How to live in Poland – guide Foundation for Promotion of Entrepreneurship Łódź 2014 Compiled by: Magdalena Ratajska Michał Długosz Fundacja Rozwoju Przedsiębiorczości / Foundation for Promotion Entrepreneurship ul. Piotrkowska 86, 90-103 Łódź telephone +48 42 630 36 67 fax +48 42 632 90 89 e-mail: fundacja@frp.lodz.pl www.frp.lodz.pl Foundation for Promotion of Entrepreneurship Łódź 2014 of WP4 Transference of methodology in recruitment Table of Contents FIRST STEPS IN POLAND ..................................................................................... 5 Why Poland? ......................................................................................................................................... 6 Tourism ............................................................................................................................................... 11 Transport ............................................................................................................................................. 12 Accommodation ................................................................................................................................ 13 Offices ................................................................................................................................................. 14 Health care .......................................................................................................................................... 15 Food .................................................................................................................................................... 17 Leisure ............................................................................................................................................... 19 HOW TO FIND A JOB IN POLAND?...................................................................... 20 The Application Letter ......................................................................................................................... 20 The Curriculum Vitae .......................................................................................................................... 20 The Application Procedure .................................................................................................................. 21 Job market in Poland .......................................................................................................................... 22 Retirement........................................................................................................................................... 30 TO LIVE IN POLAND ............................................................................................ 32 Permit for settlement in Poland ........................................................................................................... 32 Money ................................................................................................................................................. 33 Dealing with taxes in Poland .......................................................................................................... 34 Banks .................................................................................................................................................. 37 Shops .................................................................................................................................................. 37 3 WP4 Transference of methodology in recruitment How to speak in Polish ........................................................................................................................ 38 BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................................................................... 41 4 WP4 Transference of methodology in recruitment First steps in Poland Official Polish language Capital Main cities Warsaw Łódź, Kraków, Wrocław, Poznań, Gdańsk, Szczecin, Bydgoszcz, Katowice, Lublin Parliamentary democracy. The legislative power is exercised by a two-chamber Parliament (Sejm – 460 members of the parliament, Political system Senat – 100 senators), executive power by the Council of Ministers and the President, and the judicial power by courts of law. The administrative division of Poland since 1999 has been based on three levels of subdivision. The territory of Poland is divided into gminas, poviats and voivodships. Poland is divided into 2 479 Administrative division gminas, 379 poviats and 16 voivodeships (Dolnośląskie, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Lubelskie, Lubuskie, Łódzkie, Małopolskie, Mazowieckie, Opolskie, Podkarpackie, Podlaskie, Pomorskie, Śląskie, Świętokrzyskie, Warmińsko-Mazurskie, Wielkopolskie, Zachodniopomorskie). Poland is located in Central Europe on the Baltic Sea. To the east Geographical location it borders on Russia, Lithuania, Belarus and Ukraine, to the south – on Slovakia and the Czech Republic and to the west – on Germany. Area Population 312,683 km² 38 million Moderate. Average temperature in summer oscillates between Climate 16.5°C and 20°C and in the winter between -6°C and 0°C, the hottest month – July, the coldest month – January. Religions Catholicism – 95%, Orthodox Church – 1.5%, Protestantism – 1% and others. 5 WP4 Transference of methodology in recruitment Poland is almost entirely a homogenous country. Poles represent Ethnic groups ca. 97% of the population. The largest national minorities: Germans, Ukrainians and Belarusians. Currency 1 Zloty = ca. 0.24 Euro Emergency and information phone 997 – Police, 998 – Fire brigade, 999 – Rescue service, General emergency phone number – 112 (calls are free of charge) numbers 1 January – New Year, 6 January – Epiphany, Easter (moveable feast), 1 May – International Workers’ Day, 3 May – May 3rd Holidays Constitution Day, Corpus Christi (moveable feast), 15 August – Assumption Day, 1 November – All Saints’ Day, 11 November – Independence Day, 25 and 26 December – Christmas1 Why Poland? Poland in unusual country. It has an attractive location and a lot of wonderful opportunities. Nice people will help you, even though they sometimes can’t speak English. We have many universities which enable you to get great knowledge. One of our biggest advantages is stable market. During crisis Poland has improved its economic situation thanks to law which takes care of our citizens. In this country there is a lot of possibilities which haven’t been exerted yet. It makes Poland so interesting for foreign investors. New international contracts enable us to create various workplaces. Moreover, you can find a lot of amazing places, so every trip will be an original adventure. History of our country is really long. It starts in 966 with adoption of Christianity. Then an exciting story starts, however it would take too long to describe it. We want to acknowledge you with it in a little bit different way. We commend you a short film which you can find on youtube.com named “History of Poland”. It shows long ages of 1 Living and working conditions in Poland, May 2012, Eures 6 WP4 Transference of methodology in recruitment history in a few minutes. It is entertaining, interesting and cleverly made. It takes only while to watch it, but it will explain a lot about Polish people, their traditions and their habits. Here are