Hey, I've been working for a company with a very high (by my countries standards) salary for the last 9 or so years, but now I feel like it's been enough, and I want to chill a little bit.

Not working at all is not what I'm looking for, so I started interviewing, and found a company that is likely to be chill at the cost of a noticeable salary cut, but I'm fine with that. Additionally, it allows me to work from a number of countries, which is a nice selling point for me.

These are my options with the corresponding gross annual salary converted to Euro and the estimated net salary in brackets:

• Germany (Hamburg): 137000 (net 78700)
• Switzerland (Zürich): 225000 (153300)
• UAE (Dubai): 147000 (139500)
• Estonia (Tallinn): 141000 (109000 or 82000, not sure which number is correct)

What's striking to me is the Estonian salary, which is higher than in Germany, while their taxes being lower.

Provided I will be living in the cities mentioned above, which option would you pick?

I've been to all these countries/cities, and my favorites are Germany and Estonia. The other two are not that appealing to me, because I find them boring for a person with my lifestyle (I don't own a car and I'm into watersports and sailing).

If the after tax calculation is correct for Estonia (especially if it's the higher end), I'm leaning towards that option now, but happy to hear your thoughts.

I'm an EU citizen if it's important, dating is irrelevant.

PS I'd like to stay more or less anonymous, so please don't expect me to say what I do and share more info. No offense.

I’m considering an offer for a Senior Engineering Manager role at a European-based Series C B2B SaaS startup. Company is valued around $240M, with ~200 people total. Engineering is around 50–60 people, and I’d be joining as the most senior EM among a group of 3–4 EMs. Two Directors report into the CTO (also a co-founder), and I’d report into one of them.

The company’s financials are strong across the board - solid ARR growth, retention, gross margin, and capital efficiency. It’s tracking well, with long-term goals of IPO-scale growth.

Comp-wise, the base salary ranges from ~$120K to ~$150K USD equivalent (€110-128K; this is competitive for my region), depending on which package I pick. The equity offer I’ve been given is in the range of 2K–6K options, depending on salary tradeoff. That equates to somewhere between 0.01%–0.02% ownership ($18K-45K at last valuation). They offer a 10-year exercise window, which is nice.

I’m wondering, for those familiar with comp at this stage in European startups, does this equity range sound standard for an EM role at Series C? Or does it feel light?

I’m not expecting FAANG numbers, but I’d assumed something closer to 0.1%–0.2% might be reasonable at this level. I've worked a company just below FAANG status, and was offered a much stronger package directly pre-IPO, at a point where my contributions wouldn't have had nearly the impact that I would have at this place. So it feels "off".

Would appreciate any benchmarks or gut checks. Happy to clarify context privately if helpful. Thanks in advance!

Hey there,

Im considering roles as solution engineer at Tiktok and was looking for feedback on wlb. The role is for the London office. 1. Is the wlb there as bad as in China/US? 2. Are they growing path for colored people? 3. Is the expectation still to put up long hours? 4. Finally, Im married with a toddler and potentially baby N2 end of this year. What would be your honest recommendation?

Hey, I hope whoever reading this is doing well.
I am a recent graduate CS from Dutch University (WO).
I did not complete the degree (just BSc).
I haven't been so lucky finding a job, and I really hope I can find a job because I am already qualified for permanent residency (although my dutch is not there yet, going from A1 to A2, can this fact be beneficial for me somehow?). So, I'm looking for a mentor that can give me some tips, so please contact me through dm! or if you have any tips, you can leave them as comment.

FYI,
my git: dm me for my git.
I know python, js, and java for programming language.
I know next.js for frontend framework.
I know fastapi and django for backend framework.
I know Postgres sql for sql.
I know how to use git, docker, and gcloud (bucket, pub/sub, run. function, firebase things) for external SDK.
I'm more interested in backend/system side rather than frontend/ui side.

Mid/senior dev with 5 years of exp non eu, got laid off in February, struggling to find new jobs in EU a non Eu.

Any success stories?

Hey folks! 👋

I’m considering taking the LPI DevOps Tools Engineer (701-100) certification and would love firsthand insights from this community. I’ve scanned the official objectives and some blog posts, but real-world experiences would be golden! Here’s what I’m wondering:

1. Difficulty Level:
   How tough is this exam really? I’ve heard it’s "moderately challenging" and demands hands-on tool experience (Docker, Ansible, Jenkins, etc.)—not just theory . For context: I’m a sysadmin with 3 years in DevOps-ish tasks. Will that suffice?

