Offsite: 5 of the Best Cities for Tech Professionals

Looking to accelerate your career in tech?

Being in the optimal location gives professionals a distinct advantage, not just for the abundance of tangible opportunities, but the intangible effects of being around like-minded people, in a vast and suitable environment. These are our picks for the best cities to live in if you’re a techie in search of new roles and new experiences.

1. San Francisco/Silicon Valley, US

Let’s get this one out of the way. Every tech pro on Earth would predict this to be on the list somewhere. Silicon Valley is the home of Google, Apple, Facebook, HP, Adobe — and the list goes on. Put simply, it’s a Mecca for the tech world, and to work there is to be part of the elite. It’s the ultimate destination for a tech professional.

Have you ever wondered why these companies exist in such close proximity to each other? There’s actually a logical reason why. The first is because customers prefer variety and choices, and this applies to consumers, entrepreneurs, and businesspeople. It is easy to build infrastructure that facilitates similar kinds of business, like technology.

The second is the workers themselves. It’s not uncommon for employees of these tech giants to hop from one to another. With their previous experience at rival companies, their credibility is assured and they’re more likely to get hired. By being in an environment with experts in your industry, you’re much more likely to get a role at your dream company.

2. London, UK

London is the startup capital of Europe, with numerous billion-dollar startups, known as unicorns. Inspired by the success of these companies, many entrepreneurs see London as the place to grow a thriving new business.

Research has found that 45% of IT decision makers would choose London to launch their tech business. With this comes great opportunities for budding tech professionals looking for a role where they feel part of something special. Helping a startup grow could be the most fulfilling thing you do in your career, as you’ll feel responsible for the success just as much as the founders.

There are so many variations of tech jobs in London. For example, if you have an interest in fintech in particular, you really can’t beat the capital. With examples such as Revolut, Transferwise, Starling, Monzo, and others based in the UK, London has secured the title of the best city for fintech jobs.

Shoreditch, the home of the aptly named ‘Silicon Roundabout’ next to Old Street station, is the tech hub for the capital. It is an amazing place to work, with a real vibe that inspires creativity and success.

3. Düsseldorf, Germany

With the skills shortage in the IT sector, there are plenty of opportunities to relocate and many companies will help with the process. If you have a university degree and some experience, securing a role in Germany can be relatively simple. Fluent German often isn’t essential although you will need to be willing to learn once you arrive!

Germany is the home of SAP, a revolutionary software, and Dusseldorf is at the centre. As an expert recruiter of SAP jobs, Eursap, explains: “As the birthplace of pioneering enterprise software, there is an abundance of SAP jobs in Germany.”

It goes on to explain further that openings are available across the country, “with Düsseldorf in the North Rhine-Westphalia being one of the main hubs for hiring SAP Consultants”. So if you’re looking for a new opportunity in a thriving area for tech, SAP is a prosperous route to go down.

4. Tel Aviv, Israel

Tel Aviv is home to some of the world’s leading academic programs in tech-related fields. This innovative city provides companies, investors, and global enterprises with a multitude of talent, developed infrastructure, and business opportunities.

With the highest number of startups per capita in the world, some big names founded in Israel’s finance and tech hub include Monday.com, Wix, Appsflyer, and Arbe Robotics.

It’s an incredible place to be for a career in AI, machine learning, big data, analytics, and cybersecurity, and it was even the first country in the world to offer a PhD in cybersecurity. As well as founding big names, Tel Aviv has more than 100 foreign R&D centres including Google, Facebook, Yandex, eBay, Ford, Amazon, Barclays, and Visa.

Alongside all this, Tel Aviv is a great place to live with a wonderful quality of life. Being around some of the most ambitious workers in the world, you are bound to fast-track your tech career to success.

5. Tallinn, Estonia

For those who want a quieter pace of life than the bustling cities above, or just a change of scenery, Estonia’s capital city Tallinn makes a great place to work for tech professionals. Tallinn itself is also one of the most underrated cities in Europe, both in its beauty and quality of life.

Tallinn is pushing the boundaries with innovative new products and services used the world over. While it doesn’t share the same gravitas as Silicon Valley, since the turn of the century Estonia has gained a reputation in the tech industry with a varied and rich range of startups. From old-school powerhouses like Skype to newer innovations like Pipedrive, Transferwise, and Bolt, the list is growing every year.

In addition, Estonia is considered by some to be the most advanced digital society in the world. It considers internet access a basic human right and it was one of the first known countries in the world where 5G solutions were demonstrated in real life.

Photo by Dominika Gregušová from Pexels