important links: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VE3KITt_U7k http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DrXgj1NwN8 There are many beautiful places in Poland. Tourism is a strongly developing sector of economy. You have a lot of opportunities. Beaches, cliffs and Kashubian folklore. Thousands of lakes hidden deep within forests, watched over by the towers of Teutonic fortresses. The domes of eastern churches scattered throughout the mountainsides. Poland is a fascinating jigsaw puzzle, composed of colourful regional pieces. The beaches, cliffs and resorts of West Pomerania occupy a strip of the Baltic coast from the island of Wolin up to Kołobrzeg. This region also contains the Drawskie lake district. In East Pomerania, you will find Poland’s largest shifting sand dunes (in the Słowinski National Park), the country’s longest peninsula (that of Hel) and the largest cluster of yew trees in Europe (in the Tucholskie Woods). All this is spiced with the folklore of Kashubia and Kujawy and reminders of the Mennonite culture in Żuławy. Mazury is a land not only of 4,000 bright blue lakes, but also of natural forests and rivers which provide excellent conditions for canoeing. Tourists are attracted here by the Trail of the Great Lakes and the unique Ostrodzko-Elblaski canal, as well as the nearby Teutonic castles and Prussian forest lodges. Lost in the extreme north-east of Poland is the region of Suwalki, which enchants visitors with the charm of its glacier-shaped landscape and the rich culture from the Polish, Russian and Lithuanian border areas. 7 WP4 Transference of methodology in recruitment Across the middle of Poland lie the following regions: Wielkopolska, the cradle of the Polish state; next to it are the green lands of Lubuskie; the flat level plains of Mazovia; the region of Lodz; and Podlaskie, a land of wild nature, multicultural border towns and villages with beautiful eastern churches. Silesia, which occupies south-west Poland, is divided into Lower Silesia, with its capital in Wroclaw, and Upper Silesia, centred on Katowice. Although this is a heavily industrial area, there is no shortage of places of valued natural beauty, such as the Lower Silesian Woods, the Sudeten mountains, Beskid Śląski and Beskid Żywiecki. A region particularly generously endowed by nature is Malopolska. The mountain ranges of the Beskids and the area of Jura Krakowsko-Czestochowska, with its many forts from the era of the Piast dynasty, border the historic towns of the Lublin region, the industrial wonders of Swietokrzyskie and areas of natural interest such as the loessial Roztocze and the marshy Polesie. Podhale, the cradle of Polish highland culture, stretches from the Tatra mountains to Orawa and Spisz. Its capital is Zakopane. Podkarpacie is best known for the Beskid Niski and Bieszczady mountains, in which there are scattered wooden Orthodox churches, reminders of the Lemki and Bojki who once lived here. Gigantic metropolis, historic towns and villages of sentimental charm for which poems and songs have been written. Poland officially has a total of 887 towns. The largest is Warsaw. Warsaw Data:  Warsaw covers an area of 517.24 square kilometers (199.96 square miles)  It has a population of 1.7 million  8,3 million tourists visited Warsaw in 2011 (2,8 million were foreign tourists)  32 450 beds (235 facilities)  63 museums 8 WP4 Transference of methodology in recruitment  76 parks  28 cinemas  56 theaters and musical establishments  24 tram lines  249 bus lines  3288 rooms inside the Palace of Culture and Science  275 km of bike trails2 It is Polish capital city situated close to Vistula river. You can find there the most important offices in Poland for example parliament, or castle of old polish kings. After The Second World War it was completely destroyed. Very few buildings have survived. However now Warsaw is strongly developed city what was impacted by countless amount of investments. It is very interesting in context of work. You are able to find job in field you like the most. Moving on to tourism we have to note Royal Castle with beautiful interior. The next is The Centre of Science Kopernik. It provides you unrepeatable possibility to carry on your own experiments. If you are a fan of architecture we can advert you Łazienki Królewskie Park-Palace Complex. Established in the 17th century, the landscape gardens feature many interesting architectural monuments, the most important of which include the Palace on the Island built for King Stanislaw August Poniatowski – Poland’s last monarch.3 However the obligatory point of your trip must be Old Town. You will be amazed and surprised because of old townhouses and the sign of cityWarsaw Mermaid. Kraków, the historic capital of the kings who resided at the Wawel castle, is today Poland’s cultural and entertainment centre – it contains one quarter of the country’s museums. The city’s bars and restaurants are too numerous to count. In Wrocław, apart from the historic buildings of Ostrów Tumski, the Church of St Elizabeth and the Leopoldyńska Hall, you can also see the post-modernist Hall of the 2 City of Warsaw, Warsaw by numbers, www.um.warszawa.pl/en/articles/warsaw-numbers 3 City of Warsaw, Top 10 www.warsawtour.pl/en/tourist-attractions/top-10-3930.html 9 WP4 Transference of methodology in recruitment Century, a reinforced concrete structure which was the most contemporary building of its time. Kazimierz Dolny, a town beloved by artists on the Vistula river. Sandomierz, with its numerous monuments standing above a maze of cellars carved out of the rock. Suwałki, with a street lined with buildings from the time of the Congress Kingdom. The military town of Borne Sulinowo, which for 40 years was not shown on any Polish map. Then there is Płock, with its Romanesque cathedral and castle on the high banks of the Vistula, and Pultusk, with the longest marketplace in Europe. Next we have Biecz, an architectural miracle dating back 400 years, built from the profits of the local trade in Hungarian wine. Finally, there is Chelmno, an exemplary Teutonic Order town, which has retained its medieval layout and has not been disfigured by modern architecture and is also a Mecca for lovers (relics of St. Valentine can be found there). Łódź DATA: Population Currency Religion and ethnic groups 719 000 in 2012 Zloty  1€ = approx. 