Please vlog Latvia!!! There’s too much Germany, Japan, France and US content. You have a niche market. Tell us everything! How you grew up, the culture, the food, all the sites, show us the old people, and the kids, just anything you can think of. I’d love to see your country from the perspective of someone from there. Not some travel vlogger, who’s been in the country 15mins 😂❤
When you realized that you were being taken advantage of by being classified as a 'mini job' while working part time, you should have reported that company immediately. It's nothing you should feel inclined to keep under wraps for them.
I am also a Latvian living in Hamburg, got excited when you mentioned your possible relocation here but well... it's a pity you had such an unfortunate and negative streak of work experience here in Germany, it's not always like this but it certainly happens, all the best to you back at home, and don't give up, keep pursuing your dreams and see where it leads you. sometimes everything that happens is for the best :)
19:48 and these companies complain that they lack staff these days but don't want to give you a fair salary and respectful work environment. What a shame 😢
Sadly enough, there usually are enough desperate people around to keep such companies in business. Especially with young and inexperienced people. I would not be surprised if for some of those employees, half of the salary is sponsored by a state employment agency program. They get fired then after 2 years when that program runs out and they have to pay the full 24k. ^^
I cried watching this because my situation is so similar, like pretty much banger after banger of the crappy defeats stacking up, it’s kinda comforting knowing someone else has been through similar things. Gives me a bit of hope.
As someone already mentioned - it's good that you have an "adult" job in your CV now. It will be your advantage, especially with a year of experience. You are now a lot more valuable for HRs. It's true as often you switch jobs in one industry the higher your pay gets. Wish you luck
Erika, you had my attention through the full 20 minutes. it's always a joy to listen to you. i feel like a friend quietly listening to your stories. today i felt really sad hearing your frustration through the video, one challenge after the other. on the bright side, the art style of little chef looks totally up my alley and i'm thrilled that 2.0 will be on steam. keep building that portfolio!
I started watching you before coming to Germany, now I've been here for 6 months. I'm currently also working service jobs whilst getting my degree in AI. A lot of the experiences you shared I've faced too with weird quirks of managers and a not-so-friendly work environment in general. Excited to see where your channel goes now that you don't live in Germany anymore. All the best :)
I'm sorry all these series of unfortunate events happened, but I do appreciate your honesty sharing your story. It is very interesting as an outsider, but who has been watching your videos for a long time. I think a lot of people have similar issues before gaining experience. I was making pennies in California until I was 25 then I finally started getting experience in my career field and since then life has just been easier and less stress-full. Less peanut butter toast meals, more real food. Could afford my own apartment after almost a decade of just renting rooms. Good luck to you, and know that this phase will probably be the hardest career wise (breaking in). Excited to check out Little Chef 2!
i knoe it sounds really hard and harsh but unfortunately it is the truth: in germany you are probably under qualified with only a bachelor degree and without speaking at least B1 German :/ German companies prefer people who have done in their company an "Ausbildung" for three years than someone with a three years bachelor degree The times have changed, in Germany a bachelor is not worth much anymore, almost everyone is going their masters after the bachelor because with a bachelor it's even for germans hard to get a job
Awesome story - so honest and insightful! Had very similar experiences job-wise as a non-German coming to live in Germany. It really isn't easy! But props to you for giving it such a good crack.
The amount of sheer joy and happiness I got from the notification of your video is crazzy...tbh we've seen most of what you told so i basically knew it alr + the game is alright yk, tried making pancakes but all i could make was a eggy/salty mess, anways..great video and hope you have a great day erika
Hello Erika! I have listened your story and I feel really sorry for what you have been through! No worries! Keep up the good work and very soon everything will definetely be fine!!!😃😄
I dont know the details of your situation and youtube metrics, but as a viewer what I can say for sure is that you have clear talent for youtube content! Your storytelling feels really authentic and cozy, and I find myself always clicking on your videos as soon as I see them. So definitely keep pushing in terms of youtube, I could very well see your channel blowing up in future. Good luck!!
You still could make a content in Latvia, like travel vlog in Latvia or neighbour country. I like the video format you make and your jokes it really hits every time. I myself live in Germany currently, speak like B2 level but still the language barrier always makes me frustated. Good luck for your project and I wait for more content in the future.
At last, I almost insulted all of Latvia and selected the entire country as a travel destination. Instead I seen that MikroTik is based in Riga, Latvia and it looked nice so it's on the list.
One thing I like about your videos is how genuine you are and relatable. All of us in our 20s are struggling to find our place and set a purpose in this world. With the current Economy and job market it is pretty rough for college students to graduate students. I'm currently trying to find internships for my degree in Managerial Economics, nonstop applications with no response afterwards. Nobody is giving me a chance yet. They keep moving the bar further to make it harder for people who comes from low income to succeed or gain experience, which is the point of internship is to gain experience, These days you have to have up to three years of experience to even have a chance getting internship. AI is starting to replace more people just so employers can save more money from paying their workers. I'm currently living with my parents and desperately want to have my own place and independence, and finally live life the best I can do. All we can do is keep trying until we struck gold, being in your 20s sucks in a way, My plan is to move to Germany some day either Frankfurt, Mannheim, Hamburg or Berlin. Year 2025-26 hopefully a year of opportunity for me and those who shruggles finding their purpose.
im sorry you seem kinda naive, 24k fulltime is a crime even for a graphic designer, you know that the minimum paycheck per hour is 12,82€ right? 40k per year is normal / 3200€ per month
Oh I just came back home from living for few months in Latvia. I really appreciated your mushrooms but the lack of sunlight in November and December really made me melancholic.
You really should record more Latvian videos, I cannot wait for a video titled "my day in Kuldiga" or "swimming in Kolka" 😂 honestly it would be really interesting.
Please try to continue developing your TH-cam channel. You are very successful at doing that. It may not make you much money now but one day it might. Working at a job is overrated (except for the survival part). You have a unique voice. I'm inspired to visit Latvia because of you. Young people are facing similar problems in Canada. It is a difficult time for many. Good luck!
