I’m trying to get a realistic, ground-level view of working in tech across the EU pls no marketing blog answers.
A few specific questions for people already working there:
- How is the day-to-day work culture in tech roles (work hours, pressure, autonomy, micromanagement)?
- How do salaries vs cost of living actually balance out?
- How open are companies to non-EU candidates in 2025 (visas, sponsorship, hiring bias)?
- Is career growth faster in startups or larger companies in the EU context?
- How much does local language matter outside of work?
And most importantly:
- Which cities are currently the strongest tech hubs for software/backend/devops roles?
- Which cities are overhyped vs actually good for building a career?
- If you were starting today, which city would you personally choose and why?
Looking for honest experiences.