4,2 PLN (Polish Zloty). Almost 85% of Polish population belong to the Catholic Church, however, rates of religious observance are lower, at 51% of Polish Catholics. In the nineteenth century, the economy of Lodz was focused on the textile industry and it was the reason for the city called the “Polish Manchester”, but the textile industry declined in 1990 due to collapse of trade with Eastern markets (Russia). Recently, a lot of foreign companies have opened offices in Łódź. The city's policies have attracted almost 1,000 foreign investors and it was one of the factors that made decrease the unemployment rate in 10 WP4 Transference of methodology in recruitment Łódź. Sectors of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), manufacture of domestic appliances and logistics are rapidly growing here. The city is an important academic centre. There are 6 state owned and 15 Economy private universities. The main three are: The University of Lodz, The Lodz University of Technology and The Medical University of Lodz. The population of students counts approximately 100 thousand people. Lodz Special Economic Zone (www.sse.lodz.pl) is one of the fastest developing economic areas in Poland. It provides its investors with a wide investment offer, comprehensive handling of investment processes and an opportunity of obtaining significant tax exemptions. Some trade fairs are organised in new conferences and exhibition centre by the local specialised companies (International Lodz Fairs www.ckw-mtl.pl, Expo-Lodz Ltd www.expo-lodz.pl, and Interserwis www.interservis.pl Tourism This is a city where you will find our foundation. It is on the Piotrkowska street, which is the most beautiful and representative place in whole Łódź. You will find there a huge amount of townhouses built during secession and small bars where you can spend amazing time with your friends. Moreover there are various shops offering you competitive prices. The next advantage is possibility of trying the most popular dishes around our region. However if you are a fan of oriental kitchen you won’t be disappointed. During last few years there came into being many restaurants with foreign cuisine. Moving on the second famous place in our city is Poznański’s Palace. Izrael Poznański was an important entrepreneur which had a huge factory compound. After Second World War which was transformed into shopping centre called “Manufaktura”. Nowadays it is one of the most recognisable building in Łódź. Inside there are shops of best known designers and fashionable cafes. Modern design connected with old style created an interesting effect. Special departments with sofas 11 WP4 Transference of methodology in recruitment and benches gives an opportunity to relax after long shopping. However it is not the only one thing of Izrael which was transformed. His palace is a parade of artistry. Rooms and a hall were composed in such way to keep your mind. Now in this building takes place Museum of City Łódź. But Poznański wasn’t the only one manufacturer on the territory of this city. There were also Scheibler and Geyer. First of them left enormous district “Księży Młyn”. Its advantage is unchanged appearance which takes you to the nineteenth century. Geyer had “Biała Fabryka” on the Piotrkowska street mentioned earlier. It was built in classical style. After restoration it is even prettier. Now there are organised weddings, concerts, symposiums and even fashion shows. On the other hand we also have different side of Łódź. It is part of this city where during Second World War was ghetto. Its territory was located centrally. Strongly connected with it is cemetery for Jewish citizens. Beautiful monuments and small Karol Scheibler's chapel are worth your attention. Transport First of all you should acquaint with names of streets an main points in the city. There are two options available. The first is going out with new friends or colleagues, who can show you the most important places in your city and will teach you how to use public transport. The second way is planning a small trip. Before you go out, you should read some information online. It will help you to avoid troubles connected with loosing way. In your plans, you can include using trams, trains or buses. It enables you to know which means of transport you should choose to go to particular place. If you want to travel by bus or tram you need a ticket. Usually you can purchase them in bus or tram. The other way is buying them in kiosks or small shops. There is one type of ticket for trams and buses. You can buy them in kiosks “Ruch” or in small shops. The second option is purchasing it inside the means of transport. Sometimes you will be able to use ticket machine, but usually you will have to ask the driver. There are a few kinds of tickets. They depend on your age (for adult or student-only if you have your student ID card) or on the time you are going to travel (20, 40 min). Trams and buses travel approximately between early morning hours 12 WP4 Transference of methodology in recruitment and 11 p.m. If you want to check the route you have to look at timetable, available on bus stops and online. To travel by train you should check their departures and arrivals. Full timetable you will find on http://www.rozklad-pkp.pl/bin/query.exe/pn. To get more information about types of trains and prices you should check www.pkp.pl. If you want to take a taxi you have to catch or call it. There are numerous numbers which you will come across online. The cost of travel depends on a company and the city. We have one major national airline - LOT Polish Airlines. www.lot.com. On the website, you will find available destinations and ticket prices. Moreover, there are numerous airlines available, including cheap ones like Ryanair or Wizzair. Every major city has its own, regional airport. The biggest are: Chopin Airport in Warsaw, Kraków Airport in Cracow, Ławica in Poznan. There are times when you can feel the speed and drive really fast - we talk about motorways of course, however to make sure you don't go too far with your imagination, here are the speed limits on various types of roads: 130 kph - motorways 110 kph - dual carriageways 90 kph - main roads in urban areas 50 kph -built up areas Note: in Poland there are many speed cameras and they are often in places where you would not expect them to be. Well, that's basically it. That should be all you need to know before you hit the Polish roads. We wish you all safe trips - especially during your journeys in our beautiful country. Take care of yourself! Accommodation You have several options of accommodation. 13 WP4 Transference of methodology in recruitment You can: 1. rent a room or a house. 2. buy a flat or a house. 3. live in a residence hall 4. live in your friend’s house 5. live in a hotel The best choice is renting a house or flat . If you have someone, who will share a room or flat, you can cut costs. Moreover it is safer. To rent a flat you should find suitable place and talk with the owner. During conversation you will have to represent yourself as a good and calm person. It will spread that getting a flat will be much more easier. You should be prepared for it that older people usually don’t speak English, however, you can ask your friends or colleagues for help. Remember to ask for making two versions of your contract. Then you will be sure what you sign. Prices depends on many factors. It can be place, size of flat, furniture or mood of the owner. If you want to get the best proposition you should visit a lot of places and also read some information in the Internet. More information on www.rightmove.co.uk/overseas-property/in-Poland.html You can look for a flat on your own or ask for help broker. He will tell you which house to choose and how to write a contract. www.transport.gov.pl If you come to Poland because of studies you should coordinate this question with your university. In case of buying your own house you have to know that when you are from EU then you don’t have to seek permit for purchasing it. When you need accommodation it is connected with staying here for a long time. If you live out of hotel or a place which was you given from some institution then you have a duty to register your stay. You have to do it before the fourth day of being in Poland. Offices You can sort out the most