Any ways to snatch an IT job in Berlin?

[tudormoldovan]

Hello guys,

I'm currently a Jr. Sys Admin living in Cluj-Napoca, with a full Sys Admin position in sight within the next year, most likely in June 2017.

What is the usual manner of approaching IT companies regarding open positions within the corporate culture of Berlin?

Thanks in advance.

[Yiorgos_Papadopoulon]

There's heaps (a lot) of jobs in IT in Berlin. You're Junior so that's not gonna help a lot (on the negotiating power), but don't let em downplay you on the salary. Especially because you come from Romania - they'll try to. There's no IT job in Berlin paying less than 45K a year. Work hard on your skills, give a good interview, apply like crazy (berlin startup jobs) - change your Linkedin to "Germany" (recruiters will smell and come like sharks smelling blood).
Once you get the job, work a couple of years, get experience, job-hop till you're up to 55K and then my advice : go back to RO - your purchasing power with less money will be greater (Berlin has gotten more and more expensive to live in gradually since 2009)
Avoid startups if you don't want someone on your case for leaving at 18:00 from the office (but do startups if you don't mind working more - with less money for the experience)

[sten]

As a generic job hunting tip: I would recommend downplaying the "junior" bit, especially along with a plan to "become a full sysadmin" in 2017. Focus more on what you have provably done (which systems, at which scale have you managed), and what you will be capable of achieving in the new job.

The good news is, that the earlier in stage the companies you're looking at (e.g startups, versus, say IBM), the less it is about titles and the more about substance. And Berlin has one of the most vibrant startup scenes in Europe.

Good luck!

[tudormoldovan]

Thanks a lot for the very useful tips

I'm working on becoming a full Sys Admin by the time I move, so the Junior part should not be that much of an issue when negotiating.

45K a year is more than I expected, after my (brief) research into the subject, and after some initial budgeting I'm pretty sure I can make due with a little bit les. Good news nevertheless.

[Yiorgos_Papadopoulon]

Tudor, It's not a question of how much you can live with, it's making you sure we all collectively ask for salaries that represent the increasing cost of life of this city. I guess you don't work for a voluntary cause so you might as well push to get as much as you can right?

[Priit_Paasukene]

There are lots of positions open in Berlin and startup scene is really vibrant as Sten mentioned.
Keep an eye on angellist - https://angel.co/jobs - but also occasionally search LinkedIn and big players in the area - https://www.rocket-internet.com/careers https://soundcloud.com/jobs/berlin mobile.de etc.

If you find the company whose culture you really like feel free to send your CV, motivational letter and see what valuable feedback you can gather.