Moving back to Poland after 7 years in Canada

Hello. I'm new to this forum as I registered myself just few minutes ago. Even though I could find many interesting topics, there is something that I've sought an advice for a quite a long time.

I came to Canada 7 years ago along with my wife and son just after graduation from the university with our master's degrees related to business management. The beginning in Canada was very harsh for all of us. My son was just few months old at the time. I could not find a job adequate to my education; therefore, I had to do lots of ****** jobs just to get the money for our survival. Anyway, after 2 years of struggling, fighting for a better life we managed to establish a pretty good standard of living in Canada. My English has improved, I think. I also completed some post-graduate education and finally got my first pretty good job in Toronto. Now, I've got nothing to complain about except one thing: namely, I am very homesick. I miss my family and friends I left behind in Poland. It reached a point where I am actually considering moving back to Poland or any other EU country, which would be closer to Poland. I cannot picture myself spending the rest of my life here in Canada and just being able to visit my family and friends in Poland approx. every 2-3 years.

I am aware that in order to move I need to sacrifice what I have established so far in Canada and that is OK. However, I don't want to loose a pretty decent standard of living (financial security) which I have established here as I believe that my marriage would not be able to hold that much of a change. It would be a different story if I were on my own. Therefore, the goal is to find a job in Poland or other EU country first and then move. The problematic thing is that it is very challenging. Me and my wife we have sent out tones of resumes to Poland, etc. but it seems not to be working. We keep loosing contact with potential employers as soon as they hear that we are located outside of their country and not really able to come for a first interview. I tried to establish teleconference or telephone interviews so many times but no success. Unfortunately, I am not able to go for example to Poland for every interview I get unless it would be some kind of a final step in recruitment process.

I hope the Polish Government is now also aware of the problem of the decreasing Polish population. In addition, lots of people emigrated and are still emigrating away from Poland. Therefore, I ask: who will work for the retirement plans of the Polish citizens in future?

Even though I like Canada because honestly it is a very nice country, I would rather live and work in Poland. I could contribute to the economy there instead of here! (I mean paying taxes…, etc.)

I would like to hear from people with similar experiences. How did you guys manage to get a decent job in another country like Poland while being abroad? Maybe you know some resources I could refer to, like recruitment agencies specializing in hunting down polish people educated abroad and bringing them back to Poland? Are there any incentive programs for people how emigrated to bring them back to Poland?

I appreciate any support, which can be in either Polish or English - I don't care, I guess I am fluent in both but not always though. HAhaha

thanks,
malo

Well going back to Poland will not be easy. Everything is more difficult there than in Canada, i know from personal experience (i was born in Poland, grew up in Canada).


Many Poles experience this, but many get used to their new lives abroad. 7 years is a long time though...

Interviews usually have to be conducted face to face in Poland. At the very least you have to be in Poland.

Next time you get in touch with a potential employer to schedule an interview, tell them (ummm lie to them) you're back in poland permanently from canada and eager to get an interview. Book a few interviews all within 2 weeks or so and book that time off work to come to poland on "holidays."

Register a polish skype telephone number and put that number on your resume along with a polish address (someone from your family in PL). Zamelduj sie szybko.

If you get a job offer and you take it, try to ask them to let you start in a couple of weeks so you can fly back to canada to give you employer your 2 weeks' notice so you can leave your old job honourably.

Costly, strong potential to not work, but safe.

I think you're out of your mind to go from canada to poland IMHO.

Canada = u pana boga za piecem when compared to Poland


Immigrants. They will be brought in.


I can't help you here as i am out of touch with this so i will allow some other PFer to step in.

Malo, my advice is to think twice before leaving everything you have to a very uncertain future, although the business and administration side has improved over the years, the place is still full of old thinking, red tape and envy of those who return, hence a opportunity to ride you off in every part of live.

The wages are still low and high living cost. If you have it good stay put.

The friends you thought you had in Poland will be no more once they see you are better off to what they have. Retirement may be a good option only

Any way you can take an extended trip to Poland at an appropriate time which would help you cement your move?

If you feel it's where you belong then the sacrifices will be worth it. Life's not all about money but it is about security... don't jeopardise yourself if you think you can avoid it.

Leaving home is like one big regret that sits on your shoulders and nags at you until you have the strength of mind to get peace of mind...

Wait for Aphro... another poster here who did something similar.

The hardest part is the decision. Very tough. Life choices. :)

I agree with Ashley. This way you would have a chance to see if there are possibilities for you job wise and otherwise. Nobody can make that decision for you. I have moved back 3 months ago, but it took me a long time to make that decision and I traveled in the summer for 4 weeks in order to do a research on the job market and that is how I got my job. People who hire in Poland want to see your face besides your CV - that is the way it works here and once you see your future employer in real life you can make a decision if you want to work for them too. It works both ways.