Your videos are full of inspiration and insight . Don’t worry, you 100% deserve better or big achievements , your videos content is so natural and authentic explanations you will definitely got good job and more subscribers.
There are so many obstables to a good life, I don't claim to have the answer that will fit for you. But there is a pattern to many of the things you mention in your videos. At some point, things don't get better until you commit to master something. It's great that society has social services and good infrastructure, but you'll remain with limited options or even a dead-end until you try something difficult. Learning German to fluency is very difficult, mastering Latte art is difficult, etc. You're dilligent, but striving for mastery at something takes further dedication. You have thousands rooting for you, but only you can choose what set of skills you want to specialize in and then grind at it for a bit. Good luck.
As an Eastern European working remotely for German clients from home I can say that nothing really could make me move there. The weather, rent prices, overall culture and language barrier are just not inviting at all. At the same time Germany has this image from the past of being the ultimate immigration location that simply does not hold up now, especially when compared to wages in the US. So many outdated German companies begging for employees and then paying minimal wage to live in a expensive city has become a standard unfortunately.
Congratulations on aquiring a designer position. Even if the starting salary is not great, it's important to get some experience and skills first. The money will follow.
About your job contract. You don't need a writen contract. In the moment you work and get your money for your work, there is a legal contract between both partys every court will accept. Would be best if you were paid digital to proof that you got money but this is not mandatory. If you want, you could sue them.
OMG this video validated the struggles I went through this last year after college. I have literally gone through pretty much everything you described, with the village isolation and breakups and job searching and general loneliness/depression... It's a lot. It's very weird because as a young person, it feels like we should be getting lots more opportunities to work and social interaction, but then things like what you went through happen. I managed to get a job paying pretty abysmal wages tbh, but I'm slowly getting back into being social and moving on with my life. I hope you're able to do the same, good luck and I look forward to your game!
Watching from Nigeria, I find your videos very fascinating and unique. This video was very eye opening. As someone who has never lived abroad, I thought these type of things only happened in my country, certainly not in a country as advanced as Germany, one would think TH-cam is tough work but if you commit to it, it can really change your life ! Perhaps use this time as an opportunity to really invest in TH-cam and make more videos? You have the charisma and creativity to succeed as a TH-camr from what I can see ❤ I really wish you the best!
Hi Erika. Just want to share my experience too. I really struggled to find a decent job after finishing my studies. Months of searching and rejections. A lot of strange work places and coworkers. it was tough. It took me five years to start earning a decent salary, but now I am in a much better place and very happy with where I landed. Looking back at those five years of figuring things out and building my experience, I can now see the good moments and feel proud of myself (even though I didn’t feel that way at the time). It was really a journey. You are not alone, and it is such a blessing that you have a place to move back to. Don’t consider it as a step back. Don’t give up and I am wishing you all the success! Cheers!
Dude. I'm an American and I just went to college because I was given financial aid, had no clue what to do, got a degree in exercise science since I like to lift weights and train others. Then after having work experience as a trainer with a Bachelor's, the job offers were pretty low paying, I started my own business and then COVID happened 2 months later and I lost everything. I then decided after awhile that the military would be the best bet for new skills, a new career once the contract is up and higher pay. I was living my mother until I was 3 weeks from turning 27! I am now in the US Space Force and I can't wait for my contract to end lol. They stationed me in Oahu Hawaii, which I was excited about, but it's actually really bad. I have honestly really enjoyed your videos for about a year now. Hopefully you land on your feet sooner rather than later! I appreciate the honesty since we all typically have stories like this. Good luck!
So happy I found your video, I found it way too relatable! I moved to France last year with my girlfriend after finishing my bachelors, ended up working in an Irish bar with a crappy abusive manager, broke up with said girlfriend and have had a nightmare on the job market since, dealing with rejections/ghosting and only receiving work thats always exploitative, unpaid and/or soulless. Having struggled to find jobs in mainland Europe I'm now back in the UK (where I'm from originally), knowing it's not really the place for me but trying to work on my own projects to see where that can take me. Best of luck Erika!
I totally feel you. There's been a year since I moved to Germany, also to a small city but in the south, and i've been having a lot of bad experiences here. In my case, I believe they are more gender related, so I am still considering moving to the north. I also noticed that this has been kinda influenced my willings to learn the language. Anyway, love your channel. Wishing you only positive vibes on your next move :)
good luck. it's really hard being a young person right now. the employment system just seems broken... for everyone. hey but latvia's awesome! doctor doom seems pretty cool...
11:35 - i feel you. this is how i feel my whole live living in germany. gotting burnout from underpaid scam jobs and the everlasting and exclusive job hunt. at least i get my health insurance paid by social welfare. listening the video till now, it all feels so familiar and typical, such a normal perspective of young people in this country. especially when when you look slightly alternative or modern.
Good luck in Latvia, I hope everything goes well and you find your path. Being from the tech industry, I have some contact with graphical designers and unfortunately the market is not amazing and salaries are borderline offensives, although the offers you got were not even close to the market average, even for junior designers without any experience whatsoever. You definitely deserve more and I am sure you will get it eventually. With that said if you ever find yourself thinking about Germany again, I would suggest to you to look for Stuttgart, Berlin and München. These are the main centers for software development and major hubs for designers because of that. I would stay away from north east where cities are mostly about industries, trade and finances. I currently live in Berlin and, although it is not amazing, I know of a few designers here making a living in the field. Then again, I am not sure Germans know what a designer is... have you seen their sites? Argh...
It is propaganda. They like to boast about how civic minded they are and how they have great engineers. Well every city I went to I had to be careful when walking, there was so much dog poop EVERYWHERE. And like Erika says in this video, the word please and thank you, or excuse me are anomalies in German culture. The Christmas markets reek of cigarette smoke and they freely discriminate in housing and schooling.
