboldt University, or finding a German language job. And on the flip side, if you’re here to study a discipline other than German, the ubiquity of English in Berlin has you covered.

READ ALSO: The top German cities for international students in 2024

Cultural Experiences

Unsurprisingly, Berlin offers no end of unique cultural experiences. For new arrivals, there’s plenty to fill your time with, and I’d really recommend “playing the tourist” for a couple of weeks while you settle in. 

Bucket-list locations include the National Gallery and museums on Museuminsel, the Berlin Wall memorial, the Brandenburg Gate, and the site of the Berlin airlift at Tempelhof. And beyond this, there’s never a shortage of things to do – walks around Tiergarten and the customary Sunday flea markets (Flohmarkt am Mauerpark being the most famous) are popular with visitors and locals alike.

A skateboarder performs tricks on Tempelhofer Feld

A skateboarder performs tricks on a former runway at Berlin’s Tempelhofer Feld, a popular meeting place in Berlin-Neukölln. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Christoph Soeder

Something I’ve also really enjoyed after being here for a while is noticing the small details which differentiate the former East and West Berlin sectors, such as different traffic lights and types of transport. While much of the architecture is admittedly stark, grey and not as pretty as other parts of Germany, the way in which present-day Berlin is a visible product of its recent history makes it a fascinating place to live.

READ ALSO: How do I get a student visa for Germany and what does it let me do?

Pros & Cons

Any culture shock inevitably comes with both positives and negatives, and these are a few which particularly struck me after moving to Berlin from the UK. 

Cons: many shops refuse to take card payment and only accept cash; all shops and supermarkets close on Sundays; there’s no guarantee of being let into a club or bar on a night out, and the traffic lights genuinely seem to conspire against drivers and pedestrians alike. (Also, the weather in winter really will destroy your soul, and this is a Brit talking…)

Pros: the quality of food is much better here than in the UK, and cheaper; the cost of alcohol is much lower; public transport is cheaper and more efficient than in London; work-life balance and mental wellbeing are taken very seriously; and finally, there’s a far less visible “class system” than in the UK, possibly due to the greater access and affordability of German universities.  (This is really nice, especially if you’re coming from a UK university where socio-economic prejudice is very common.)

READ ALSO: How to stay in Germany after graduating from a German university

Overall, Berlin has been a vibrant place to spend my exchange semester. Not only has it given me insights into the most significant shifts in recent German history, but it also offers the archetypal experience of living in a bustling, multicultural city. So while it’s distinctly different to anywhere else in Germany you might be considering, the variety of things to see and do in Berlin will keep you engaged for your full year abroad.

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