The Berlin Life Podcast: Living & Working in Germany

🎙️ The podcast is back. And I have thoughts about AI.

It’s been almost a year since I published an episode of The Berlin Life Podcast. So rather than pretending season one is still casually continuing after a very long break, I’m starting fresh.

Welcome to season two, episode one. 👋

We’re beginning with something I’ve been experimenting with a lot lately, which is using AI in my own job search. LLM’s like ChatGPT and Claude have helped me look more deeply at my career, tailor my CV for different roles, and speed up parts of the application process.

But something unexpected happened when I started talking out loud to an LLM about jobs I had years ago. I started remembering things like projects I‘d worked on, difficult situations I‘d navigated, programs I had helped launch, problems I helped teams solve, and so on.

Many of those accomplishments were technically already represented on my CV, but I realized I’d made them much smaller than they really were. I did myself a disservice by diminishing my prior work. I started thinking about why I’ve been so reluctant to say that I’m good at what I do.

That turned what started as a CV exercise into something much more deeply personal.

🐿 In a Nutshell

This episode is about using AI in your job search, but it’s also about imposter syndrome, self-advocacy, authenticity, and what happens when we let AI do too much of our thinking for us.

I talk about how I’m using AI to improve and tailor my own CV, why talking through my career became an unexpected exercise in confidence, and why I’m careful about making sure the person represented on my CV still sounds like me.

Because there’s another side to all of this. AI can make you sound impressive on paper. Yet a real human being has to show up for the interview and talk with confidence about each and every part of their job application.

For me, that’s where the line is becoming clearer. I want AI to help me without replacing me.

Listen to this episode and when you’re finished, I’d genuinely love to know what you think. Are you using AI in your job search? Has it helped you talk about your experience more confidently? Do you worry about sounding like everyone else? Or have you found a completely different way of using it that works for you?

Leave a comment. Or if you’d rather keep it private, you can always email me at [email protected]. I’d really like the podcast to become more conversational this season, and I’m curious about where other people are landing on all of this.

🎧 From the Archive

If the part about describing your accomplishments resonates with you, this episode pairs really nicely with:Do You Really Need to Quantify Everything on Your CV? https://theberlinlife.substack.com/p/cv-quantifiers-germany

It’s about how to demonstrate impact even when your work doesn’t neatly translate into revenue, percentages, or money saved.

🚀 More from The Berlin Life

You’ll also find lots of free career guides for finding work in Germany on The Berlin Life, covering CVs, interviews, salaries, job searching, and more.

And now for some shameless self promotion: LinkUsUp is my private networking space for people living in or moving to Germany who want more meaningful professional connections.

There are no feeds, algorithms, or cold DMs. You can find people by city, profession, language, and shared interests and connect directly.

It’s anti-LinkedIn, kinda. 😏

🫶 Sharing is Caring

If you know someone who is currently wrestling with their CV, their confidence, or how much AI is too much AI, send this episode their way.

Thanks for listening, and welcome to season two. 🙏

It’s season 1, episode 8 of The Berlin Life Podcast, and today we’re tackling one of the most stressful, and misunderstood, parts of the job search in Germany: salary negotiation.

If you’ve ever been told that you shouldn’t negotiate in Germany and should just accept whatever you’re offered, this episode is for you.

Because that advice? It’s wrong. And it can cost you a lot over the course of your career.

🐿 In a Nutshell

In this episode, we’re talking about how salary negotiation actually works in Germany, and how to approach it confidently and professionally as an international job seeker.

Here’s what we get into:

* When salary discussions really happen (it’s earlier than most people expect)

* Why negotiating a job offer in Germany is not rude or offensive and that it’s expected

* How to research fair salary ranges with specific tools and data

* What you can negotiate beyond base salary (and what you usually can’t)

* Common mistakes that put candidates at a disadvantage

* When salary truly isn’t negotiable, and how to handle that situation

I also share a few of my own negotiation wins and failures from more than 10+ years of working in Germany.

🎧 Don’t Miss Out

Listen to our last episode.

🚀 Helpful Resources

* A Practical Guide to Negotiating Salary in Germany

* Why Knowing Salary Ranges In Germany Is Essential

… and many more free career guides on The Berlin Life.

And now for some shameless self promotion:

LinkUsUp is a private, curated networking space for people living in or moving to Germany who want more meaningful professional connections. Instead of feeds, algorithms, or cold DMs, you can find people by city, profession, language, and shared interests, and reach out in a more thoughtful way. It’s an anti LinkedIn, kinda.

LinkUsUp is currently in beta and free to join until December 31. So if you’ve been curious, this is a lovely time to come in and explore.

Join LinkUsUp.

✍️ Get in Touch

Got questions, thoughts, or gentle/kind feedback about this episode? You can always reach me at [email protected].

Thanks for listening, and see you in the next one! 🙏

It’s season 1, episode 7 of The Berlin Life podcast, and we’re back with some practical, no-fluff advice to help you find work in Germany.

🐿 In a Nutshell

In this episode, we’re tackling the big question: Do you really need to quantify every career accomplishment with hard numbers?

Here’s what we get into:

* Why accomplishments are key to writing a CV that actually lands interviews

* When numbers do work — and when they might not

* How showing impact can be just as powerful (and sometimes better!)