There are plenty of bad companies, trying to take advantage of people. In some working sectors it is more prevalent than in others. Not sure where you got that. I never heard "Germany" bragging or even merely claiming fair treatment in the workplace. People have plenty of workers rights, yes. Much better than in many other countries. But you must know your rights and be willing to fight for them, maybe even in court. (or join a profession where a union can do that for you.) If not, there are enough bad bosses that try to scam people out of their money and/or free time. Especially in the service sector.
Not sure about cost of living. Normally you need rent, food (from supermarket, the price is independent if you're living in a village or in Hamburg), transportation. As far as I saw in Romania, food prices are similar to Germany, so by moving to Latvia I suspect you don't save much on food. So only bigger rent in Hamburg is the problem, which I think could be solved, if your wage is 1600/month. So I would have stayed in Hamburg.^^
I watched the entire video. I've been following your channel for a year now. I'm sorry to hear about your experience. I hope nothing but the best for you. This is a new chapter. It might not feel great right now, but big breaks come through when you least expect them. Best wishes!
Hello Erika. I came across your video, and I can relate to your experience quite a lot. My dead leads career took place in the UK, and I too just realized I was merely surviving, not living. I made the decision to go back home to Russia (I love our Latvian neighbors BTW), and it was the best decision I could have made. Never fear moving on, and taking the big step. If you are spinning your wheels, it's best just to get out of the car and walk away for better opportunities. Stubborn companies like that one based in Hamburg are only looking to take advantage of you, and not valuing "Please and Thank you" says a lot about the company culture overall. You come across as a very bright young woman with goals. That will take you where you are valued and meant to be. I'm also an avid gamer, and will be looking out for Little Chefs 2. Best of luck to you.
I feel you so much especially when you were unemployed and feeling depressed or sad because you can't do much!! I am currently unemployed and I have big plans to immigrate to another country and I need the money and the career stability otherwise I won't be able to sustain a living in the country I want to immigrate to. Kudos to you for not giving up!
I also had a similar awful job hunt experience for 7 months. My full time research assistant contract in München was ending in June 2024. I slept late, got up early balancing between a 9:00-5:00 work and intensive job search. It was all rejection, ghosting, and some more. I tried using a non profit agency (Amiga International) which helps foreigners with free job hunt/CV writing consultations, but after months of literally nothing I had to leave. To me, I saw everything as nothing but luck with job search in Germany. Some told me if only I knew someone, others said, if only I could speak German, others said, if only I contacted them earlier, and others said, if only I had more time cos they had upcoming projects with pending funds approval.
Hello Erika. I wanted to say that i love watching your videos. I'm also not in the greatest moment of my life, as i'm about to drop out of the university i'm in right now, and apply for another one next year. But you know what they say, after a rain there's always a rainbow. Wishing you the best of luck from Romania. You got this.
I subbed a few months back after watching one of your videos. You have a brave, fresh and honest approach, and I wish you all the good fortune in the world. And you have 65.7K subscribers, as I write, so the TH-cam algorithm is starting to like you. Keep going. 🖖
I feel for your situation. I think you made the right choice tho. “There’s not enough space between the numbers on my grave stone to be wasted on dealing with bad people”. I wish you find a good job that you enjoy.
I could never imagine living or working in an other country or even an other part of Germany. I love my home region and can't think of ever leaving. But your story definitely interested me, even if your experience here in Germany wasn't the best. I hope, that you will be finally able to achieve your dreams. You earned my support for that. Viel Erfolg in Lettland und freundliche Grüße aus Deutschland.
Oh man, I'm so sorry about that. This is Germany for ya. I have lived for 10 years, but to this day I have the same problems that you are describing, I don't have any savings and the only reason I am not going anywhere, is that I don't have any other place to go. And just relocating somewhere brings a lot of insecurities and problems, starting with a huge up front cost. I am living not to far away from Trier btw as well.
S@@t happens and I can totally relate even in my own country with lower salaries than the ones you mentioned and at the same inflation on the market and rents. But you are inspiring a lot of people and I always look forward for your next one. Somehow, they are both relaxing and dreamy.
I would like to see some video about your native country Latvia 🥰It would be nice to look at your favorite places. Please, make some video from there. And don't be upset, it's just experience, sh*t happens ❤
Thank you so much for being honest and sharing your experiences with the "gig economy". I am in the same situation that you were, and this made me feel less alone. I love your videos and will definitely buy little chef 1 & 2! I wish you the best of luck and happy holidays
Hey Erika, I’ve been following you for a while and I so relate to your journey. After university, I also went back to my home country and had a less than positive work experience 😅 I think your game looks awesome. Would you be interested in marketing it in China? Let me know! We have a huge cozy gaming crowd 🎉
It seems that living in the Big Europe is really tough. Maybe it is easier to make it back here. Anyways I'm happy to hear you are standing up for yourself.
I want to say one more thing: it is very normal for people to try things out and found that it doesn’t work and have to give up. Happens all the time. Please don’t blame yourself for your decision. It’s very good of you to try. I am doing something similar and gave up too. I am happy to know that I haven’t wasted much more time on it. We read it on internet all the time, people go to Germany for over 5 years but still decided to leave.
I know it is not a fun subject. But every young person entering the working life, I highly recommend them to read up on basic contract laws, labor laws and housing laws of whatever jurisdiction they intend to live, work and study in. There will always be people trying to exploit holes in your knowledge and/or intimidate you. You need to be on top of that and willing to fight back if you do not want to become a victim of that at some point.
Things have been tough, but remember that every experience, even the hard ones, will make you stronger. I truly believe that things will get better with time. I hope that soon you start to see positive changes, and that your future projects bring you the happiness! Best of luck!! Btw, I’m a Software Engineer, and if there are any opportunities to collaborate on your project, I'd be glad to be a part of it. Just let me know!