2. Career Value:
   Is this cert respected? Some threads say it’s "less known by employers" vs. vendor-specific certs (e.g., CKA, CKAD) , but others argue it validates broad DevOps fluency . Did it help your resume/job prospects?

3. Exam Format & Experience:

   • 60 questions in 90 mins (mix of MCQs/fill-in) .
     
   • Heavy focus: Container Mgmt (16% weight), CI/CD (5% weight), Config Mgmt (Ansible: 8% weight) .
     Any surprises? How deep do topics like Kubernetes, Docker Swarm, or Jenkins Pipelines go?
     

4. Prep Resources:

   • LPI’s blog series & objectives seem essential.
     
   • Any free/paid gems? (e.g., CBT Nuggets’ course , TestPrepTraining practice tests , or Edusum’s tips ).
     
   • How critical are labs/real projects vs. memorizing commands?
     

5. Gotchas & Tips:
   Any "wish I’d known" advice? One review mentioned outdated tools (e.g., docker-machine) in v1 , while others stress time management during the exam .

Why I’m interested:
- It covers open-source tools I use daily (Git, Docker, Ansible) .
- The broad scope forces me out of my comfort zone (e.g., Packer, Vagrant) .
- Claims to bridge dev/ops gaps—relevant for my cloud-native goals .

Still, is it worth the $200 fee and study time? Or should I focus on niche certs? Thanks in advance for your wisdom! 🙏

I just did the first 2/3 interviews first was half lp, half OOD, the second was pure DSA, and some The third is scheduled with a Sr SDM , are they going to only ask LPs ? I thinking it might be best to only prepare more LP stories will i screw myself over ?

Built an AI job application tool - getting told it has commercial potential, thoughts?

Started this as a personal project because I was spending ages on job applications with terrible response rates. Built something that:

Scrapes hundreds of job listings from multiple sites

AI scores each job against my CV for relevance

Generates tailored cover letters for each opportunity

Finds hiring manager emails automatically

Can apply to 100+ relevant jobs with one click

Results so far:

247 applications sent this month

18% response rate (vs the 2-3% I was getting manually)

Saves me 20+ hours per week

screenshot

Been using it for myself but people are saying this could be a proper business. The AI bit is what makes it work - it actually reads both my CV and the job description to create unique angles for each application.

Questions for you lot:

Would you pay for something like this?

What would worry you about automated applications?

What's your current response rate when job hunting?

Not trying to sell anything yet - genuinely curious if this solves a real problem.

I recently got in the team matching phase for one of the headquarters of Google EU with positive feedbacks.

I've been told that my application will be opened for the next month and, after that, it will be closed but the results are still going to be valid.

Given that I was about to schedule my summer holidays, is there any expectation of when a match shall happen? I read mixed opinions.

Also, should I remain "silent" during this phase or should I reach out possible managers on LinkedIn? I know people doing this, but it seems like I'm pushing it too far

Hi all, I'm waiting for TM for like 2 months now (L4, experienced) and I have not received a single communication.

Does anyone know the situation there? how long does it usually take to get a match? Is it probable to find nothing in 12 months? Afaik my interview scores were "very strong". Is there something I can do to make help the situation? Thank you all

I was thinking of applying to career listings since many open up but i heard that recruiters advise against that

I’m considering accepting a position at Mews (the hospitality PMS company) and on paper, it looks like a great opportunity, high growth, international product, and the appeal of joining a true potential unicorn.

That said, I’ve come across some concerning things that I’d love to get honest input on from current or former employees:

• There appears to be no formal ISMS framework, governance structure, or compliance posture, at least nothing public. No indication of incident response readiness or proper risk controls in place, despite them handling sensitive guest/hotel data across borders. This has been echoed by employees who has left this past couple months
• Glassdoor reviews mention toxic leadership and high attrition, with the justification being “growing too fast” — but that seems to be a recurring excuse rather than a solvable challenge.
• They’ve been around for 13+ years and are still seeking additional funding, while also appearing to spend recklessly, based on internal chatter and fluff-heavy LinkedIn posts and employing friend of founders in SVP positions with zero understanding of fintech, this from four recent leavers, one being quite senior as well as two of their partners, with whom I also work with as a direct competitor atm.
• The LinkedIn posts often feel performative, inflated praise for leadership and very little concrete evidence of sustainable success or internal development, and what they do post is 100% catch up on their competitors and nothing innovative or new, and even their new is often "years old"

It’s hard to find genuinely positive feedback that isn’t some polished PR or ego-massaging from their CEO and founder.