Ashley is right. I would draw pros and cons if I were you. This decision has to me both, rational and emotional and you have a lot to think about. If you return to Poland you will find a different country that you left behind and it depends on you how you deal with that.

Expect less and you will be fine.


Yes, you can check my thread on the whole returning issue from my point of view. I know at least 2 other Canadians who moved back a year ago. They are somewhat unhappy since Poland is very different, but they spent most of their lives in Canada, so you will probably have less time adjusting should you decide to move.

As for the location: if you are interested in fairly good money, then larger cities will be your target, which you probably know.

Another idea is to look for Canadian companies operating in Poland and make a connection with them.

I hope the Polish Government is now also aware of the problem of the decreasing Polish population. In addition, lots of people emigrated and are still emigrating away from Poland. Therefore, I ask: who will work for the retirement plans of the Polish citizens in future?

The government does not seem to care about that so much and I just posted an article on that in my thread from today's Rzeczpospolita.

Are there any incentive programs for people how emigrated to bring them back to Poland?
not that I know of.

Your best bet is to arrange some interviews and come to Poland for a couple of weeks. Be aware that some employers would want you to work asap. Be prepared that you need to think on your foot in Poland since planning is not the strongest point of Polish people,unlike Canadians or any other well developed country.

Prepare yourself for being disappointed many times once the novelty wears off:).

I personally achieved everything within the first couple of weeks, but moves (as you might know it are stressful.

https://polishforums.com/usa-canada/poland-moved-back-reasons-46727/14/

In general you have to be much more aggressive/assertive then in the PC Canada, since this attitude would not get me anywhere here.

Poles don't keep their word, so prepare yourself for that too - that is of course in comparison to the Canadian behaviour.

Thank you all for your contributions
malo

I long for poland, I live in San Francisco Ca, one of the more beautiful cities in US but there a huge part of me that wants to go back and I am terrified that going back will be extremely hard for me...I have lived in the US since 86 I am now 38 came to states at age 14 just to stay with my dad, after he retired and left back to Poland I have decided that I could also go back, or at least go closer, like heading out to London which closer to Poland...one could always make the easy jump over the pawn...

It seems the best situation would be to move to the UK. You can fly over every other weekend with Wizzair if you are earning enough money. Also Ryanair are also starting to fly here again.

The way I did that was to send out resumes about two months before a trip to Poland that I was planning anyway and stating in the cover letter that I currently live in the US, but am planning to move to Poland and will be available for an interview in the specified time.

Where in Canada are you? Moviing to any other country once you have already established a pretty comfortable life in the one you are in will be difficult. Think of the struggle when you first arrived in Canada moving back will probably be just as difficult and you will have the same struggle (minus the language barrier) are you willing to do that again?

If you are in a town or city with a large polish community perhaps connecting with that community could help your feelings of homesickness if you are not perhaps researching towns or cities with a larger polish community and putting in a transfer at work if possible for you.

Think also of opportunities for your child growing up what will be the best for them

I just give up. I have education in the USA obtained from one of the accredited university listed in the Forbes magazine WOW! Three years after my graduation (with honors) cannot find job related to my education. You have to understand that business in Poland is done differently than in the USA. I should say social-cultural way. If you take psychology class as a part of your business education you should remember that American's use positive psychology based not on weakness and damage but strength and virtue. I had sent millions of resumes to Poland and here in the USA. Without knowing somebody/ someone who can open the door to big career for you, you'll end up paying back huge amount of f...n tuition/loan money. Just be proud of your education if you think you should be. Show it to your children in the future and tell them how much stress did you go through to get this piece of paper. As of right now I am still at the manufacturing making decent money but I feel like ****. Over-educated factory worker who don't belong to the group. I am in social trap, taking care of the family paying my loan dept and telling my children that I cannot buy ******* **** for them because education eats up all our savings. But lets hope for the better, brighter future.

Welcome aboard. I am here 16 years and counting. Let me know how did you do. I wish you good luck.

You can just find a simple job like cleaner or waiter, like me:)

This is what I was going to suggest, if you are in Toronto then you probably already know Ronsacvelles. And Mississauga is the heart of the Polish community. They have a very large Polish church, which offers Polish school for children. There are also Polish clubs on Dundas West.

I'll tell you a little story about my friends parents as well.
They moved to Canada when their kids were about 18 and 13. The mother already knew English and got a job teaching at the Bickford Centre. The father retrained and also found work. Their standard of living wasn't the best but it was ok. Even though the mother knew English she had a very difficult time adjusting and for years pined away for Poland and her family. She just wanted to go home. Finally, once the kids were grown up and independent they decided that they would return to Poland. They still had a house there. I'm not sure exactly what transpired in Poland but they were back in Canada in 6 months. My friend told me that it just wasn't the Poland they were missing and that they were better off in Canada. It had taken her years to finally appreciate where she was.