8:47 I was waiting for this moment to be brought up in the video the second you mentioned that you worked without a contract in the first establishment and also got paid divided in cash and bank account transactions. I immediately thought: i bet that the first contractor didn't pay anything for insurance and you will be held accountable for tax/insurance fraud later on 😔 what a horrible experience 😢
You've had some sad experiences - I'm very sorry for you and about you, I enjoyed watching your videos. Unfortunately, many people in this country suffer the same fate as you, and they do so for decades. They never get a foothold in life and suddenly they are old and have a tiny pension, if any at all, which is not even enough for food and certainly not enough for a flat. Sad conditions. ... All the best for the future! (Transl. DeepL). Betrübliche Erfahrungen hast Du da gemacht - es tut mir sehr leid für Dich und um Dich, ich habe Deine Videos gern gesehen. Wie Dir ergeht es leider vielen Menschen in diesem Land, und zwar über Jahrzehnte, sie bekommen in ihrem ganzen Leben keinen Boden unter die Füße und unversehens ist man alt und hat, wenn überhaupt, eine winzige Rente, die nicht einmal für Lebensmittel reicht und für eine Wohnung schon gleich nicht. Traurige Zustände... Alles Gute für die Zukunft!
Joining others who are asking you to do videos about Latvia! You're so young, I'm sure you'll do great. There's no point in staying at a place where you're unappreciated and underpaid.
Hey Erika! 😊It’s so frustrating to hear a story like this… I love our country, and I truly believe there’s so much good to offer once you get settled here. But yeah, there are definitely a lot of hurdles for foreigners. I think younger people mostly speak good German these days, and in the bigger cities, it’s more accepted if your German isn’t perfect yet. And i think that’ll keep improving over the next few years. The much bigger issue, though, is our bureaucracy-it’s such a nightmare. I really hope, from the bottom of my heart, that future governments in Germany make it easier for people to get started here with work and everything else. At least the Green Party seems to be prioritizing this, which is a good thing since we desperately need skilled workers and people who are ready and willing to contribute here. Wishing you all the best for your future! I really hope to see more of your videos traveling and exploring cities-I love watching those! You should also consider opening up a Patreon page or something similar. It doesn’t have to be expensive, but I’m sure there are plenty of us who would be happy to chip in a little to support your journey and keep it going. Anyway, all the best to you, and greetings from the beautiful (and underrated 😉) Saarland!
I‘m so sorry about your bad work experiences in Germany and that you weren’t able to stay. I hope that a company that recognizes your talent will discover you soon and that you find a fulfilling job with good conditions and people who treat you with respect. I admire your spirit and am keeping my fingers crossed and thumbs pressed for better things to come. It would be wonderful if you end up finding a bright future here in Germany. Viele liebe Grüße aus Nürnberg 🥨🍺
germany has a storied history of artificially suppressing wages, but at least we can all watch their skilled worker shortage continue to grow and reduce their global competitiveness 🍿
😂well the biggest ones like VW, BMW, Krups where only able growing so big working with slaves not long ago 😅 maybe karma strikes again 😂 all good things take time 😊❤
It was a bit of a rollercoaster video, even you where only sitting down and talk 😕 I wish you all the best for 2025. But as a designer you are able to do work remote where ever you stay, i´m sure you will find a nice job 🤞
I am so sorry you had such an awful working experience in Germany. I can so relate to your story, as my post university experience there was pretty similar (and I am a native speaker and hold a masters degree). I eventually left the country, though for different reasons. I wish you only the very best of luck and success back home in Latvia.
people love to take things out of context so i am redoing my comment: erika, i could hear you speak for hours. i admire your courage and your love for new adventures. i wish you all the best! may these people never found themselves in situations where they move to a new country for the most different reasons and found themselves struggling trying to learn a new language while people don't care two sh*ts helping you practice their language with them :D
You made the same mistake I made when choosing what to study: Studied what you wanted to learn, Not what the market desires. However there is a second path to take: Since youve studied, companies will see that youre not stupid, and not unable to learn new things, so the best way forward is to go into the industries that actually make big money and apply for team assistance or something the like there. Youll make more money and have less responsibility / stress.
Please vlog Latvia!!! There’s too much Germany, Japan, France and US content. You have a niche market. Tell us everything! How you grew up, the culture, the food, all the sites, show us the old people, and the kids, just anything you can think of. I’d love to see your country from the perspective of someone from there. Not some travel vlogger, who’s been in the country 15mins 😂❤
When you realized that you were being taken advantage of by being classified as a 'mini job' while working part time, you should have reported that company immediately. It's nothing you should feel inclined to keep under wraps for them.
I am also a Latvian living in Hamburg, got excited when you mentioned your possible relocation here but well... it's a pity you had such an unfortunate and negative streak of work experience here in Germany, it's not always like this but it certainly happens, all the best to you back at home, and don't give up, keep pursuing your dreams and see where it leads you. sometimes everything that happens is for the best :)
thank you for the thoughtful comment 🧡
19:48 and these companies complain that they lack staff these days but don't want to give you a fair salary and respectful work environment. What a shame 😢
Capitalism at its best 😢
@@DoorsOfPerceptionPDM yeah because when everyone made nothing under communism was so much better. /s
Love your honesty. We need more people like you :)
24k for a skilled position in Germany is crazy, in Hamburg is crazy²!!! Sorry you had such a bad experience with jobs in Germany.
Sadly enough, there usually are enough desperate people around to keep such companies in business. Especially with young and inexperienced people. I would not be surprised if for some of those employees, half of the salary is sponsored by a state employment agency program. They get fired then after 2 years when that program runs out and they have to pay the full 24k. ^^
fresh out of uni with a bachelor... ehmmm, you been living under a rock or smth?
@@giovannifrrri5495Yes, and what's wrong with that?
Why do you think the government want foreigners? To allow the companies to exploit them lowing the salaries.
Y'all Europeans want to live in USA.