important issues in offices. Usually you will have to be very patient. You should remember about taking all documents with you. It will save your time. Sometimes there is a situation where you will have troubles with language 14 WP4 Transference of methodology in recruitment barrier. The problem is, that not everyone can speak English. To avoid it you can ask for help your friend or colleague. District office (Urząd Gminy) Here you can fix all issues connected with living In some city. For example book in, City Office register your car or report new (Urząd miasta) economic activity. Department for It is a place where you can foreigner’s causes legalize your stay in our (Wydział do spraw country or get the permit for cudzoziemców) work. You will be able to read about them in the next chapters. Health care When you stay abroad you have to be prepared for some special cases. I mean emergencies. They don’t occur very often but it is important to have special insurance which enables you to stay in hospital. You won’t have to pay for stay, what could affect your savings. Here you are given a few pieces of advice which concern such cases: http://www.foreignersinpoland.com Compulsory health insurance You automatically obtain health insurance under the following conditions: 1. Being employed in Poland - if you're legally employed the employer is obliged to notify the National Insurance Service (ZUS) that he is proud to have you in their company. Then, your employer's responsibility is to pay a monthly contribution to the 15 WP4 Transference of methodology in recruitment Polish National Health Fund (NFZ). From now on, you can visit all the health care providers contracted to the NFZ. If you're self-employed you have to pay a contribution by yourself (it is a part of ZUS that you should pay every month). National insurance is valid in case of long stay in other situation you will need only EHIC (European Health Insurance Card). 2. You're a family member of the insured - family of a member who could benefit from health care services on the same basis as the insured, are: - wife or husband - child under the age of 18 or under the age of 26 in they continue their education or with no age limit (if a child holds a judgement of severe disability) - parents and grandparents – if they stay in the same household as the insured 3. Refugees (refugee status must be considered in Poland) and foreigners under the subsidiary protection and integration program in consultation with the county family assistance centre. 4. Unemployed - registered at the employment office (insurance may be extended to family members of the registered unemployed, if they are not insured). 5. Children attending school - in the care provided by the school, even if their parents stay in Poland is not legal. Public Health Service in Poland Let's say that you are sick or in pain, or you think that it would be a good idea to take some standard medical procedure. To see the doctor in Poland and use the public health service you need to have an insurance. Once you are insured, things get pretty easy for you. However, there are two very important things you need to know straight away. Rule number one – remember, that in case of things mentioned in the beginning of this part, first, you have to do is to go and see your family doctor. In Poland to see the specialist you need to have a referral. 16 WP4 Transference of methodology in recruitment Rule number two – if you are bleeding heavily, you suffer from a bone fracture, burn or frostbite – don't wait! Call 112 or go to the closest emergency room and get help. If you feel that you're more „rule number one type of person”, first you have to locate the clinic closest to the place you live. When you're done, you simply register yourself by giving all the information about yourself to the polite lady or gentleman working in the clinic by putting it on the registration form. Of course, you will be asked about the medical insurance. Don't worry! If you have one, the only thing you need to do is to bring your ID to the clinic. Congratulations! You have found yourself a clinic where you can talk about all your health problems. Now, the procedure is simple. You describe the nature of your problem to the doctor and if necessary you will get the referral to the specialist or for some kind of special examinations like x-ray. Of course, you don't have to wait for the referral, unless you want to pay some money for visiting a specialist or getting the examinations (but then you should be reading about private health service). After you're finished – you take the results back to the family doctor and see what happens. Oh, and don't worry about the medications. You will get the prescription if necessary. Unfortunately, unlike the public health service, its private counterpart isn't for free. In most of the private clinics you have to pay for things like consultations or examinations. A good side is definitely the fact that you don't have to queue up and the entire place isn't usually as crowded as in public clinics or hospitals. What is more, the medical equipment is of the highest quality. The bad thing about using the private health service is that you have to pay for it. Food When you change country you also change culture. It is connected witch many things, especially food. We want to give you a piece of advice what to try and what to avoid. You can find numerous restaurants in Poland. They offer many different kinds of cuisine. First of all you should try our national dishes like: First of all we will focus on the most famous polish dish- pierogi. It seems like they are better known around the world than location of Poland itself (they are stuffed dumplings). Pierogi are served in a variety of flavours thanks to different kinds of 17 WP4 Transference of methodology in recruitment filling inside the dough. The most common are the ones with cabbage & mushroom, meat and potato & white cheese filling. Pierogi are also stuffed with any kind of fruit, served with sugar and cream. It is no exaggeration to say that when it comes to pierogi the sky is the limit. In some modern restaurants you can eat various kinds of pierogi which are filled with truffles or caviar. It is just up to you which ones you are going to try. In Poland, traditionally, soup is served as a first dish before the main course. Polish soups are very filling and substantial so you can easily have them on their own and feel full most of the day. We suggest you definitely try żurek - a popular sour soup with pieces of sausage, potatoes and eggs served in a bread bowl that you can eat as well. It doesn’t get more environmentally friendly than that! Another interesting soup is barsh, soup made from beetroots. There are a few different types of barsh, but the most popular are two types: betroot soup as a bullion and barsh with plenty of vegetables, potatoes and beans. Both are delicious and very healthy. If you want to, you can try to cook one at home. Finding recipes in the internet is very easy. One of the most surprising dishes for foreigners is bigos (hunter's stew). Depending on the region different vegetables are added, sometimes wine. It should be cooked for hours and it tastes even better the next day. Some really old recipes suggest to cook it for 7 days before eating. The idea of bigos may sound pretty off, but any Pole