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wants to eat something at fmd_goodPizza Vita
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HELP! Was this internal hiring process discrimanatory & biased against me?
So, after joining the interview, I was instantly told that the interview is for both the roles which honestly I was a little taken aback but I thought it's fine atleast she told me that she's taking it for both the positions. Okay, I was asked to introduce myself and midway while talking about my masters degree and how I am soon going to graduate I was abruptly told that I cannot be considered for either of the roles because i do not have a masters degree. I have been living in Berlin for the past three years so I know THAT IS NOT TRUE (even the job description only asks for a relevant bachelors which I have along with experience in the same company!!) anyways I tried to explain this to her and somehow got manipulated into a conversation about how because I dont have a master's degree I will have visa issues and again I was trying really hard to explain that I have checked all this information and can apply for either a blue card or a normal working visa once I get a working contract. But I was ridiculed and told that this is her job and she does this on a daily basis so ofcourse she knows about this more than me. Well in short, all of this happened in under 10 minutes and spoiler alert, this is now being considered as the HR screening for me.
After the interview I sent her all the relevant links to follow up on the interview with proofs about what I was telling her and she said she would look into it but right now she's taking other internal interviews. I waited and also told her I met with the hiring manager informally and got a reply that she's happy I did. At this point I was really confused already because she had earlier told me I was not being considered for the role so am I suddenly being considered or what??
Anyways after 2 weeks i contacted her and got a reply that after reviewing all the candidates I cannot be considered due to me not meeting the "requirements". Naturally, I wanted answers and asked her what these requirements are and i havent even gone to the second round to meet the hiring manager for an actual interview. To my surprise, she rejected me based on the 10 min. chat with her and my informal chat with the hiring manager. Also i asked the hiring manager and she was only informed that I am not being considered because "I HAVE VISA ISSUES" and the company cannot hire me umm ma'am i am already working in the company hence applying internally??!!!
So all in all I cried and then consulted a previous manager who also thought this was super weird. Do you guys think I should report her? I recently got a mail from her saying that the requirement was a master degree which is again not true and she consulted the legal team and stakeholders about it idk who those are but why would they be into the hiring process and they said I cannot be legally employed anywhere in germany so i'm kinda bummed at what this lady is on about.
I just don't know what to do about it :/
Tldr: went through a bad internal hiring process where I wasn't given a proper chance for an interview and am being rejected on the basis of informal call with the hiring manager.
Berlin on a Budget: Tips 2026
Stay in hostels like Generator Berlin Mitte (starting at 25 EUR per night) or book a room via Airbnb in less central districts like Neukölln or Wedding for lower rates.… 🏨 Affordable Accommodation
Stay in hostels like Generator Berlin Mitte (starting at 25 EUR per night) or book a room via Airbnb in less central districts like Neukölln or Wedding for lower rates. Consider visiting in the shoulder seasons (April-May or September-October) when prices drop by up to 30%.
🚇 Cheap Transport Options
A single public transport ticket costs 3.50 EUR for zones AB, covering most attractions. For longer stays, buy a 7-day ticket for 41 EUR or a Berlin WelcomeCard for unlimited travel and museum discounts. Locals often bike everywhere using the city's extensive bike lanes or rent a bike via Nextbike for 1 EUR per 30 minutes.
🍽️ Eating on a Budget
Grab a currywurst from a street stall for around 3.50 EUR or a döner kebab for 5-6 EUR. For groceries, head to Aldi or Lidl where a loaf of bread costs 1.50 EUR. Many bakeries sell pre-made sandwiches for under 4 EUR, perfect for a picnic in Tiergarten.
🎫 Free Attractions
Visit the Reichstag dome for free (book online in advance) and explore the East Side Gallery, a 1.3 km open-air gallery on the Berlin Wall. On Sundays, many museums offer reduced entry or free admission, such as the Museum für Naturkunde (first Sunday of the month free).
💰 Money-Saving Tips
Locals avoid tourist traps by eating at Späti (corner shops) for cheap drinks and snacks. Use the Berlin Pass for free entry to over 50 attractions if you plan to visit many sites, but calculate costs first as it starts at 59 EUR for 48 hours. Always carry cash, as some smaller shops and cafes don't accept cards.
🏛️ Discount Museum Days
Most state museums are free on the first Sunday of each month, including the Pergamon Museum and Neues Museum. On Thursday evenings, the Jewish Museum offers free entry from 6 PM to 8 PM. Check individual museum websites for updated schedules.
🌳 Free Outdoor Activities
Spend a day at Tempelhofer Feld, a former airport turned public park with free bike rentals and BBQ areas. Rent a paddleboat on the Spree River for 10 EUR per hour or join a free walking tour (tip-based) that covers major landmarks like Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie.
yeah the guide's got the main stuff down, one thing i'd add is that the späti culture is legit for saving money but specifically the ones in kreuzberg near kottbusser tor have the cheapest beers, like 0.80 eur for a can of sterni. also if you're doing the sunday museum thing, skip the pergamon queue and go to the hamburger bahnhof instead, it's way less crowded and has cool contemporary art plus the building itself is a converted train station so it's a vibe
for food, i'd say the best budget move is not the döner but the falafel at yafa on sonnenallee, 4 eur for a massive plate and it's open till late. and tbh the reichstag booking is a pain but if you miss it, the rooftop at the kollhoff tower near potsdamer platz is like 4 eur and gives you a solid view without the hassle
solid write-up, one thing i'd add is that the 7-day ticket is actually 41 eur for AB but you can get a 4-trip ticket for 12 eur if you're only here a couple days and it works out cheaper than single trips. also the museum sunday freebie is great but it gets packed, like at the pergamon you'll be queuing for 30 mins minimum. for a quieter free option, try the brücke museum in grunewald on a weekday afternoon, it's small but has killer expressionist art and no crowds. oh and for a cheap meal, hit up mustafa's gemüse kebab at mehringdamm, that line is long but it's worth the 5 eur for the hype tbh
honestly the cash tip is huge, a lot of tourists don't realize how many places are still cash only here. something the guide missed is that you can get a really cheap coffee at most bakeries for like 1.50 eur if you stand at the counter instead of sitting down, way cheaper than the hipster cafes. also if you're near a späti grab a beer for like 1 eur, way cheaper than bars obviously