United States is the greatest country on the planet.
I cried watching this because my situation is so similar, like pretty much banger after banger of the crappy defeats stacking up, it’s kinda comforting knowing someone else has been through similar things. Gives me a bit of hope.
As someone already mentioned - it's good that you have an "adult" job in your CV now. It will be your advantage, especially with a year of experience. You are now a lot more valuable for HRs. It's true as often you switch jobs in one industry the higher your pay gets. Wish you luck
Hamburg is crazy, but feel free to connect, if you ever came here. You did the right thing for leaving that job, best of luck for future 🎉
Erika, you had my attention through the full 20 minutes. it's always a joy to listen to you. i feel like a friend quietly listening to your stories. today i felt really sad hearing your frustration through the video, one challenge after the other. on the bright side, the art style of little chef looks totally up my alley and i'm thrilled that 2.0 will be on steam. keep building that portfolio!
thank uuuu 💛
I like the way you speak out against poor working conditions. Thanks for the energy !!!
thank you for your honesty, it is really inspiring
Alles Gute Erika.
@@ph33316 danke!
Thank you for sharing your story. Best of luck Erika! You are smart and will get there!
I started watching you before coming to Germany, now I've been here for 6 months. I'm currently also working service jobs whilst getting my degree in AI. A lot of the experiences you shared I've faced too with weird quirks of managers and a not-so-friendly work environment in general. Excited to see where your channel goes now that you don't live in Germany anymore. All the best :)
I'm sorry all these series of unfortunate events happened, but I do appreciate your honesty sharing your story. It is very interesting as an outsider, but who has been watching your videos for a long time.
I think a lot of people have similar issues before gaining experience. I was making pennies in California until I was 25 then I finally started getting experience in my career field and since then life has just been easier and less stress-full. Less peanut butter toast meals, more real food. Could afford my own apartment after almost a decade of just renting rooms.
Good luck to you, and know that this phase will probably be the hardest career wise (breaking in).
Excited to check out Little Chef 2!
i knoe it sounds really hard and harsh but unfortunately it is the truth: in germany you are probably under qualified with only a bachelor degree and without speaking at least B1 German :/
German companies prefer people who have done in their company an "Ausbildung" for three years than someone with a three years bachelor degree
The times have changed, in Germany a bachelor is not worth much anymore, almost everyone is going their masters after the bachelor because with a bachelor it's even for germans hard to get a job
Thanks. I've enjoyed your videos. very genuine. appreciate your content. well deserved.
Awesome story - so honest and insightful! Had very similar experiences job-wise as a non-German coming to live in Germany. It really isn't easy! But props to you for giving it such a good crack.
The amount of sheer joy and happiness I got from the notification of your video is crazzy...tbh we've seen most of what you told so i basically knew it alr + the game is alright yk, tried making pancakes but all i could make was a eggy/salty mess, anways..great video and hope you have a great day erika
Didn't think my tik tok brain would manage to watch a 20minute video uninterrupted.. oh boy was I wrong. Considering to watch it again right now
Hello Erika! I have listened your story and I feel really sorry for what you have been through! No worries! Keep up the good work and very soon everything will definetely be fine!!!😃😄
I dont know the details of your situation and youtube metrics, but as a viewer what I can say for sure is that you have clear talent for youtube content! Your storytelling feels really authentic and cozy, and I find myself always clicking on your videos as soon as I see them. So definitely keep pushing in terms of youtube, I could very well see your channel blowing up in future. Good luck!!
You still could make a content in Latvia, like travel vlog in Latvia or neighbour country. I like the video format you make and your jokes it really hits every time. I myself live in Germany currently, speak like B2 level but still the language barrier always makes me frustated. Good luck for your project and I wait for more content in the future.
At last, I almost insulted all of Latvia and selected the entire country as a travel destination.
Instead I seen that MikroTik is based in Riga, Latvia and it looked nice so it's on the list.
One thing I like about your videos is how genuine you are and relatable. All of us in our 20s are struggling to find our place and set a purpose in this world. With the current Economy and job market it is pretty rough for college students to graduate students. I'm currently trying to find internships for my degree in Managerial Economics, nonstop applications with no response afterwards. Nobody is giving me a chance yet. They keep moving the bar further to make it harder for people who comes from low income to succeed or gain experience, which is the point of internship is to gain experience, These days you have to have up to three years of experience to even have a chance getting internship. AI is starting to replace more people just so employers can save more money from paying their workers. I'm currently living with my parents and desperately want to have my own place and independence, and finally live life the best I can do. All we can do is keep trying until we struck gold, being in your 20s sucks in a way, My plan is to move to Germany some day either Frankfurt, Mannheim, Hamburg or Berlin. Year 2025-26 hopefully a year of opportunity for me and those who shruggles finding their purpose.
im sorry you seem kinda naive, 24k fulltime is a crime even for a graphic designer, you know that the minimum paycheck per hour is 12,82€ right? 40k per year is normal / 3200€ per month
Oh I just came back home from living for few months in Latvia. I really appreciated your mushrooms but the lack of sunlight in November and December really made me melancholic.
You really should record more Latvian videos, I cannot wait for a video titled "my day in Kuldiga" or "swimming in Kolka" 😂 honestly it would be really interesting.
Please try to continue developing your TH-cam channel. You are very successful at doing that. It may not make you much money now but one day it might. Working at a job is overrated (except for the survival part). You have a unique voice. I'm inspired to visit Latvia because of you. Young people are facing similar problems in Canada. It is a difficult time for many. Good luck!
Thanks!
Well, I guess being in your 20s is rough no matter where you are in the world :(
Consider Poland. We are in need of such bright, enterprising people.
Your videos are full of inspiration and insight . Don’t worry, you 100% deserve better or big achievements , your videos content is so natural and authentic explanations you will definitely got good job and more subscribers.
that s very sweet thank u!