will tell you that it is extremely delicious and I think you should take it under consideration. Another interesting dish is called gołąbki. Literally the name means pigeons but don't worry, it doesn't have any pigeon in it! Gołąbki (pronounced ɡɔˈwɔmpki) are made with pork or beef mince and rice wrapped in cabbage leaves. The are served with potatoes and a tomato sauce. There are a few vegetarian variations of this dish that use bulgur and wild mushroom or potatoes and white cheese instead of meat. The most typical Sunday dinner consists of a pork chop (called schabowy), potatoes and some salad. It is great because making pork chops requires hitting the meat hard and that allows polish people to get rid of all the anger and do some exercise at the same time. 18 WP4 Transference of methodology in recruitment There are many ways of exploring other countries, but one of the most pleasant way is to eat the traditional food. You can try to make dishes we described at home with our recipes section or go out and enjoy what restaurants have to offer. One thing we can tell you for sure, Polish cuisine doesn’t seem very special but when you try it you can't get enough.4 Leisure When you will get used to new environment it will come time to go out. You have many opportunities. First of all you can go to a restaurant as well as to a club. Clubs are open from 10 p.m. to the morning. Before you will invite one you have to check if music played there is good for you. Usually information about it is admitted on websites. Having fun with friends will calm you and give power to work or study. Focusing on Łódź we can propose you various places. The most popular is Manufaktura where you may eat, do shopping or go to the cinema. On the Piotrkowska Street you will find museums connected with history of our city. Moreover you are also able to travel by bike. It can be an amazing activity which will acknowledge you with new area. The next possibility is visiting zoo or botanical garden. You can walk there and admire nature. It is appropriate place for children who will be impressed by animals and beautiful garden with huge amount of varieties of tulip. Further example is Palmiarnia with exotic plants. In different cities you will find another interesting opportunities. It depends on you how you will manage your time. Partying, walking or sightseeing will help you to extract special moments and accustom to our country. Nice and friendly people will guide you what to do and where to go. 4 Polish traditional food, www.foreignersinpoland.com/, Data of access 14-02-14 19 WP4 Transference of methodology in recruitment How to find a job in Poland? If you are young, clever, educated and responsible worker you should start looking for a job in Poland. It is not so difficult but you have to want it badly. No one will come to you with an offer. You are the only person who can impact on your job situation. First of all you have to write a few documents. These are: The Application Letter In general, a letter of application should create enough interest to make the potential employer want to look at your application in details and hopefully invite you for an interview. Your application letter, however, should not provide too much information about experience and qualifications; this will be provided in your résumé. A Polish cover letter is an integral part of your job application. Refer to the job advertisement in case you respond to it. The application letter is short (maximum one page) and usually typed. The style is formal without being too persistent. If possible, write a letter in both Polish and English. The cover letter should refer to your present and future plans, showing your ambitions. At the top left corner you start with your name, address and telephone number. At the top right corner, you write the city and a current date. Try to address your cover letter to a single person, and place the name of this person with company name and address below. Application forms are used more often, especially by foreign and international companies which recruit internationally. The Curriculum Vitae The key focus of your CV should be to persuade the employer to invite you for an interview. Therefore, your CV is a marketing tool, which should be adapted to the market in which you intend to use it. The Polish CV should be in reverse chronological order and have a clear layout, preferably typed on a maximum of two pages. You can also choose to write a functional CV. You should describe your level 20 WP4 Transference of methodology in recruitment of verbal and written knowledge of languages. Mention your computer skills as well. Use headings like ''education'', ''work experience'', ''qualifications'', ''positions of responsibility'' and ''interests and hobbies''. You can decide to include the names of two referees as well. It's becoming more popular to apply for a job via the internet. Be aware of the fact that an electronic CV does not always look the same as the standard one. The Application Procedure In Poland, bring references and copies of diplomas to the application interview. Try to establish your social and transferable skills in the interview. Always look interested and ask questions. Try to provide examples to prove your achievements. You can ask for clarification if you don’t understand the question were asked. The most important thing is avoiding criticizing former employers. You should also remember not going over the top. The Poles like you to stay calm and expect you to stick to the facts.5 Public Employment Services (mainly the poviat labour offices). In order to take advantage of all the offer job advertisements available data poviat labour office, you have to be registered with it as a job-seeker or an unemployed. Registration will provide access to “closed” job offers, i.e. the ones where the employer’s details are known to the office only and the ones that are not made available on the advertisement board or in the office’s information system. In order to register, you need the following documents: 1) the identity card or another identification document along with a certified registered address of residence, 2) a diploma, school graduation certificate, school certificates or a certificates of completion of a course or training, 3) employment records for the entire employment period, 5www.prospects.ac.uk/work_in_poland.htm 21 WP4 Transference of methodology in recruitment 4) all the other documents necessary to determine the rights, if any. Should an EU citizen decide not to register with a labour office, they might decide to browse job offers that are generally available at the labour office, including the websites of public employment services: www.psz.praca.gov.pl. • non-public employment agencies All non-public employment agencies should be entered in the register of entities that operate employment agencies, which is confirmed by a certificate issued by the marshal of a voivodship. A list of agencies can be found on the website of the informational webpage of labour offices: www.psz.praca.gov.pl tab: „Rejestr agencji zatrudnienia” (Register of Employment Agencies). This list is also available at the poviat labour office, voivodship labour office or at the Information and Career Planning Centers.6 Job market in Poland What are my chances of getting a job? Poland is a gateway to Eastern Europe, opening up new markets and offering opportunities not only for its citizens, but also for other EU newcomers.  