* Why exaggerating or stretching the truth is a major red flag

* How imposter syndrome can hold you back from owning your wins

* Why keeping a “humble brags” list might be your best job search hack ever

Don’t Miss Out

Check out the last episode. ⬇️

🚀 Helpful Resources

* Avoid Making These German CV Mistakes

* How To Write A German CV That Will Get You Interviews

* … and more helpful Germany Career Guides

⭐ If you’re searching for work in Germany, I can help you improve your CV and cover letter — and even prep you for interviews. Check out our career coaching services.

Limited time: Get 10% off a CV coaching session. 3 discount codes are available.

✍️ Get In Touch

Got questions, thoughts, or feedback? Email me anytime at [email protected].

Thanks for listening — and see you in the next one! 🙏

After a long break, we’re back with episode six in the first season of our podcast.

🐿 In a Nutshell

In this episode, we’ll dispel some of the biggest stereotypes about Germany’s workplace culture, including:

* The German love of punctuality

* The overhyped work-life balance

* English jobs are a plenty

We have more myths to dispel, so stick around for the next episode.

🫶 Don’t Miss Out

Check out the last episode: 7 Success Tips for Finding Work in Germany

🚀 Helpful Resources

* Germany Career Guides

* Career Coaching Services

* LinkedIn Networking

✍️ Get In Touch

I love feedback. Email me @ [email protected].

Thanks for listening, and see you in the next one. 🙏

❤️ If you like what we do, support our work.

Hallo and happy Friday! 🍺🍺

Welcome back to the podcast. In this episode, we’ll share tips from me (a professional career coach) about how to ease the job search difficulties in Germany. We’ll speak about:

* Language requirements

* Working in high demand professions

* Applying a strategic approach to your job search

* … and more.

Don’t Miss Out

Check out the last episode: A Job Search Hack: Cold or Unsolicited Job Applications in Germany.

Resources

* What are the most highly demanded jobs in Germany?

* The Best Job Search Sites in Germany

See the rest of our working in Germany guides.

Program Notes

* I think the quality is getting better and I am starting to feel more confident. Hopefully, you can feel the difference.

Get In Touch

I love feedback and only ask that you keep it kind. 💛 Just email me @ [email protected].

Thanks for listening, and see you in the next one. 🙏

How cold or unsolicited applications in Germany are welcomed by companies and how they could land you a job.

In this episode, we’ll:

* Explain what a cold application is

* Share why it’s worth trying out

* Disagree with others who say it’s a waste of time

* Offer tips on how to tailor your job application

* … and more.

Listen to the last episode about the challenges of finding work in Germany (that other people won’t usually tell you).

Resources

* FAQ: Unsolicited (or Cold) Applications In Germany

* Researching German Companies During Your Job Search

See the rest of our working in Germany guides.

Program Notes

* It’s a shorter episode this week and much more upbeat in nature.

* I say “so” wayyyy too much. 🙃

Get In Touch

I love feedback and only ask that you keep it kind. 💛 Leave a comment on Substack or email me @ [email protected].

Thanks for listening, and see you in the next one. 🙏

This Episode in a Nutshell

Today, we’re here to talk about finding work in Germany and just how difficult the job search can be.

We’ll:

* Highlight some of the harsh realities of finding work in Germany as a foreigner.

* Offer up tips success tips, point you to helpful resources, and let you know where you can find support.

Listen to the last episode.

Resources

* What Are The Most Highly Demanded Jobs In Germany?

* The Reality Of Finding Work In Berlin

* Are There English Speaking Jobs In Germany?

* Do You Need to Know German to Work in Germany?

* Mythbusting Germany’s Bildungsgutschein in English

* A Roundup Of Professional Career Coaches In Germany

See the rest of our working in Germany guides.

Program Notes

* The sound is improved for this episode. However, you may hear a few of my Outlook notifications. Sorry!

* I’m noticeably nervous in some parts and not the smoothest of talkers. It will take time for me to feel more confident. Meanwhile, it’s better to put something out there, even if imperfect, vs. nothing at all.

* The episode ended up being longer than intended, but it’s an important topic. I’ll try something more “bite-size” for the next episode.

Get In Touch

Keep it kind. 💛 Leave a comment here or email me @ [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and see you in the next one. 🙏

This Episode in a Nutshell

We tackle the ongoing debate about whether or not you should include a photo on a German CV.

We talk about:

* The tradition of photos on German CVs and how times are changing.

* Potential downsides of adding a photo.

* When you (unfortunately) need to add photos.

* If omitting photos will hurt your chance of finding work.

* Tips for a good CV photo.

Resources

* Why German CV photos aren’t necessary

Get In Touch

Leave a comment here or email me @ [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and see you in the next one. 🙏

Welcome to the inaugural podcast episode for The Berlin Life - a new initiative to document living and working in Germany.

In this first episode, Cheryl Howard - career coach and founder of The Berlin Life:

- Shares her personal story

- Explains how The Berlin Life came to be.- Talks about her hopes for this humble little podcast.

- Doles out some career coaching advice about listing skills on your German CV. Thanks for listening and we hope you'll tune in for future episodes.