There are so many obstables to a good life, I don't claim to have the answer that will fit for you. But there is a pattern to many of the things you mention in your videos. At some point, things don't get better until you commit to master something. It's great that society has social services and good infrastructure, but you'll remain with limited options or even a dead-end until you try something difficult.
Learning German to fluency is very difficult, mastering Latte art is difficult, etc. You're dilligent, but striving for mastery at something takes further dedication. You have thousands rooting for you, but only you can choose what set of skills you want to specialize in and then grind at it for a bit. Good luck.
You should try and make life better where you are. No need to move.
As an Eastern European working remotely for German clients from home I can say that nothing really could make me move there. The weather, rent prices, overall culture and language barrier are just not inviting at all. At the same time Germany has this image from the past of being the ultimate immigration location that simply does not hold up now, especially when compared to wages in the US. So many outdated German companies begging for employees and then paying minimal wage to live in a expensive city has become a standard unfortunately.
Congratulations on aquiring a designer position. Even if the starting salary is not great, it's important to get some experience and skills first. The money will follow.
About your job contract. You don't need a writen contract. In the moment you work and get your money for your work, there is a legal contract between both partys every court will accept. Would be best if you were paid digital to proof that you got money but this is not mandatory. If you want, you could sue them.
I get you... Bachelors... Finishing masters... 2 internships done - nobody wants to hire me 😒
Erica, I wish you a good luck. Be brave. You're inspiring a lot.
you are good girl, after months of struggle, theres gonna be months (lets hope years) of prosperity. chin up
OMG this video validated the struggles I went through this last year after college. I have literally gone through pretty much everything you described, with the village isolation and breakups and job searching and general loneliness/depression... It's a lot. It's very weird because as a young person, it feels like we should be getting lots more opportunities to work and social interaction, but then things like what you went through happen. I managed to get a job paying pretty abysmal wages tbh, but I'm slowly getting back into being social and moving on with my life. I hope you're able to do the same, good luck and I look forward to your game!
Watching from Nigeria, I find your videos very fascinating and unique. This video was very eye opening.
As someone who has never lived abroad, I thought these type of things only happened in my country, certainly not in a country as advanced as Germany, one would think
TH-cam is tough work but if you commit to it, it can really change your life ! Perhaps use this time as an opportunity to really invest in TH-cam and make more videos? You have the charisma and creativity to succeed as a TH-camr from what I can see ❤
I really wish you the best!
you are getting so much experience in life girl!! keep it up.
Hi Erika. Just want to share my experience too. I really struggled to find a decent job after finishing my studies. Months of searching and rejections. A lot of strange work places and coworkers. it was tough. It took me five years to start earning a decent salary, but now I am in a much better place and very happy with where I landed. Looking back at those five years of figuring things out and building my experience, I can now see the good moments and feel proud of myself (even though I didn’t feel that way at the time). It was really a journey.
You are not alone, and it is such a blessing that you have a place to move back to. Don’t consider it as a step back. Don’t give up and I am wishing you all the success! Cheers!
Dude.
I'm an American and I just went to college because I was given financial aid, had no clue what to do, got a degree in exercise science since I like to lift weights and train others. Then after having work experience as a trainer with a Bachelor's, the job offers were pretty low paying, I started my own business and then COVID happened 2 months later and I lost everything. I then decided after awhile that the military would be the best bet for new skills, a new career once the contract is up and higher pay. I was living my mother until I was 3 weeks from turning 27!
I am now in the US Space Force and I can't wait for my contract to end lol. They stationed me in Oahu Hawaii, which I was excited about, but it's actually really bad. I have honestly really enjoyed your videos for about a year now.
Hopefully you land on your feet sooner rather than later! I appreciate the honesty since we all typically have stories like this.
Good luck!
So happy I found your video, I found it way too relatable! I moved to France last year with my girlfriend after finishing my bachelors, ended up working in an Irish bar with a crappy abusive manager, broke up with said girlfriend and have had a nightmare on the job market since, dealing with rejections/ghosting and only receiving work thats always exploitative, unpaid and/or soulless. Having struggled to find jobs in mainland Europe I'm now back in the UK (where I'm from originally), knowing it's not really the place for me but trying to work on my own projects to see where that can take me. Best of luck Erika!
I totally feel you. There's been a year since I moved to Germany, also to a small city but in the south, and i've been having a lot of bad experiences here. In my case, I believe they are more gender related, so I am still considering moving to the north. I also noticed that this has been kinda influenced my willings to learn the language. Anyway, love your channel. Wishing you only positive vibes on your next move :)
good luck. it's really hard being a young person right now. the employment system just seems broken... for everyone. hey but latvia's awesome! doctor doom seems pretty cool...
11:35 - i feel you. this is how i feel my whole live living in germany. gotting burnout from underpaid scam jobs and the everlasting and exclusive job hunt. at least i get my health insurance paid by social welfare. listening the video till now, it all feels so familiar and typical, such a normal perspective of young people in this country. especially when when you look slightly alternative or modern.
Good luck in Latvia, I hope everything goes well and you find your path. Being from the tech industry, I have some contact with graphical designers and unfortunately the market is not amazing and salaries are borderline offensives, although the offers you got were not even close to the market average, even for junior designers without any experience whatsoever. You definitely deserve more and I am sure you will get it eventually.
With that said if you ever find yourself thinking about Germany again, I would suggest to you to look for Stuttgart, Berlin and München. These are the main centers for software development and major hubs for designers because of that. I would stay away from north east where cities are mostly about industries, trade and finances. I currently live in Berlin and, although it is not amazing, I know of a few designers here making a living in the field.
Then again, I am not sure Germans know what a designer is... have you seen their sites? Argh...
Wish you all the best, keep going :)
I love your videos and I can’t wait to see more of your projects!
thank uu
I am shocked at the way you were treated in Germany. Germany is always bragging about how fair they treat people. This looks like a problem.