Typical problems encountered: Unemployment amongst young people is a serious problem in Polish society. Finding a job directly after graduation is not easy. A lot of graduates, even from the best universities, have difficulties in finding a good job. Graduates have to work part-time or temporarily and do not have a strong chance to start a career in finance, banking or accountancy sectors. A lot of Polish graduates come to the UK to work in pubs or restaurants, as they get a better salary.  How to improve your chances: Polish graduates are usually a bit older than those in the UK and are 24 or 25 when they begin to work. Many undertake a Masters after completing an initial degree. To improve your chances of getting a good job, try to improve your qualifications and experience. There is work for 6 “Living and working conditions in Poland”, Eures, 2012. www.eures.praca.gov.pl/en/zal/warunki_zycia/LWC_Polska_en.pdf 22 WP4 Transference of methodology in recruitment people with knowledge of foreign languages, logistics, direct marketing, telecommunications and/or computer science, particularly for specialists able to program networks. The employers in this sector are willing to recruit anyone regardless of nationality. There are opportunities for senior level people with foreign language, equipped with IT skills and an understanding of EU regulations.  Language requirements: Polish is spoken by 98% of the population. English and German are the most commonly spoken foreign languages, although neither language is by any means commonly spoken or understood. English is spoken more among business, professional and academic communities and the younger generation. German is spoken more by the older generation.7 Where can I work? Major industries: beverages, food processing, chemicals, banking, construction and telecommunication services. Recent growth areas: IT, finance, business services, management, transportation services, education, banking and tourism. Industries in decline: agriculture, mining, textiles and metalwork. Shortage occupations: native English speakers, sales representatives and skilled workers. Major companies: Opel Polska, Poznan Volkswagen, GlaxoSmithKline Poland, Toyota Polska, CitiGroup Polska, Novartis, ING Bank Slaski, Nordea Bank Polska and Fiat Poland. Search for more companies: The Eurograduate - The European Graduate Career Guide website has a list of international companies with links to Poland. Kompass is a worldwide business directory searchable by country and product/service. The list of members on the British Polish Chamber of Commerce website is useful for speculative applications. 7 Poland: Job market, www.prospectsnet.com/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Explore_working_and_studying_abroad/Country_specific_inf ormation/Poland/job_market/p!edLeXe 23 WP4 Transference of methodology in recruitment Major cities: Warsaw (capital and the largest city), Krakow (second largest), Łódź, Wroclaw Gdansk and Poznan What is it like working in Poland?  Average working hours: Working hours should not exceed eight hours per day, or an average of 40 hours per five-day working week. Official working hours are from 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, however many international companies that employ foreign staff work 9am to 5pm.  Holidays: Employees who have worked for a year or more are entitled to at least 20 days paid annual leave.  Average graduate starting salary: The graduate starting salary is PLN 20003000zł per month. The amount of money is dependable on region.  Tax rates: Poland's taxation of an individual's income is progressive. The 2008 personal income tax (PIT) rate is between 18 and 32%. Personal income tax is paid both by Poland’s citizens and by foreigners. A foreign resident who is employed in Poland pays tax only on income earned in Poland.  Working practices and customs: Punctuality is vital for establishing your reliability. Women are strongly represented in the labour market. It is customary for a Western businessman to kiss the hand of a female Polish colleague. Maintain direct eye contact during conversation. Periods of silence during conversations are not unusual. Do not try to fill the silence with unnecessary talk. Avoid conversations of politics and money. In most Polish companies (excluding banks and consulting firms), executives wear casual and conservative clothes. If you work in an international company, you will need to wear a business suit. 24 WP4 Transference of methodology in recruitment Unemployment in Poland 9,6 12,0 14,4 16,9 19,3 21,7 8 We should take into consideration that it is crisis now. However our country during this time period was in very good condition. Many people kept their jobs and other found new ones very quickly. We are also multicultural country. You can meet here people from Ukraine, and other western countries. It gives you a chance to know other cultures and get amazing experience which will help you in the future. As the job market is competitive and youth employment is relatively high, work experience could give your CV the boost it needs to help you stand out from the crowd. Internships and summer work placements for students can also be arranged by:  8 AIESEC UK - for students and recent graduates; Data gained from www.psz.praca.gov.pl./main.php?do=ShowPage&nPID=867997&pT=details&sP=CONTENT,objectID,867970 25 WP4 Transference of methodology in recruitment  IAESTE UK - for science, engineering and applied arts students. Many international companies based in the country, such as Poznan Volkswagen, GlaxoSmithKline Poland, Nordea Bank Polska, Toyota Polska, ING Bank Slaski and CitiGroup Polska, may offer internships, so check out their individual websites. Volunteering in Poland Another way to improve your employability in the eyes of prospective employers is to spend time volunteering in Poland. The European Voluntary Service (EVS) is a programme, funded by the European Commission, that gives 18 to 30-year-olds the chance to volunteer for up to 12 months in a number of European and non-European countries. Opportunities vary from placements concerned with sport and culture to others focused on social care and the environment. Travel, accommodation, food and insurance are covered by a European grant for successful applicants, who also get given a personal allowance each month. Another organization that may have volunteering opportunities available is Volunteers for Peace. For more information, visit Volunteers for Peace - Volunteer Europe. You may also be able to arrange to volunteer by sending speculative applications to organizations in the sector in which you wish to work. Make sure you thoroughly research all volunteering opportunities available and always check the terms and conditions before committing yourself to a scheme. Language requirements: Polish is spoken by the vast majority of the population, so proficiency may well be a pre-requisite for many jobs. However, English is spoken among some academic, business and professional communities, as well as the 26 WP4 Transference of methodology in recruitment younger generation, an, d some employers may prioritize your skills over your knowledge of Polish.9 Websites with jobs