Sigrid:
We’re here with Andreea Lungulescu. I’m guessing you’re from Portugal?

Andreea:
Nope, actually, I’m from Romania. You can usually tell because of the “scu” at the end of my name. Also, my name is spelled with double E’s — that’s not a mistake, it’s literally how it’s spelled in Romania. So, I have two signs in my name that point to my Romanian roots.

Sigrid:
Now we all know you’re from Romania, and that’s how we recognize it. You decided to make Berlin your home?

Andreea:
Indeed I did.

Falling in Love with Berlin: From Tourist to Resident

Sigrid:
How did you arrive here? Because I also heard you decided about ten years ago to start your own business, your own path — which is a very courageous step.

Andreea:
Yes, definitely my own path. My solopreneur venture started around 2023 or 2024. But I moved to Berlin in 2015. It’s a story close to my heart. I first came to Berlin in 2014 for my birthday for three days, completely on a whim. I was living in England and took a cheap holiday to Berlin. Honestly, I didn’t see much except tourist spots and supermarkets.

But when I landed, and arrived at the hotel in Charlottenburg—a cheap hotel—I told my partner, “I need to move here.” It felt like home, though I had no real reason why. It was love at first sight, like being struck by lightning. I went back to the UK afterward, started learning German, looked at flats in Berlin, and was obsessed. Then life happened, and in 2015, I made it happen and moved here. Berlin feels like home more than Bucharest ever did.

Regarding business, I was in corporate for 15 years until 2023. That’s when I co-founded the Talent Crunch community, and in 2024 I started my consulting business. So that’s when my Berlin love story really began.

Navigating the German Job Market: Advice for Internationals

Sigrid:
Love is a big thing in Germany—how to get a German partner, how to get a flat, how to make German friends, and of course, how to understand the German job market. And this is where Andreea comes in because she’s a specialist in this.

Andreea:
I’d like to put some frame around this. Are we talking about people already living here or those considering relocating?

Sigrid:
Let’s talk about those who are already here—maybe just arriving or trying to find something better.

Andreea:
Perfect. There’s a big difference between finding a job in Berlin and finding one in other large German cities. Berlin’s culture is quite open and blurry, which helps internationals. The tech ecosystem here often accepts English speakers, unlike cities like Stuttgart or Munich, where you usually need fluent German.

However, Berlin’s economy is still quite divided. If you want something more stable and long-term, bigger cities may be better—but you’ll likely need better German skills. People living in Germany should consider improving their German to open more doors.

On another note, I can’t ignore artificial intelligence because it’s everywhere. People worry AI will take their jobs. But there’s something called collective intelligence—something communities like mine focus on. AI can’t replace human connection. Networking is more important than ever.

Imagine being in a sea of people and AI tools and corporate pressure. You need to be the person they think of first when they need to hire. It won’t be the newest AI tool—it will be your face. So get out there, network, and build relationships. I learned this lesson late, but I hope others can learn from my mistakes.

Mastering Salary Negotiation: Confidence and Strategy

Sigrid:
Networking is hard work, but it’s crucial. You mentioned money earlier—how do you advise people to talk about salary when applying for jobs? For example, from a Mexican perspective, people tend to undervalue themselves during negotiations. How do you help with that?

Andreea:
Let’s look at two lenses: one for permanent jobs in companies, and one for consultants or solopreneurs.

For permanent jobs, often candidates say “I’m open” or avoid giving a number, fearing they might scare off employers. But you should know what you need to live comfortably and add some margin on top. Some candidates have the audacity to ask for more than they need—and that can pay off.

If you’re shy or afraid, you can say something like: “For my current living situation and to be happy and loyal long-term, I’d feel comfortable with a range between X and Y. I’d love to hear about your salary bands and growth paths.” Then stay silent and let them respond.

For solopreneurs or consultants, I recently learned a valuable lesson: don’t just charge an hourly rate. Instead, offer a package price, e.g. €1,500 for a service. It might take you 30 minutes or two days, but the value includes your experience, network, and tools. This mindset shift changes how you value yourself.

If the price seems high to a client, ask what the blocker is. Is it budget? Do they see the value? What’s the obstacle? Work on addressing that—not just lowering your price. Don’t say, “Go with the cheaper option”—that’s shortsighted.

Sigrid:
That was great advice. Another question: I’ve heard that women tend to apply only when they fit 90-100% of a job description, while men apply even if they meet 50%. Is that true?

Andreea:
Yes, it’s true, but with nuance. It’s about gender diversity, cultural diversity, and intersectionality. Women tend to be more risk-averse due to societal conditioning and years of oppression. Also, German culture isn’t the most open or welcoming, adding complexity for women and minorities.

So yes, women often wait to feel fully qualified before applying, while men are more likely to apply with partial fit.

Sigrid:
What’s a typical cultural shock when starting at a German company? For me, it was realizing that sick days are accepted, whereas in Mexico working while sick is seen as loyalty.

Andreea:
That’s a positive shock! A harder one for me was the struggle with inclusivity. Some organizations don’t realize they need immigrants and thus don’t make much effort to include them. Language is a big barrier. I understand German well but don’t speak fluent business German, so sometimes I felt excluded.

But I also appreciate the German work culture—when they work, they really work, unlike Romania where there are many breaks and early departures. That’s something I enjoy here.

Sigrid:
At the end of the day, we’re all trying to push for integration and understanding. But it’s complicated. I want to share an experience: I attended an official German event for internationals, but the speech was overly simplified, like talking to children, which was condescending. This isn’t how to promote integration.

Andreea:
I agree, that’s frustrating. We need respect and real inclusion.

Sigrid:
On a positive note, tell us how we can find you and be part of your community.

Andreea:
Thank you! I just purchased the domain for the community: talent-crunch.com. There you’ll find the ecosystem—social media, newsletters, Slack, events. The consulting side is at principalrecruiter.com. The easiest way to find both is through my LinkedIn. Just Google “Andreea Lungulescu Berlin” and you’ll see me with colorful backgrounds.

Sigrid:
Thank you so much! This was great. We’ll definitely do a part two.

Andreea:
Thank you to – I loved it.