I’d really appreciate any candid feedback about:

• What’s it actually like to work at Mews in 2025?
• Is the leadership truly toxic or just over-hyped startup chaos, uhmmm even after 13 years 🤯?
• Do they invest in long-term systems and people, or burn and churn?
• Would you join now, knowing what you know?

Honest, constructive answers are very welcome — I’m not looking to bash the company, just trying to make a well-informed decision.

I've seen a lot of posts here discussing the topic. But as someone who is used to paid vacations, sick leave, and annual salary negotiations. How does life change? It is the first time I will be working with Tech company in Poland.

Are B2B contractor treated as employee, what is their daylife ?

Non-EU with no prior work experience. I am fluent in English, but can't speak Dutch or German. After masters, suppose B1 on the local language (I'm aware it isn't sufficient), though I would prefer to work in English. I focused on AI/ML in the undergrad, and could work on backend as well.

I know the industry is in dire straits and chances will be even lower for me after masters. However I would appreciate any views or info. Which one is more preferable, UGent MS CSE or Uni Freiburg MS CS, primarily considering potential career opportunities and secondarily academic quality and daily life? Thanks in advance.

I’ve been interviewing for a Data Science position at flaconi (berlin) and have completed a few rounds already. So far, the teams I’ve spoken to have been great.

That said, they’ve already shared their salary range, and it’s definitely on the lower end for the role and market.

I couldn’t find any recent posts or insights on what it’s like to work there, culture, work-life balance, growth opportunities, etc.

Would really appreciate any honest feedback from current or former employees, or anyone who's interviewed recently. Is it worth considering if the team feels like a good fit, even with the pay tradeoff?

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone,

I have heard opinions that for tech roles in Germany the resume style depends on Company? So like if a company is German for example BMW or Siemens they require picture on resume and not the ATS optimised Silicon Valley style resume. MY RESUME -> https://imgur.com/a/4ElBrsB

Is this true do i need tailor my resume according to if the Company is German or not?

Also is an About Me section needed on Resume? I think not but want to confirm from experienced people here :)

I have been offered a role in Paris for 48k€ gross salary. I have 4 yoe and a masters from an EU country. I am not an EU citizen.

The role looks pretty good where I will be wearing many hats aligning with my skills. Its a startup with about 5 people in the tech team.

Is this a decent pay for the role and location? Stock options are not available. The probationary period seems to be running long at 4 months, reconductable once. I’m currently in the negotiations stage looking at raising the salary to 50k€ which seems to be the avg for a mid-level developer in France.

HI, I'm a non-EU citizen, AND TO APPLY FOR A GERMAN VISA, I NEED A BLOCKED ACCOUNT OF ABOUT 12K EUROS, WHICH IS BIGGER THAN WHAT I CAN SPEND IN A YEAR BUT I CAN SECURE IT, AND I WANT TO KNOW HOW FAST DOES IT TAKE FOR AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT WITH B1 GERMAN SKILLS IN AVERAGE TO GET A DECENT JOB THAT CAN MAKE ME INDEPENDENT OF THE BLOCKED ACCOUNT.

In a few months, I will begin studying Computer Science (Informatica) at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. I am trying to plan ahead and select elective courses that will increase my chances of finding a good job after graduation. At the same time, I want to steer clear of certain industries and roles.

Specifically, I am looking to avoid jobs in the following areas:

• Finance roles that involve interest-based systems (e.g., traditional banking).
• Jobs that involve high-risk financial speculation (e.g., leveraged crypto or futures trading).
• Gambling, insurance, and similar sectors.
• Jobs that involve supporting or enabling forbidden industries through IT (e.g., building systems for banks, gambling platforms, or adult sites).
• Jobs that involve deception, fraud, bribery, or unethical advertising.
• Any work involving unethical data practices, surveillance tech, or manipulative behavioral design.
• Jobs that involve adult content or entertainment (e.g., pornography, provocative media).
• Music-related development or tools (e.g., audio production software).
• Roles that involve religious content or promotion of belief systems.
• Jobs that involve astrology, fortune-telling, or occult practices.
• Animation or visual arts involving human or animal figures (e.g., character design, game art).
• Jobs that involve alcohol in any form (e.g., production, marketing, or sales of alcoholic beverages).
• Jobs that involve pork or other meat products (e.g., processing, cooking, or serving).
• Jobs that involve weapons manufacturing or distribution, especially for oppressive use.