www.learn4good.com/jobs/language/english/list/country/poland/ www.job-poland.com/ www.jobs.pl www.bdi.com.pl www.kanal.infopraca.pl/it/ www.astroman.com.pl/ All of this websites are in English. You shouldn’t have any troubles with finding appropriate job for you. However you can also look for work on your own. It is more demanding but sometimes more profitable, too. How to check if the employer really exists? Employer data can (www.stat.gov.pl/regon/) be or checked KRS in National the Court Regon register Register base database (www.krs- online.com.pl ). If the employing entity is a Polish employment agency, the data can be found in the National Register of Employment Agencies (www.kraz.praca.gov.pl ).10 What documents confirm the fact of performing work, when by the fault of the employer one does not have a signed contract of employment? Employment contract is to be concluded in writing. If an employment contract has not been concluded in writing prior to the start of work, the employer must - no later than on the day of 9 Work experience and internships n Poland, Volunteering in Poland www.prospects.ac.uk/work_in_poland.htm, 14-02-2014 10 www.migrant.info.pl/working-in-poland.html 27 WP4 Transference of methodology in recruitment commencement of work by the employee - confirm in writing the details concerning the type of contract and its terms and conditions. In the case where the contract was signed, but has not been given to the employee, the employee may apply to the Labour Court to prove the existence of an employment relationship, or to prove that the employee actually has worked at a particular place of employment. As relevant evidence may be considered such documents as, for example, working documents signed by the employee, e-mails sent from the workplace mailbox, phone calls, witness statements, etc. If case of the contract not being signed by the employer, and the remuneration not being paid, you can pursue the matter, in addition to the common courts, also by contacting the district labour inspector. District labour inspectors do not deal with complaints arising out of civil law contracts, however. Such complaints can be dealt with only by the courts.11 Regular employment contracts (umowa o pracę) Those contracts are regulated by the Labour Code. When you sign one of them you are entitled to paid holidays, maternity and childcare leave, severance pay in the event of collective redundancies and the dole lasting 6 months after leaving your work. As well if you are planning to take mortgage you would be considered a person with stable income in a bank. Although for the employers this is the most expensive contract so it is not so easy to get it. There are a few types of regular contracts: 1. For a trial period (contract for a trial period of no more than three months). 2. For a fixed period (a third subsequent fixed-term contract is signed, it is deemed to have become an indefinite term contract). 3. For the time of completion of a specified task. 11 www.migrant.info.pl/working-in-poland.html 28 WP4 Transference of methodology in recruitment 4. For an indefinite period. 5. To replace an employee - in the event of his or her justified absence from work; the employer can hire another worker under a fixed term employment contract for the period of absence. Civil law contracts Those contracts are regulated by the Civil Code, which differ from the above mainly in that they specify a piece of work to be done within a defined period of time, quite often without setting working hours; the most popular ones, among many other, are the following two 1. Umowa zlecenie concluded for performance of a specified activity They do not impose daily or weekly time limits for performing the work, do not necessitate the payment of overtime, do not require the creation of internal rules of employment, and do not give the mandatory social protection. 2. Umowa o dzieło concluded for achievement of a specific result. Contracts to perform a specified task or work are frequently concluded because they are not subject to social security contributions. However, if a firm concludes a contract to perform a specific task or work with an employee, it is obliged to pay social security contributions just as in the case of a contract of employment. Ways of ending a work relationship An employment contract can be dissolved: 1. With the agreement of the parties. 2. By one of the parties giving notice (employer or employee) with a notice period. 29 WP4 Transference of methodology in recruitment 3. By one of the parties giving notice without a notice period. A contract concluded for a fixed term or for the time it takes to complete a specific task is dissolved at the end of the term or when the task is completed (although it can, in certain circumstances, be dissolved earlier). Retirement Pension insurance Pension insurance is an insurance provided in the event of inability to work because of old age. Persons who pay premiums, ensure their income at the moment of stopping professional work, after achieving pensionable age. The reform of the pension system entered into force on 1 January 1999. It introduced a three-pillar system: Pillar I is governed by the public institution - Social Insurance Company (ZUS), Pillar II is governed by private institutions - open pension funds (OFE) – An open pension fund is a legal person whose aim is to collect funds from insurance premiums and invest them on the financial market. Those funds are designated for pensions for the open pension fund's members when they reach pensionable age. Pillar III, voluntary, which is to ensure extra benefits for additional premiums, is occupational pension schemes (PPE) and individual retirement accounts (IKE). From 1 May 2011 until 31 December 2016, the Social Insurance Company forwards part of the pension insurance premium to the open pension fund selected by the insured person, in the amount of:  2.3% of the basis of the assessment of the amount of the pension insurance premium due for the period from the date of entry into force of the Act until 31 December 2012;  2.8% of the basis of the assessment of the amount of the pension insurance premium due for the period from 1 January 2013 until 31 December 2013; 30 WP4 Transference of methodology in recruitment 3.1% of the basis of the assessment of the amount of the pension insurance  premium due for the period from 1 January 2014 until 31 December 2014; 3.3% of the basis of the amount assessment of the of the pension insurance  premium due for the period from 1 January 2015 until 31 December 2016. The account of the insured person at the Social Insurance Company includes a subaccount where information is recorded on the valorised amount of paid premiums to Pillar II from the part of the premium not forwarded currently to open pension funds, together with the recovered interest on arrears for those premiums. The division of the premium between the pension fund which is at the Social Insurance Company’s disposal and an open pension fund is obligatory for insured persons born after 31 December 1968. Insured persons born after 31 December 1948 and before 1 January 1969 could join a selected open pension fund until 31 December 1999. Persons born before 1 January 1949 could not and still cannot join an open pension fund, their whole premium is forwarded to the Social Insurance Fund. The pension