Slovenia
Until the global financial crisis in 2008, economic results in Slovenia were good. It was the first 2004 European Union entrant to adopt the euro (on 1 January 2007) and its market was competitive and focused on exports. Companies have had to deal with a fall in orders and a lack of financial resources. This has especially affected manufacturing and construction companies. Unemployment is rising due to lack of business and company bankruptcy. The economy has one of the highest levels of state control in the EU and privitisation is happening slowly. Foreign investment has also slowed and the inflexible labour market means that industries are losing out to bigger players in China, India and elsewhere.
Most employers recruit for new workers by collecting applications from candidates. The application needs to be concise and easy to read and should always reach the employer within the deadline.
The application will usually be a letter, which should contain your contact details and information on where you saw the job advertised, why you are suitable for it and what you can offer the employer.
The application should be written in Slovene, unless the employer has stated they would like it in other languages - most often English or German. Applications should be accompanied by a CV along with proof of educational qualifications. Never send off original copies of certificates though; they can be handed over at the interview along with references.
All EU nationals have free access to the labour market in Slovenia and so it is possible to apply for jobs once you are in the country.
When preparing your CV, bear in mind that Slovenian employers place value on a good academic background combined with business awareness, plus good language and computer skills. If possible, try to learn Slovene.
CVs should be a standard one or two pages, in English if necessary. In Slovenia it is not customary to enclose a photograph or references, although relevant certificates should be taken along to any interviews. The CV should be accompanied by a covering letter, which should be no longer than one to two pages of typed A4. Try to expand on your work experience, qualifications and achievements.
You can also consider using the standard European curriculum vitae format (Europass Curriculum Vitae), which is available in several languages from EURES - European Job Mobility Portal.
The Eurograduate - the European Career Guide website has more information on applications in Slovenia and an example CV.
Interviewing processes will vary between organisations. The majority of interviews will involve either an interview by a panel of by individuals. Assessment centre activities and group work exercises are more likely to occur with international employers.
If you wish to compare your professional, vocational or technical qualifications with Slovenian qualifications, visit ENIC-NARIC for information on comparability of your academic qualifications.
You may also want to visit UK National Europass Centre (UK NEC) for information on how to make your skills and qualifications more easily understood in Slovenia.
If you are planning to live in Slovenia, check your tax and National Insurance position with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to ensure that you are not losing any UK pensions rights.
The EURES - European Job Mobility Portal, maintained by the European Commission, provides information about job vacancies, living and working conditions, and labour markets in Slovenia, as well as a CV-posting service for jobseekers.
Job vacancies can also be found via the Employment Service of Slovenia (ESS). All employers and agencies offering services providing workers to other employers are obliged to notify the ESS about all job vacancies. Therefore all available job vacancies in the country are posted on the website and the noticeboards located on the premises of the Employment Service of Slovenia.
Job vacancies for teaching English as a foreign language can also be found on the following websites:
Private employment agencies must own a concession issued by the Slovenian Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs. Those agencies are not allowed to demand any payment from jobseekers for finding employment.
Students can look for job through a very well-developed network of student employment agencies; such work is usually casual and temporary.
National newspapers are a valuable source of vacancy information. The daily newspaper Delo is the most useful source of regular vacancies, which are featured in Tuesday and Saturday editions. Dnevnik is also useful. Both are in Slovene.
Other Slovene newspapers are listed on the Kidon Media-Link website. Central Europe Online has constantly updated news and information about Central Europe.
The Guardian occasionally carries English teaching jobs in its education supplement on a Tuesday.
When you are applying for jobs in Slovenia, use any contacts you have to help you find work. Speculative applications can be a good way of securing employment. Sources of information for employers include the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia, which provides a range of valuable information on business sectors and links to Slovenia company directories.
Kompass is a worldwide business directory searchable by country and product/service.
Work experience can be gained through temporary placements with international organisations:
The Comenius assistants programme is for those with an interest in becoming a teacher and allows them to work in a school in Slovenia for between 12 and 16 hours per week. This provides valuable experience and an understanding of a different educational system. More information is available from The British Council.
Opportunities for voluntary work in social, educational and environmental projects are available through international agencies including:
Slovenia's higher education system has a twin-track structure: academic higher education and professionally orientated (vocational) higher education.
