Stage 1 · Lesson 5 of 6

English teams, German life

Many tech teams in Berlin, Munich, Hamburg and other big cities work in English, especially at startups and international companies. So you can get a software job in Germany without German. Life outside work is another matter.

Landlords, offices, doctors and many letters use German, and a lot of smaller companies and public-sector roles expect it. Learning German to a basic level before you move helps with flats, friends and promotions, and it can also earn points on the .

Expect taxes and to take a large share of gross pay, in return for public healthcare, a pension and unemployment insurance.

Common trapfiltering only for English jobs, then struggling for months with housing and paperwork because you never learned a word of German.

A question to check yourself, an AI practice session and 2 cheat sheet entries come when you add the roadmap to your account. Add it

Resources for this stage

Start with· follow one of these

RoadmapFree
Sefism Remote Jobs Roadmap
Sefism
The other way to earn abroad-level pay: compare it honestly before you decide to move
GuideFree
Make it in Germany
Federal Government of Germany
The German government portal for skilled workers: routes, recognition and life in Germany

Practise

Numbeo cost of living comparisons
Compare living costs between your city and your destination as a first estimate
levels.fyi
Check pay ranges for your role and level in your target city

Keep handy

Glassdoor
Salaries and employee reviews for employers in your destination
EURES, the European Job Mobility Portal
Browse jobs across the EU to see which cities hire for your skills

Also worth your time

Work abroad or work remotely from home? (opens in a new tab)Read
The trade-offs between moving and earning from home, answered for engineers like you
Sefism 1:1 MentorshipGo deeper
Talk the decision through with someone who has made it, before anyone commits money