You might wonder why we decided to move in the first place. Well, my husband got an offer from a Berlin startup and he was very excited about it. But we also had to consider the impact on our family. We had a 1,5 year old daughter, and we were living in Romania, where we had our relatives, friends and a comfortable life. We had to ask ourselves: is the salary enough to cover the higher cost of living in Germany or we would need to make adjustments to our budget and lifestyle? Will we manage without the family support? Will we find an apartment and a kindergarten in time?
We didn't have all the answers, but we decided to give it a shot and see if it works. So 2.5 years ago we packed our bags and moved to Berlin.
It was not easy, I can tell you that. We faced many challenges along the way:
Finding a Kita for our daughter was quite an experience for us. We initially began with a list of preferred options, but soon realized that we needed to broaden our search. We decided to email over 100 kindergartens, resulting in positive responses that left us with a difficult decision: should we sign up for the first Kita that had an available spot or hope for one closer to home? Visiting the Kitas presented another challenge as most educators had limited English proficiency while our German skills were basic at best. It was undoubtedly a journey filled with uncertainties and language barriers.
Similarly, searching for an apartment in Berlin was an even more daunting experience. The city's competitive rental market proved to be ruthless, with apartments getting snatched up within hours of being listed. We spent countless hours scouring online listings, attending viewings, and competing with dozens of other hopeful tenants. The demand far exceeded the supply, making it incredibly challenging to find an apartment that met our needs and budget. It felt like a never-ending battle against time and other prospective tenants, leaving us feeling overwhelmed and disheartened.
But we also had some amazing experiences: we learned some German (not enough, but hey, it's something), we discovered the beauty and diversity of Berlin and we met some wonderful people from different backgrounds and cultures. And our daughter is well integrated in a German Kita, where she feels like being part of a big family.
So what is my advice for anyone who is thinking about moving to Germany?
- Be prepared for a challenge: You'll have to deal with a lot of changes, not only in terms of paperwork and logistics, but also in terms of your daily life. You'll have to get used to new products, new names, new routines. You'll have to find a new doctor, a new dentist, a new hairstylist. And you'll miss your home country, your friends, your family, your favorite dishes.
- Give yourself some time to adjust: It might take you a year or more to get used to the culture, the language and the way things work, to feel comfortable and confident in Germany.. Don't expect to feel at home right away.
- Be open-minded and curious: Germany is not perfect, but has a lot to offer. Take advantage of the great public transportation and explore its beautiful cities and landscapes. Whenever you feel disconnected, reach out to your international colleagues, who come from different backgrounds and perspectives. You can make new friends and discover new opportunities.
One of those opportunities was ReloHire, a start-up that I co-founded with Leo, my amazing colleague, who shares my passion for tech and relocation. ReloHire is a platform that connects tech professionals who want to move to Germany with companies that offer relocation packages and support. Our mission is to make relocation easier, faster, and more enjoyable for both sides. We want to help people find tech jobs in Germany, while also helping them with all the practical aspects of moving, such as visa, housing, insurance, banking, taxes, etc. We also want to help them integrate into their new environment, by providing them with information, resources, events, and community.
ReloHire was born out of my own experience as a tech professional who moved to Germany with my family. I know how hard it can be to relocate to a new country, but I also know how rewarding it can be. I want to use my knowledge and skills to help others who are in the same situation as I was 2.5 years ago.
So this is my story of moving to Germany with my family and co-founding ReloHire. It's not over yet, it's still unfolding every day. But I can say that I'm happy with where I am right now, and I'm excited about what the future holds.
If you are interested in learning more about ReloHire or joining our platform as a candidate or an employer, please visit our website or feel free to contact me.
Thank you for reading!
