- Berlin has the most English speaking jobs in Germany, mostly in tech and startups.
- Competition is high, because many international candidates want to live here.
- Networking at meetups works unusually well in Berlin.
- Housing is the hardest part: start early.
Berlin is where I started in Germany, with my master's, no contacts and no German. It is still the easiest German city to work in English, but it is also the most competitive, because everyone wants to be here.
Who hires internationally in Berlin
- Startups and scaleups, from fintech to food delivery, many with English as the office language.
- Large tech and e-commerce companies with headquarters in Berlin, such as Zalando and Delivery Hero.
- Research institutes, universities and the health sector, including Charité.
- Large German employers such as Deutsche Bahn, which has its headquarters in Berlin.
The fields with the most chances
- Software and data: the largest group of English speaking jobs in the city.
- Product and design: many scaleups hire product managers and designers in English.
- Marketing and growth: especially for international markets.
- Customer support with languages: if you speak another European language, these roles are often an entry point.
How far English gets you
Further than anywhere else in Germany. Many tech teams work fully in English. For government jobs, traditional companies and most customer facing roles you still need German, and German makes everyday life much easier, from flat viewings to the immigration office.
Search current English speaking jobs in Berlin on my live job board.
How I would approach Berlin
- Build a target list of 50 companies. Mix startups and larger companies, and check their career pages every week.
- Go to meetups. Berlin has tech and industry meetups almost every evening; people hire people they have met.
- Start the flat search early. Flats are hard to find. Start before you arrive and budget for temporary housing.
- Use the job board filter. Search "Berlin" on the Germany job board and switch on the visa filter.
Common questions
Can I get a job in Berlin without German?
Yes, especially in tech and startups. German still opens many more jobs and helps with daily life.
Which companies hire international people in Berlin?
Startups and scaleups, large tech companies with Berlin headquarters, research institutes and international organisations.
Is Berlin good for freshers?
It is competitive. Students in Berlin have an advantage through Werkstudent jobs and networking.
I moved to Germany for my master's, collected more than 1,000 rejections, and then got multiple job offers within six months. I work in digital marketing in Germany and help international professionals get hired in Europe. Read my story.