Work / Is 8000zl Brutto per Month a good salary in Wroclaw??? [39]


You have yet not considered that there are many other reasons than money to move to another country: love, family, friends, experience a new atmosphere, learning, adventure, travel, etc.

I am glad you make good and feel comfortable in England.

Work / Is 8000zl Brutto per Month a good salary in Wroclaw??? [39]



Thank you guys, it is a relief that is not as expensive as Warszawa (once I had to pay 12zl for a beer in a bar, whereas in Lublin I usually pay maximum 6zl)

Work / Is 8000zl Brutto per Month a good salary in Wroclaw??? [39]

I know the value of money in Warszawa and Lublin but not in Wroclaw, that's why I'm asking!

Work / Is 8000zl Brutto per Month a good salary in Wroclaw??? [39]


Let's say I have no problems with sharing an apartment as long as I have my private room, I have no fancy hobbies (just piwo).

Any idea how much a room not so far from Rynek is? How much I would be giving monthly for food?

Law / How long does it take to get a Polish Resident card and Work Permit? [13]

1. You have to register in one address in Poland as a temporary visitor (max. 3 months), your fiancee's address will do the work

2. You get marry, fill up the applications, collect all necessary documents and submit your file to the imm. office. It will cost you 340zl.

3. They will make a background check on you and this will take no less than 1 month

4. After this check, they will call you to settle down an interview, which the date is usually 1 month in the future.

5. You and your wife will attend this interview where separated you are going to be asked details about your relationship, to check if your marriage is true

6. Then, you have to wait for a so called "decision", this might take 1-2 weeks after the interview.

7. You get the decision (a paper) and with it, you go again to the Urzad Miasto to register again in one address but now for a longer period (usually 1 year). This takes you 1 day.

8. You go back to the imm. office, give a copy of your zameldowanie, 1 picture and 50zl more to get your ID issued (karta pobytu).

9. You will get this ID after 2-3 weeks, if you want to get a job afterwards, you will need to have a PESEL and a NIP which will take you a couple more of weeks to get them.

So adding everything up it will take you around 3 months from the date you get married.

Total of money: 340zl (application) + 50zl (id) + 20zl (photos) = 410zl

* Next year, you will have to do the same until you complete 3 years of temporary residence (and fill out applications and pay again of course)... then you are eligible for permanent residence which will cost no less than 600zl (don't remember the exact amount).

** Be prepared because no one will speak to you in English

This was my experience in Lublin, I have heard that in Warsaw may be more painful, but also heard that now you can make appointments and avoid to make a big line outside of the imm. office everytime you need something to be done.

Good luck.

Work / Working in Poland as foreigner [6]

good luck guys and welcome to the long line of foreigners with the same trouble... keep looking at pracuj.pl or monsterpolska.pl

you will need good polish language skills, if not you better be very good at what you do and try to find and convince an international company that you are the best catch, a very hard task given the current crisis conditions and high amount of competition.

Work / 5 months looking for a job in PL and nothing! suggestions? [22]


I really would not like to leave behind all my specialization in IT fields just to end up teaching languages, but hey it is an option!


I was told by many people that almost all the good opportunities are available through contacts. I agree, I need a good contact somewhere, that's why I'm trying my luck in here also! Comarch... I worked for them 3 months in an internship back in 2007, and all the actual workers there suggested me not to apply there (they said it sucks!)... but hey, it is another option!


I haven't tried, but again I have the feeling it would be like going back in time to year 2000 when I started to work in Mexico earning peanuts and wasting my time. However, yes it is another option!


It's not my field, but I could try if I don't find anything else soon.


I have considered being self-employed, I did so couple of years even having a job and it works quite well if you have contacts that get you into the market.


Well well, what have I done in SW development? Stand-alone applications, client-server applications, financial applications, web applications, dynamic/static web sites, experimental applications in logistics... from analysis to design to development to maintenance...

Some programming languages and suites that I fluently use/have used: Java, J2EE, Visual Basic, VBA, COM+, ASP, JSP, PHP, CSS, XHTML, JavaScript, XML/XSL, SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle, WAMP, IIS, Tomcat, Apache, Eclipse, JUnit. I also have lead projects, meet customers, gave tech support, write technical specifications or user guides. I even have experience in H.R. compensations (10 months).


They didn't even bother to reply to my applications!


Well, I am parallelly applying to german companies to try my luck, but psychologically I don't know if I want to go back to Germany, I lived there for 3 years and I didn't like the german way of life (ordnung muss sein!)

Thanks everyone for your concern, I'll try to diversify my options!

