Finding a job and working in Romania
According to the Financial Times, Romania is one of Europe's most fast-growing economies, a fact that has attracted foreign professionals over the years. Slowly, Romania became a popular tech destination that is constantly growing overseas investments, therefore, the country is now an attraction for expats looking for a job.
Economy and work culture in Romania
In 2019, the growth of Romania in the economic field was expected to stay solid. Thanks to the improved private-sector and also to the EU-led investment, the economic growth this year is at 4% and is expected to be at 3.1% in 2020.
This means a lot for a medium developed country and is also an apport to the attraction of international workers.
The main economic pillars remain the traditional agriculture, industry, fishing, and services. However, IT and high-tech industries stay as the most attractive ones.
Actually, Romania is one of the most popular European centres for startup initiatives and tech jobs. Due to the strong educational base in science and technology, the low costs of living, the friendly and helpful work culture, along with one of the fastest broadband Internet speeds in the world, the country gives already a big welcome to expats.
Probably the biggest startup name in Romania today is UiPath that develops a platform for RPA (robotic process automation) They started in 2005 in Bucharest, and now it has offices all around the world in cities like New York, Washington DC, London, Paris, Bengaluru, Singapore, and Tokyo.
Besides, there are other strong development of some successful startups, such as Elefant, Cyber Swarm, Miababy, or Fashion Up. But there are also a number of big multinationals to keep an eye on. We would mention Orange Romania, OMV Petrom, Hidroelectrica, Renault Industry Romania, British American Tobacco, Oracle, Betfair, etc.
Finding work as a foreigner in Romania
In 2019, Romania's government increased quotas for non-EU workers by 50%. This means up to 30,000 work permits. Therefore, there is a high demand in the workforce and a great welcome for foreigners who are going to move to Romania.
Finding a job in Romania should be an easy task, as there are lots of department agencies to inform and advise job seekers. These also provide information and advice on the available jobs at the department and national levels. There is a full database will the job vacancies advertised by the National Employment Agency.
There are also many other avenues to help expats to look for a dream job. For instance, lots of National Newspapers have job listings. Look for Ziarul Evenimentul, Ziarul Financiar, The Diplomat or Piata A-Z. But since these newspapers are mostly printed, foreigners can look for Romania's jobs online. They can search on Olx.ro, Ejobs.ro, Publi24.ro, Bestjobs.eu, Hipo.ro and many others.
Also, the National Agency for Employment in Romania and the British Council Romania are great alternatives for looking for a job.
When it comes to language, it would be perfect to sign up for Romanian language classes before applying to jobs. Either way, especially when it comes to big companies and multinationals if you are a good English speaker, you have all the chances to be hired.
The labour market in Romania
Most of the jobs in Romania are provided by industries such as the tech industry, communications, assembling, tourism, textile, security, trade, engineering or marketing. By far, the tech industry is growing on both local and foreign startup companies.
Studies have shown that in 2019, the IT Software Industry is in the 1st position when it comes to job opportunities. So for foreigners who want to work in this field, Romania is a great place to make their wish come true.
The most significant opportunities are in large cities, such as Bucharest, Cluj Napoca, Timisoara or Iasi. Smaller towns will attract expats that want to work in smaller companies. Also, the cost of living is less expensive, and opportunities in English teaching and small business are higher.
Internships in Romania
The internship field in Romania sounds better and better. In 2019, over 63% of the companies were recruiting interns, and half of them are going to hire most of the applicants. When it comes to money, it is true that there are still approximately 30% of companies that do not offer paid internships.
But there are plenty of businesses that will offer valuable salaries to their interns. For expats who want an internship, they should know that one of the most important criteria for Junior hiring is the previous experience, the other internships he or she had done and also their studies.
Curriculum Vitae and cover letter in Romania
In general, it would be perfect for the expats to write their CV or cover letter in both Romanian and English. However, there are jobs where you send the CV in English or French, for positions that only require speaking and understanding a foreign language.
CVs need to be written according to some Romanian standards. You will start with general information, then with professional experience, education, personal competences, etc. Most of the employers will ask for a Europass model for your CVs. Also, consider getting a free CV review at TopCV.
Job interviews in Romania
When you go to an interview, you will need to present your diplomas or certificates that prove your skills. Recommendation letters and other documents proving the expertise and qualifications you have will be a plus to have.
For those applying in big companies, the first interviews will be with the HR department, then with their future superiors. In small companies, the interviews might not be so complex but include just one meeting.
In some cases, you might need a medical certificate, a driver's licence or a copy of a clean criminal record, but these documents are a must just for some specific jobs.
Wages in Romania
Statistics show that most of the companies will increase their salaries by 19% in 2020. The average net salary varies from one industry to another. While in the IT industry, the average income as entry-level or junior is around 550 to 1,600 euros, for other domains, the salaries will start from 500-700 euros. As expected, the IT industry is the most prosperous in Romania, and there are drastic differences between the industries.
Also, there are extra benefits and perks for employees in Romania, such as private medical insurance, lunch tickets, remote work, holiday bonuses and flexible work schedules.