It is propaganda. They like to boast about how civic minded they are and how they have great engineers. Well every city I went to I had to be careful when walking, there was so much dog poop EVERYWHERE. And like Erika says in this video, the word please and thank you, or excuse me are anomalies in German culture. The Christmas markets reek of cigarette smoke and they freely discriminate in housing and schooling.
There are plenty of bad companies, trying to take advantage of people. In some working sectors it is more prevalent than in others. Not sure where you got that. I never heard "Germany" bragging or even merely claiming fair treatment in the workplace. People have plenty of workers rights, yes. Much better than in many other countries. But you must know your rights and be willing to fight for them, maybe even in court. (or join a profession where a union can do that for you.) If not, there are enough bad bosses that try to scam people out of their money and/or free time. Especially in the service sector.
I feel you its the same struggles with job hunting over here in america. I've been job hunting for 4 months and most are scams.
You should think about streaming some of the gamedev work.
Not sure about cost of living. Normally you need rent, food (from supermarket, the price is independent if you're living in a village or in Hamburg), transportation.
As far as I saw in Romania, food prices are similar to Germany, so by moving to Latvia I suspect you don't save much on food.
So only bigger rent in Hamburg is the problem, which I think could be solved, if your wage is 1600/month.
So I would have stayed in Hamburg.^^
I watched the entire video. I've been following your channel for a year now. I'm sorry to hear about your experience. I hope nothing but the best for you. This is a new chapter. It might not feel great right now, but big breaks come through when you least expect them. Best wishes!
I love your channel! Wishing you the best in this new chapter 🎉❤
Hello Erika. I came across your video, and I can relate to your experience quite a lot. My dead leads career took place in the UK, and I too just realized I was merely surviving, not living. I made the decision to go back home to Russia (I love our Latvian neighbors BTW), and it was the best decision I could have made. Never fear moving on, and taking the big step. If you are spinning your wheels, it's best just to get out of the car and walk away for better opportunities. Stubborn companies like that one based in Hamburg are only looking to take advantage of you, and not valuing "Please and Thank you" says a lot about the company culture overall. You come across as a very bright young woman with goals. That will take you where you are valued and meant to be. I'm also an avid gamer, and will be looking out for Little Chefs 2. Best of luck to you.
thank you for the sweet message it s always nice to hear that im not alone
I feel you so much especially when you were unemployed and feeling depressed or sad because you can't do much!! I am currently unemployed and I have big plans to immigrate to another country and I need the money and the career stability otherwise I won't be able to sustain a living in the country I want to immigrate to. Kudos to you for not giving up!
Whoa.Lots of twists and turns. Keep at it.
I also had a similar awful job hunt experience for 7 months. My full time research assistant contract in München was ending in June 2024. I slept late, got up early balancing between a 9:00-5:00 work and intensive job search. It was all rejection, ghosting, and some more. I tried using a non profit agency (Amiga International) which helps foreigners with free job hunt/CV writing consultations, but after months of literally nothing I had to leave. To me, I saw everything as nothing but luck with job search in Germany. Some told me if only I knew someone, others said, if only I could speak German, others said, if only I contacted them earlier, and others said, if only I had more time cos they had upcoming projects with pending funds approval.
Hello Erika. I wanted to say that i love watching your videos. I'm also not in the greatest moment of my life, as i'm about to drop out of the university i'm in right now, and apply for another one next year. But you know what they say, after a rain there's always a rainbow. Wishing you the best of luck from Romania. You got this.
I subbed a few months back after watching one of your videos. You have a brave, fresh and honest approach, and I wish you all the good fortune in the world. And you have 65.7K subscribers, as I write, so the TH-cam algorithm is starting to like you. Keep going. 🖖
64.7k
@@defense200x Sorry, typo.
I feel for your situation. I think you made the right choice tho. “There’s not enough space between the numbers on my grave stone to be wasted on dealing with bad people”. I wish you find a good job that you enjoy.
I could never imagine living or working in an other country or even an other part of Germany. I love my home region and can't think of ever leaving.
But your story definitely interested me, even if your experience here in Germany wasn't the best.
I hope, that you will be finally able to achieve your dreams. You earned my support for that.
Viel Erfolg in Lettland und freundliche Grüße aus Deutschland.
If you're the only grphic designer in the company, you're niot a junior, you're a senior graphic designer.
Oh man, I'm so sorry about that. This is Germany for ya. I have lived for 10 years, but to this day I have the same problems that you are describing, I don't have any savings and the only reason I am not going anywhere, is that I don't have any other place to go. And just relocating somewhere brings a lot of insecurities and problems, starting with a huge up front cost. I am living not to far away from Trier btw as well.
Reminds me, i need to find a job here in Latvia during my final semester. Great job in advocating for yourself and learning from horrible experiences
S@@t happens and I can totally relate even in my own country with lower salaries than the ones you mentioned and at the same inflation on the market and rents. But you are inspiring a lot of people and I always look forward for your next one. Somehow, they are both relaxing and dreamy.
I would like to see some video about your native country Latvia 🥰It would be nice to look at your favorite places. Please, make some video from there. And don't be upset, it's just experience, sh*t happens ❤
Thank you so much for being honest and sharing your experiences with the "gig economy". I am in the same situation that you were, and this made me feel less alone. I love your videos and will definitely buy little chef 1 & 2! I wish you the best of luck and happy holidays
20 minutes feels like 2 minutes, I love hearing you yap
Hey Erika, I’ve been following you for a while and I so relate to your journey. After university, I also went back to my home country and had a less than positive work experience 😅
I think your game looks awesome. Would you be interested in marketing it in China? Let me know! We have a huge cozy gaming crowd 🎉
It seems that living in the Big Europe is really tough. Maybe it is easier to make it back here. Anyways I'm happy to hear you are standing up for yourself.