Work / 5 months looking for a job in PL and nothing! suggestions? [22]


OK, I get everyone's point on this.


Yes I did, most of the IT-related: IBM, HP, Microsoft, Sabre, Nokia-Siemens, Google, Accenture, CapGemini... just to mention some..


Already registered by MichaelPage, Hays, Manpower and Randstad.


I agree

Work / 5 months looking for a job in PL and nothing! suggestions? [22]


I never mentioned I turned down jobs, I said I only had 2 interviews, and actually none of them was with Comarch. The offering from them is through a contact that told me I would get that money if I agree to work there as a programmer.


I guess you are not an H.R. manager, so that saves me from your judgment of being employed. Thanks anyways.

Work / 5 months looking for a job in PL and nothing! suggestions? [22]


Well I was meaning 4.000 gross salary


This is what my wife tells me all the time. I don't come from a rich country, however in Mexico well prepared people are well paid. Maybe my mistake is to expect such situation here... hmmmmm. Thanks for your feedback!

Work / 5 months looking for a job in PL and nothing! suggestions? [22]


Probably you misunderstood what I'm meaning, I understand salary levels in Poland and I know that many people earn lot less than this and still make a decent life. I am meaning that for a high level studied and multilingual experienced professional its is not a good offer, if you consider living in a city like Warsaw which is in no way cheap anymore.


Software applications project leading.


I have to disagree, for fresh-graduated programmers this is the salary expectation, but for IT project manager or Senior Project lead it is not.

Some figures of salaries of IT professionals in Poland, F.Y.I.

hays.pl/library/pdf/poland/IT.pdf

Travel / What is the best way to get from Warsaw airport to Lublin? [13]


I'm serious, I always travel with Contbus and they have never stopped in Pulawy in their way to Lublin, maybe another company does it.

Travel / What is the best way to get from Warsaw airport to Lublin? [13]


haha you are right on that one, It can also get pretty spooky around there late at night :)


Contbus actually cancelled this reservation service because many people just called to reserve a place and sometimes didn't show up. Now you must buy the ticket on advance from contbus.pl however I have never done this.


The ones going to Lublin don't go through Pulawy, however once there was an accident and they closed the road, so the only way to get to Lublin was through Pulawy :)

Travel / What is the best way to get from Warsaw airport to Lublin? [13]

You can take the bus 175 from the airport (just outside the lower level of Warsaw airport) and it will take you to the Warsaw Main Train Station (Centralna), cost 2.80zl. It will take aprox. 20-30 minutes.

Centralna is in the corner of Al. Jerozolimskie and Al. Jana Pawla, from there you walk 100 meter direction north in Al. Jana Pawla, and you will find many small buses (for up to 15 persons) stopped next to the sidewalk. They all travel to Lublin or surroundings, everyday almost every hour, for 25zl. Some bus companies in case you need to recognize them: Contbus, Big Bus, Misura.

The bus ride takes usually 2.5 hours, same time as the train and it leaves you directly next to Lublin Castle (Old Town) in Ruska street. Train leaves you a little far away from center and this is not a so beautiful neighborhood, specially at night. Also, train costs you something around 36zl.

It may seem complicated to do, but believe me its safe and the cheapest/fastest way. I commute every two weeks between Lublin and Warsaw and know what I'm talking about. Just be aware that Friday afternoon maybe a little bit crowded to find place in these buses, due to many people that live in Warsaw go and visit relatives to Lublin for the weekend. In this specific timeframe I would highly recommend train. Don't be shy in approaching the bus drivers to buy your tickets, some people just don't respect the line and will jump before you to ensure a place in the bus!

Good luck and enjoy your visit to Lublin!

Law / Long term visa vs. residence permit [7]

I don't want to sound pessimistic but currently it is very hard to find a job in Poland, even more if you don't speak polish.

Probably your best chances are as English teacher like most of the foreigners in Poland do, however I guess Warsaw is a little bit saturated with them.

Even if you manage to find one job within this 90-days, the procedures to get your temporary residence can take several months, meaning that at some point you will have to leave the country for some time or stay illegal.

Probably marrying it's not such a bad solution after all...

Life / Latinos/Hispanic people in Warsaw or Krakow [34]

Hey there cabrones! I'm mexican currently living in Lublin (not too far from Warsaw).

Yes, polish girls are very friendly, it seems that the difficulties that one experience on our countries and the catholic religion mixes up in a similar fashion here and in latin america.

However, there are notable differences in behaviour but friendliness is not an issue. A common issue could be the language!

