Romania : Job market

What are my chances of getting a job?

The job market in Romania is currently difficult and highly competitive due to the economic climate. Most of the new jobs are in the IT, software or service centre industries. (Balkans.com, October 2010). UK graduates are most likely to find a job in Romania in big international companies.

• Typical problems encountered: the high number of applicants per job means that recruiters are sometimes resorting to selecting people using recommendations.
• How to improve your chances: the increase in multinational firms means demand for native English speakers has risen. On your CV, be sure to emphasise any previous work experience and language skills you have. Make full use of employment agencies.
• Language requirements: Romanian is the official language of Romania. English is the most used foreign language and in the main cities you can often communicate in basic English for work and everyday living. However, Western Europeans who live in Romania say that speaking the local language is very important for a normal life. The Romanian people appreciate those who make the effort to speak their language and this makes work and life easier.

Where can I work?

• Major industries: electric machinery and equipment, textiles and footwear, light machinery and auto assembly, mining, timber, construction materials, metallurgy, chemicals, food processing, petroleum refining.
• Recent growth areas: IT, service industries. 
• Industries in decline: many areas of industry have been in decline due to the global economic crisis but most are showing signs of a gradual recovery now. The shoe and leather industry and petrochemical industry remain particularly depressed.
• Shortage occupations: due to the migration of highly skilled workers Romania faces a serious shortage in the labour market, mainly for skilled white and blue collar workers. 
• Major companies: OMV Petrom SA, Automobile-Dacia SA, RomPetrol Rafinare SA, Metro Cash & Carry Romania SRL, Rompetrol  Downstream  SRL, Orange Romania SA, British American Tobacco (Romania) Trading SRL, Real,-Hypermarket Romania SRL, Carrefour  Romania SA. Nokia Romania SRL, Carrefour Romania SA,  Vodafone Romania SA.
• Search for more companies: Kompass, Major Companies in Romania, Europages, Golden Pages Romania.
• Major cities: Bucharest (capital and largest), Iaşi, Timişoara, Constanţa, Brasov.

What’s it like working in Romania?

• Average working hours: 8 per day and 40 per week. The usual working hours are 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. The working week cannot exceed 48 hours, consistent with the EU working time directive.
• Holidays: employees are entitled to a minimum of 20 days paid annual leave, plus 8 public holidays.
• Tax rates: the basic rate of income tax is 16%. Employees also pay a contribution toward social insurance which helps to cover unemployment and sickness.
• Working practices and customs: most business dealings are very formal and a strong hierarchical system is observed and maintained. Formal titles are extremely important and are widely used along with surnames. First name terms are normally reserved for close friends and family. Business meetings usually begin with a routine of introductions, handshakes and an exchange of business cards. Your punctuality will be valued but don’t expect others to be punctual. Developing an awareness of Romanian culture and customs will help avoid misunderstandings in business dealings. The system is still quite bureaucratic and so, in business, things can take a while.