In 2004, the country adopted a three-level study structure for higher education. The first level relates to undergraduate studies and the second and third levels to postgraduate studies.
Each level is referred to as a cycle:
Higher education is the responsibility of the Slovenian Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology.
Course information is published in the form of a call for enrolment in June every year by each of the three universities in Slovenia.
Slovenia has three universities:
The academic year starts in early October and typically runs in two semesters.
Admissions policies are dependent on the institution to which you are applying: check the websites of the above institutions for more information on admissions procedures, potential funding opportunities and closing dates.
The language of instruction is Slovene. The Centre for Slovene as a Second or Foreign Language runs beginners courses in many Slovenian towns.
You need to wait for the call for enrolment before you can apply to a postgraduate course. This is usually published by June for the upcoming study year. Applications for enrolment should be submitted by 10 September.
Applications should be made directly to each university.
Full-time students on second cycle studies (magisterij stroke) in public and private state-subsidised higher education institutions do not pay tuition fees. This applies to students from other EU member states and foreign students from countries with a mutual bilateral agreement with Slovenia. All students are only charged a small registration fee of approximately €25 per year.
Doctoral students are either employed by the state and have their tuition and salaries paid for or they have the status of Doctoral student. In this case, the State pays for part of the tuition fee.
UK students on undergraduate degree programmes or postgraduate Masters and some PhD programmes may be interested in spending time studying in Slovenia through the Erasmus programme.
This programme is open to all subject areas, but check with your institution's Erasmus coordinator first (usually based in the international office) to see which countries they have links with and in what subject areas.
Slovenia is a member of ENIC-NARIC, a network of national centres that aims to improve academic recognition of diplomas and periods of study in European Union (EU) member states, EEA countries and associated countries in Central and Eastern Europe.
UK NARIC (National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom) is the national agency responsible for providing information, advice and expert opinion on vocational, academic and professional skills and qualifications from over 180 countries worldwide.
EU nationals do not need a visa or work permit but citizens of non-EU countries do. Non-EU citizens and citizens of EU accession countries, Romania and Bulgaria, should check with the Slovene Embassy to find out which, if any, restrictions apply.
EU nationals can stay in Slovenia for up to three months without registering their residence. After this, they must register and submit an application for the issue of a residence registration certificate.
More information on residence in the Republic of Slovenia is available on the web pages of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Slovenia .
If you are a non-EU citizen, you may gain employment in Slovenia only on the basis of a work permit, which is issued in accordance with Slovenian national legislation. A work permit is, as a rule, issued on employers' request, so you need to find an employer who is willing to employ you first.
An employer will obtain the work permit only under certain conditions. The most important condition is that there are no suitable candidates registered at the Employment Service of Slovenia and that the employment is not causing any disturbances in the Slovenian labour market.
More information is available from the Employment Service of Slovenia (ESS).
EU nationals may stay in Slovenia as tourists for three months. If you intend to stay in Slovenia for a period of more than three months, a residence permit is needed.
An application for a residence permit can be made at the local Administrative unit with a valid passport or identity card. In the case of employment, you must submit confirmation from your employer that he will employ you, or proof of employment (an employment contract).
In the case of study, self-employment or retirement, appropriate evidence should be provided. You must also provide proof that you have a secure means of subsistence and suitable health insurance.
More information is available from the Slovenian Ministry of Public Administration.
Non-EU nationals who wish to live in Slovenia for longer than the period of time allowed by a visa, must apply for a residence permit. The first residence permit will be temporary and should be obtained before entering the country. See Ministry of Foreign Affairs Slovenia for more information.
The Employment Service of Slovenia (ESS) runs local offices that support local young people and adults with job placement advice, as well as providing useful information on the labour market and work regulations for foreigners.
You can also access information about working in Slovenia, along with a range of other services (CV posting, vacancy search), via the EURES - European Job Mobility Portal website.
Contact details for EURES advisers (euro-advisers) in Slovenia are also available through the EURES website. Euro-advisers are trained specialists who provide information and guidance to jobseekers interested in working in Slovenia.
Universities in Slovenia do not have careers services. The international offices of the universities may, however, be able to provide advice and assistance.
The following telephone numbers should be used in case of emergency:
Find the latest travel advice and a travellers' checklist on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website.
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