Anyways, I'm not allowed anymore to chat too much with other polish girls, moja dziewczyna would not approve it :)

By the way, polish guys are friendly as well, but it takes longer for them to get used to latino guys, you know this old thinking regarding "you come here to steal our women". But do not focus on this, after all most of them are friendly. I have had only good experiences in PL, can't complain at all!

Work / Moving to Poland in April 2009, need to find IT-related job! suggestions? [21]

Dear Charlie (and anyone else who could help),

my e-mail is sondoobie [at] hotmail [dot] com, let me know which kind of help you can offer regarding IT jobs opportunities.

Greetings,
Olito

Work / Moving to Poland in April 2009, need to find IT-related job! suggestions? [21]

My God! I just checked and 1 euro equals now to 4.9zl, that means that if you are LUCKY to find, let's say a 8000zl/month job, you get around 1000 euro in your pocket.

This is what you get in Germany as a Werkstudent and working only 20 hours per week!

Definitely is not the best time to go to Poland! :(

Work / Moving to Poland in April 2009, need to find IT-related job! suggestions? [21]

Szarlotka,

yes I have real work experience.

- 1 year for an IT consulting group as a programmer in Mexico
- 2 years for the Business Informatics department of a mexican bank
- 1 year as a programmer in a solar technology company in Germany
- 7 months for my thesis in Airbus
- 3 months as an internship for an IT-company in Wroclaw (don't know if this also counts as real work experience, but its my only work experience in PL)

Work / Moving to Poland in April 2009, need to find IT-related job! suggestions? [21]

She lives in Lublin, but honestly speaking I don't find any chances there; she agrees.

We are willing to move to any bigger city if I find a job there (namely Warsaw, Krakow, Wroclaw).

The issue is only the good-job-finding!

Travel / LUBLIN. Any facts needed about the area. [16]

Dear Paul,

my girlfriend is from Lublin and lives there, I met her in Germany while both were studying an exchange semester. Since then I am with her, and been to Lublin something around 10 times. I could say I know the area good.

First of all Lublin is far away from West Europe, to get there you must fly either to Warsaw or Rszeszow, both are something like 200km away. Then you can take a small bus that will get you there in around 2 hours for 25zl. Or if you want to save some pounds you can take the eternal bus that crosses Poland and gets there in something like 16 hours starting in Berlin.

Lublin is quite charming, has a beautiful old town, and the nature of the Lubelskie region is also very beautiful. Statistical economical data says Lubelskie is the poorest region in Poland, but honestly speaking I don't find it "that" poor like other regions I've been to in PL. However, you wont find skyscrapers or modern stuff, but it is fair developed. Shopping malls, clubs, cafes, etc are all around the center. It has something like 350.000 inhabitants and some of the most important universities in Poland, meaning it is also a student town.

Prices are a little bit cheaper than other places in Poland, for instance, one bus ticket in Warsaw cost you something like 2zl and in Lublin around 1,40zl. Same with restaurants and so on. The times I have been there I have met nice welcoming people. Most of the skilled and educated people of Lublin usually end up working in Warsaw because it is not far away as I said.

Around Lublin there are interesting small towns like Zamosc and Kazimierz Dolny, and also natural parks and crystal water lakes.

Let yourself be surprised by expecting nothing and finding a charming true polish town. And if you will have nice company, this time will be lot nicer.

Hope all this helps you!

Regards,
Olito

Work / How hard/easy is to find a job in PL for a non-EU with european MSc.? [6]

Thanks a lot dude, I will take all this into consideration.

:)

Work / How hard/easy is to find a job in PL for a non-EU with european MSc.? [6]

Well, most of the time had practical work in software development: ASP/JSP web applications, database management, IT project management, UML design for OO applications.

This whole year been mostly into researching and designing algorithms for automated reasoners for decision-support systems.

Experience on the IT-industry and banking related companies.

any advice so far?

Life / Polish Train Travel - Scary? [101]

You're completely right Magdalena, I've been using Polish trains since 3 years to the present date (during day or during night) and never had a trouble! Now ask me how many times I've been looted/attacked in Italy? The 3 times I've been there, 3 times been assaulted, and still can't says Italians are like that! Anyways, I have not many desires on going back there hehe no offense to my italian amigos!

Travel / Warsaw aiport to the central train station??? [16]

You can take bus 175, you can take it directly outside of the arrivals terminal, don't forget to buy a ticket and validate it once you get in the bus, since there are random controls which are very often in this route. It will take you like around 15-20 minutes to get to the Warszawa Centralna, it will leave you just in front of it, be aware of the stops once you are in the bus, they are all shown in a small screen inside the bus. Good luck!