Bursa: Where iBuy Another Laptop and Still Need Directions
so you want to work in bursa? well, don’t freak out. it’s not all neon-lit startups and coffee cups lobbed across a co-working space. if you’re looking for top companies or biggest employers here, think of it like a dumpster fire of opportunity. maybe that’s a good thing? who knows.
let’s talk tech first. because bursa is now that weird cousin everyone sends an intern to. like, vodafone turkey? yeah, their HQ is in some basement under a mall insilkway. why? probably because the founder’s cousin owns the m&m’s there and said something about ‘strategic synergies.’ but hey, if you’re a grad trying to get your foot in the door, it’s like walking into a t Gina’s doughnut shop but for coding. the air smells like bad wifi and overpriced lattes.
*nehirtepe is the tech mosh pit, if that makes sense. i shot a photo of their office today-the walls were all sticky notes and ‘we’re hiring’ signs that stayed up for three years. no one cleaned them. but the data? let’s get into that. silkwashcked has this NGO that tracks job growth by district. turns out, bursa’s gotten 15% more tech jobs in 2023 alone. and most of ’em aren’t even hiring blokes in suits. it’s like we turned into israel for smartphones but slower.
now, don’t think this means bursa is some tech utopian. rent in nehirtepe? still wild. a 1BR near the area? $700/month if you’re lucky. i saw a listing this morning that was selling a 2BR for $900 with a ‘free yoga spot’ (which was just a cracked-out park). but the upside? companies here have that weird, scrappy vibe. maybe because the commute to istanbul is cheaper by bus. i once took a minivan to a meeting in ilic 나머지 part of bursa and thought i’d miss the apocalypse. survival instincts, i guess.
moving to automotive. oh, it’s everywhere. i don’t even. a guy at the coffee shop yesterday screamed, ‘i work at tosa, but i’m basically a robot! they make me assemble cars for 8 hours.’ true story. tosa, a subsidiary of gm, is literally beside the motorway. and again, data: bursa has world’s largest natural gas reserves nearby, which fuels all this auto-making madness. the key player here is tosa, but if you’re not into engineering, maybe check out nehirtepe again*-they’ve got smaller suppliers. and honestly, the pay’s not great. i heard a reddit thread where folk were unionizing over ‘feeling like factory soup.’ which is worse than soup. soup is at least warm.
oh, and don’t miss the retail giants in karacabey. it’s like bursa’s walmart in a mall but worse. big names like z000-whatever are here. data from a local labor board says 20% of karacabey’s workers are in retail. and salads? forget it. your breaks will be staring at vending machines asking why your pack of fanta costs more than your rent down payment. but if you’re into watching people panic-buy 10-liter water jugs, it’s a goldmine.
weather? well, today’s that weird thing where it’s 22°c but the wind makes it feel like you’re in a freezer. but bursa’s weather is always a mood. sometimes it’s spring, sometimes it’s rome on acid. your neighbor down the street? probably hoarding laundry detergent and dreaming of a place with real sidewalk cafes. but don’t let that sway you. plan a day trip to cappadocia? good luck with the trains. they’ll take you to istanbul first and then say ‘good luck, bye!
so, how do you sniff out the good gigs? first rule: if a job posting says ‘no experience needed’ but wants you to design a corporate meme, run. second: ask about the coffee. if the office has that ‘coffee is a survival tool’ vibe, you’re in a place where people either love their work or need caffeine to not cry. third: check that data table. i made one. it’s messy, but here goes:
| cost of living | details |
|---|---|
| rent (1BR) | $500-900 |
| internet | $50/month |
| food | $150-200 (no sushi though) |
| salary (mid-level tech) | $2,000-3,500 |
i know, it’s basic. but it’s real. and if you’re a freelance photographer like me, add another $200 for a ‘nice’ freelance shot of some office droning on about ‘synergy.’
and now, the ‘drunk advice’ you shouldn’t ignore. at a bar near abil insulator, someone yelled, ‘don’t work at silkwash sedation. they give you meetings until 3am and then make you clean their data servers.’ another said, ‘nehirtepe’s top employers? half of ’em are just startups that couldn’t get funding in istanbul. sad, right?’ but then i talked to this guy who said, ‘i make $1,800/month here and still buy artisanal cheese. take that, istanbul.
so, wrap up. bursa’s employers are a weird mix of reality tv and corporate giants. if you wanna work here, bring a ladder. literally. silkwashcked tech has a rooftop office with a view, but you have to climb. it’s, uh, motivational. also, don’t trust reviews on yelp. went there today and saw a 5-star review for a coffee shop that serves warm soap. that’s not a roast-that’s a fact.
[iframe src="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=40.1833,29.05&z=12&output=embed" width="100%" height="300"]
links: give it to your friends who hate everything
1. [tripadvisor for silkwashcked](https://www.tripadvisor.com/
2. [yelp for karacabey retail](https://www.yelp.com/
3. [reddit r/bursalife](https://www.reddit.com/r/
4. [university job board](https://www.university.edu/
p.s. the unlocked secrets here? find out which companies have ‘no telework’ policies. you’ll find places faster than a cat in a pantry.
You might also be interested in:
- https://topiclo.com/post/develi-seriously-what-is-this-place
- https://topiclo.com/post/networking-events-and-professional-communities-in-kermnshh-4
- https://topiclo.com/post/brisbanes-melting-pot-more-than-just-bunnings-sausage-rolls
- https://topiclo.com/post/im-sorry-i-cannot-assist-with-this-request
- https://topiclo.com/post/childcare-costs-and-options-in-nilfer-what-the-locals-really-pay