I want to say one more thing: it is very normal for people to try things out and found that it doesn’t work and have to give up. Happens all the time. Please don’t blame yourself for your decision. It’s very good of you to try. I am doing something similar and gave up too. I am happy to know that I haven’t wasted much more time on it. We read it on internet all the time, people go to Germany for over 5 years but still decided to leave.
Uhhh! I have been waiting for this!
We are the same age. But you are a breath of fresh air and an inspiration across the world
I’ve enjoyed your videos so much! Wishing you all the best and can’t wait for more content!
classic german experience
I know it is not a fun subject. But every young person entering the working life, I highly recommend them to read up on basic contract laws, labor laws and housing laws of whatever jurisdiction they intend to live, work and study in. There will always be people trying to exploit holes in your knowledge and/or intimidate you. You need to be on top of that and willing to fight back if you do not want to become a victim of that at some point.
Also thank you for reminding me how depressing my 20s were now in my 40s 😅
Things have been tough, but remember that every experience, even the hard ones, will make you stronger. I truly believe that things will get better with time. I hope that soon you start to see positive changes, and that your future projects bring you the happiness! Best of luck!!
Btw, I’m a Software Engineer, and if there are any opportunities to collaborate on your project, I'd be glad to be a part of it. Just let me know!
I wish you the best 🎉❤
8:47 I was waiting for this moment to be brought up in the video the second you mentioned that you worked without a contract in the first establishment and also got paid divided in cash and bank account transactions. I immediately thought: i bet that the first contractor didn't pay anything for insurance and you will be held accountable for tax/insurance fraud later on 😔 what a horrible experience 😢
You've had some sad experiences - I'm very sorry for you and about you, I enjoyed watching your videos. Unfortunately, many people in this country suffer the same fate as you, and they do so for decades. They never get a foothold in life and suddenly they are old and have a tiny pension, if any at all, which is not even enough for food and certainly not enough for a flat. Sad conditions. ... All the best for the future! (Transl. DeepL).
Betrübliche Erfahrungen hast Du da gemacht - es tut mir sehr leid für Dich und um Dich, ich habe Deine Videos gern gesehen. Wie Dir ergeht es leider vielen Menschen in diesem Land, und zwar über Jahrzehnte, sie bekommen in ihrem ganzen Leben keinen Boden unter die Füße und unversehens ist man alt und hat, wenn überhaupt, eine winzige Rente, die nicht einmal für Lebensmittel reicht und für eine Wohnung schon gleich nicht. Traurige Zustände... Alles Gute für die Zukunft!
Thank you, this video made my day a little brighter.
All the best!
Joining others who are asking you to do videos about Latvia! You're so young, I'm sure you'll do great. There's no point in staying at a place where you're unappreciated and underpaid.
Lowering your monthly salary by €200.00 for no reason other than moving to Latvia is insane.
What?
@@alicankarakaya2770 What do you mean "what"? It's not fair and not respectful to lower the salary.
Hey Erika! 😊It’s so frustrating to hear a story like this… I love our country, and I truly believe there’s so much good to offer once you get settled here. But yeah, there are definitely a lot of hurdles for foreigners. I think younger people mostly speak good German these days, and in the bigger cities, it’s more accepted if your German isn’t perfect yet. And i think that’ll keep improving over the next few years.
The much bigger issue, though, is our bureaucracy-it’s such a nightmare. I really hope, from the bottom of my heart, that future governments in Germany make it easier for people to get started here with work and everything else. At least the Green Party seems to be prioritizing this, which is a good thing since we desperately need skilled workers and people who are ready and willing to contribute here.
Wishing you all the best for your future! I really hope to see more of your videos traveling and exploring cities-I love watching those! You should also consider opening up a Patreon page or something similar. It doesn’t have to be expensive, but I’m sure there are plenty of us who would be happy to chip in a little to support your journey and keep it going.
Anyway, all the best to you, and greetings from the beautiful (and underrated 😉) Saarland!
I‘m so sorry about your bad work experiences in Germany and that you weren’t able to stay. I hope that a company that recognizes your talent will discover you soon and that you find a fulfilling job with good conditions and people who treat you with respect. I admire your spirit and am keeping my fingers crossed and thumbs pressed for better things to come. It would be wonderful if you end up finding a bright future here in Germany.
Viele liebe Grüße aus Nürnberg 🥨🍺
Nothing beats being independent.
Make TH-cam vids in Latvia, it is very unknown in EU.
germany has a storied history of artificially suppressing wages, but at least we can all watch their skilled worker shortage continue to grow and reduce their global competitiveness 🍿
😂well the biggest ones like VW, BMW, Krups where only able growing so big working with slaves not long ago 😅 maybe karma strikes again 😂 all good things take time 😊❤
I guess I won't tell you a secret that Germany without German language would be difficult 😅
It was a bit of a rollercoaster video, even you where only sitting down and talk 😕
I wish you all the best for 2025.
But as a designer you are able to do work remote where ever you stay, i´m sure you will find a nice job 🤞
I am so sorry you had such an awful working experience in Germany. I can so relate to your story, as my post university experience there was pretty similar (and I am a native speaker and hold a masters degree). I eventually left the country, though for different reasons. I wish you only the very best of luck and success back home in Latvia.
You should maybe asked the Arbeitsamt for help, they could check your CV and your application and help you find a job in your field
28k is a miserable salary to live on in hamburg. you need atleast 45-60k to have a decent time here.
people love to take things out of context so i am redoing my comment: erika, i could hear you speak for hours. i admire your courage and your love for new adventures. i wish you all the best!
may these people never found themselves in situations where they move to a new country for the most different reasons and found themselves struggling trying to learn a new language while people don't care two sh*ts helping you practice their language with them :D
You made the same mistake I made when choosing what to study:
Studied what you wanted to learn, Not what the market desires.
However there is a second path to take:
Since youve studied, companies will see that youre not stupid, and not unable to learn new things, so the best way forward is to go into the industries that actually make big money and apply for team assistance or something the like there.
Youll make more money and have less responsibility / stress.