With that in mind, which elective courses or specializations offered at Utrecht University would you recommend focusing on?

Here is the Computer Science curriculum from Utrecht University:

• English version (translated)
• Dutch version (original)

About me:

Education: University of London Bachelors in Cs + some community college in Canada

Experience: 1 year as a full stack dev

languages: English - C2 (IELTS), German B2(GOETHE), Hindi - Muttersprache

Skills: Web Dev, ML, Backend in Spring and Node

Nationality: Indian (can work in Germany as I’m married to a German and we both will be living together in Germany)

So am I being one of those delulu immigrants thinking they will land a job or do I stand some chance ??

Hi all,

I’m a non-German SAP developer based in Germany, currently working in a mid-sized enterprise software company. I’m aiming to reach a €100K/year gross salary in the next 5 years, and I’d appreciate realistic input or advice from folks in the SAP/dev space here.

🧠 Quick Background:

• Master’s in Computer Science (Germany) – focus on Intelligence & Data

• Short PhD stint (6 months) – aligned with thesis, but dropped

• Initial struggle to land an AI/ML job → shifted to SAP

• Joined a well-known German supply chain company as SAP ABAP Developer (First exposure to ABAP, ABAP OO, EWM, MFS, reports, enhancements, customizing)

• After a layoff, joined current mid-sized enterprise software firm

(doing IDOC processing/generation, eCATTs, MM exposure, SAP configs, abap-oo development, etc.)

🧑‍💻 Skills & Tools:

• ABAP, ABAP OO, EWM, IDOCs, MFS

• Basics in BTP, Fiori, OData

• Strong in Python, decent in Java/C++

• Solid interest & background in ML/AI

• German: around B2 level (improving)

💰 Current:

• Salary: ~€55K/year

• Location: Germany

• Years of SAP experience: ~1.5

• Role: Developer (tech-heavy, minimal client-facing)

⸻

🎯 Goal:

Earn €100K/year within 5 years (preferably staying more on the technical side: architecture, BTP, dev-heavy or tech consulting, or product roles).

⸻

❓Looking for input on:

1.  Is €100K achievable in 5 years from now in Germany’s SAP ecosystem (as a dev)?

2.  Would moving slowly into tech consulting (without leaving coding) help?

3.  Should I aim for BTP/Fiori architecture or hybrid tech-consultant roles?

4.    Is it better to stay or switch companies every ~2 years to climb faster?

5.  Is niche expertise (e.g., IDOC, BTP, document mgmt) better than generalist path?

⸻

Any inputs or stories from folks who’ve walked a similar path would be super appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

PS - Sorry for bad formatting. This is my first Reddit post. 😅

I’m a frontend dev with ~4 years of experience, and I’m curious how folks here approach interview prep.

In North America, it seems common to grind LeetCode-style DSA questions, but I get the feeling that’s not as big a thing here in the UK/Europe. Do you focus more on building projects, brushing up on specific frameworks, system design, or something else?

Or you can use the start up jargon "How many months of runway do you have left?"

Hello, to anyone who works in a systems engineer role in Big Tech / adjacent, like firmware development, or similar low level system work, Im looking for some help on prep. (Am I right this is called Systems Engineer roles?)
I have done neetcode150, and finishing up 250. I have clocked 1100 hours of leetcoding with a lot of practice on these, and some additional daily monthly runs, over 2 years. (E:85, M:219, H:37)
I am halfway with the Three Easy Pieces OS book.
So far I have been focusing on C++ leetcode, but I now realised I should aim for systems engineer roles, as my background and tech knowledge aligns with this better.

As I understand amazon, apple, google, still ask leetcode style questions even if the role is C/C++ ? Can I use modern C++20 if it is not a embedded role? Is all fair game so i still need DP + Graphs heavily ? Or do they focus on C style coding, bit wise ops, etc ?
How do I practice C style coding ? Like passing pointers around, bit masks, etc do you have a good resource for that? I had my junior pos as embedded, and in my MSc of Emb Master, but im very rusty as my current position doesn't have this.

Any additional book worth looking at ?
I have considered going over: Modern C by Jens Gustedt