There are some aviation companies that are Canadian that have factories in Rzeszów. I think the head office is in Mississauga. They send people from Canada to work there. Maybe look into that.

What have you studied and do you have Polish/European passport and speak Polish?

I have Polish(EU) passport, US passport and I do speak polish( rozmawiam po polsku, pisze i to nawet gramatycznie i bez bledow). Do you have any suggestions for me?

I have studied Business Management with concentration on Information Systems......

This is usually the response I am receiving after sending my resume or application for job position:

We appreciate your interest in the Bus Conslt Spec position with XXXXX. The Enterprise Technology Mgt Department has given careful consideration to your work experience and education related to our needs. While you have many of the qualifications that could make a favorable contribution to our organization, we are pursuing other candidates at this time.

Thank you for your interest in our company. Please note that if you submitted your resume for other employment opportunities, you may still be considered and contacted if your skills and experience match the position qualifications. We wish you the best in your search for the job opportunity you desire.

Sincerely

HR

Just watch this it will give you lot to think about: youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kWoQWoRjfGs

ah, i can`t sleep tonight. So, i turned to PC and to that inevitable Polishforums and, what i see, one lucky man coming back to Poland after 7 years in Canada. Truly, lucky man. Escaping from that backward Canada is best what could happen to you man. some says that they there forcing children to sing Canadian anthem before they start classes in schools. Horrible

Plus, its very boring place anyway

Lucky? Canada and Poland don't even compare. I've lived in both and am stuck in the latter at the moment. Stop trolling, Crow. Life in Poland is much, much worse than in Canada.

Hi and welcome to the forum. This is a very tough decision, especially so as you have a family.


Not everyone is willing to sacrifice their ties with family and friends. The reality is such that not everyone is cut out for immigration (irrespective of the country). Such a simple fact, yet some struggle to accept it. Immigration seems to come more natural for some than others. I constantly run into Poles who have left 10, 20, 30+ yrs ago and have either assimilated quite well are would never consider returning, and those who have not and would rather go back. Most of the latter choose not to go back as their source of income would be uncertain and so choose the stability of US/Canadian life. Unfortunately, many of them do not take it well, they get depressed, escape into drinking, etc. and become bitter and resentful. They like the financial security and everything else that comes with it on one hand, but unfortunately, not being able to fully accept the new reality does come at a hefty price. Definitely something to consider - which category do you think you fit in?


I think you are not alone on this. However, the reality is that not everyone will have the same professional opportunity in Poland, otherwise you wouldn't have such huge numbers of people seeking better life abroad. There are exceptions, however, and this is where you may find your chance.

Finding work while abroad through recruiters is very tough, unless you happen to be an extremely sought after expert in a well paid profession. The fact is that local workforce is more competitive, often better educated, and more qualified for the job at hand.


I would not count on it. For a start, Poland could simply not afford it.

You may find the following forum dedicated to returning immigrants/migrants useful:
powrotnik.eu/index.php/poradnik-dla-powracajacych/

Good luck. Remember that these are opinions of others. Nothing more, nothing less. Trust in your instincts and remember that each case is different. At the end it is your decision and you and only you are the best qualified person to make it. And live with its consequences.

That's a scam YOUTUBE demeaning formal education. There's a movement afoot trying to get people to quit going to school. They would like people to be uneducated, ignorant, poor and landless. This way you are much easier to politically control. But the fact is (statistics show) that people with college degrees have a much lower unemployment rate than people with high school diplomas.

Your education was not a waste. Ok, you took a job on a manufacturing line? Well you should look at using your degree to get promoted at your current company. Is that possible?

So except you have few years of good experience in your field or/and your CV can impress HR of international companies present in Poland (for Polish companies local diploma is worth usually more than foreign), you have low chances for the job in Business Management, because competition is huge and because of that for a good job connections are needed.

If you have learned programming during your studies, then you could try searching for a job in this direction. Otherwise some call center jobs are available, but for that you need to know some foreign european language (not English).

In summary. Management diploma is worthless in Poland. You should have chosen mathematics, computer science, medicine or few others specialties which give jobs.

You have to go where the jobs are try this: basinelectric.com/About_Us/Employment

Also if you have a US Passport, you should have tried this by now: usajobs.gov

I have been living know Canada 28 years now.
Parents came when I was 3.
My desire to return to poland still exists within me stronger then ever as I getting older.
I have visited poland countless times... lived a year there. Loved it.

My wife is from Poland. Both of us will return in few years max.
Love hearing that others want to return to the homeland.

polskipatriot