premium is financed equally by the employer and the insured person, but the whole premium paid to the open pension fund is from the part paid by the insured person. The employer is responsible for paying premiums to the Social Insurance Company. The pension system is based on the tight connection between the amount of the benefit and the amount of the actually paid premium. The basis for calculating the pension is the (total) amount of premiums for pension insurance. Pension is granted to women who are at least 60, and men who are at least 65. There is no minimum insurance period required for granting the pension. Decisions about granting pensions are made by the Social Insurance Company's bodies which are of proper jurisdiction due to the place of living of the person who is applying for the benefit. The proceedings for granting pensions start after submitting the application by an applicant.12 12 Retirement, www.eures.praca.gov.pl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=84&Itemid=119, 14-02- 2014 31 To live in Poland Permit for settlement in Poland A foreigner who stays in Poland without breaks for at least five years on the basis of a visa or temporary residence permit can apply to the relevant voivodship for a settlement permit, popularly known as "permanent residence cards." A similar application can be presented by a foreigner living in Poland at least for three years, as long as he or she came to Poland as a part of family emigration. A foreigner has to fulfil all the remaining conditions " with no exceptions " as follows:  Demonstrate the existence of permanent family or economic attachment with the country of stay;  He or she has ensured residence and living conditions. This means that he or she has to justify to an authority issuing the permits that his or her income and owned property will be sufficient to cover the costs of living and treatment of him or herself and family, supported by them and will not use means of social aid. An applicant has to demonstrate that he or she has a place to live in Poland and will present a legal title to this place (e.g. deed of property, membership of a housing development, rental agreement). A settlement permit is valid indeterminately. Such a permit will also be granted to a child of a foreigner who has been born on the territory of Poland, if a foreigner has a valid settlement permit for a the territory of Poland. A foreigner applying for permanent residence card is obliged to put forward an application for permission to settle in Poland, four photographs, a confirmation of his or her address, documents confirming an unbroken five- year period of living in Poland, documents confirming owned diplomas and professional qualifications and a Foundation for Promotion of Entrepreneurship Łódź 2014 WP4 Transference of methodology in recruitment CV. He or she must also document his or her income and the proof of financial means sufficient to cover costs of living.13 Money Polish currency is “zloty” which has sign PLN. Here you have exchange rate, were you can compare the value of it: Data from 14-02-201414 Honestly you don’t have to know it. More important for you is how much can you buy using this money. 13 14 Permissions, en.poland.gov.pl/Permissions,7250.html, 14-02-2014 Top PLN exchange rates, www.xe.com/currency/pln-polish-zloty, 14-02-2014 33 WP4 Transference of methodology in recruitment Diagrams from: www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=Poland Dealing with taxes in Poland As a consequence of registering your own company in Poland you will get your brand new NIP number. From now on this number will be used for your tax identification. But before that happens you need to decide which tax suits you the best. Once you choose one form of taxing it is quite tricky to change it and as well it may influence your profits in a big way. General tax In this case there are two main tax scales and you automatically get classified under one when you set-up a company. The classification depends on the annual income of your business. If you get less than 85 528 PLN you will have to pay 18% tax, and when you exceed this amount you have to pay 32%. If your business is not getting on 34 WP4 Transference of methodology in recruitment well and you just earned not more than 3091 PLN you don't have to pay tax but you still have to fill out and deliver your tax declaration to the tax office. The big advantage of the general tax is that you can use tax benefits and pay less. Linear tax. This type of tax means you always pay 19% no matter what the level of your annual income is. In other words no matter how much you get the tax stays the same. In this case you are not allowed to use the tax benefits. Flat rate. Flat rate means that you pay for the income no matter how high the costs of it were. What is more, it is available only for a specified range of business activities. The good thing is that you don't have to bother yourself with all the accounting stuff as you only have to run the magic book of income which is much easier to do and much cheaper if you hire an accountant to take care of your tax. The bad thing is that even if the costs of income surpass the income itself – you still have to pay the flat rate. Here are the exemplary flat rates and the types of business activities that are allowed to choose this form of tax. 20% - income from the provision of free or specialized professions like doctors, legal translators, dentists 17,5% - income from the provision of specified immaterial services like car renting, parking service 8,5% - income from the provision of specified services like running a kindergarten (we know you want to do it!) 5,5% - manufacturing and construction activities 35 WP4 Transference of methodology in recruitment For the full list of flat rates and the types of business entitled to this form of tax you should contact your local Revenue Office. Tax card Ability to account on the basis of the tax card is designed for taxpayers engaged in very specific types of business. To qualify for this group have yet to meet certain conditions: 1. You cannot use third-party services (with the exception of professional services such as an accounting office) 2. You cannot employ people on casual work contracts (umowa zlecenie) or a contract (umowa o dzieło) for work activities that are work-related to the activities conducted by you (you can hire people on a contract of employment, but to the limits attributable for your activity) 3. Your spouse can not run a business in the same range as you (you can hire them though if they're still within the employment limit for your activity) The rate of the flat tax rate depends on: 1. The nature and scope of the operation 2. Number of employees 3. The number of inhabitants of the place, in which you decide to open the business PIT Declaration Choosing the tax form is not the last thing to do. While running a business, even when you're self-employed, you need to pay the regular contributions to the tax office. Don't forget about that as the revenue office won't do it for you and they won't set the amount of such contributions. You need to do it all by yourself! You have to options to choose from right now: 1. Calculate the amount of the contribution by yourself by summing the level of income and costs and then calculating the profit which is the base of the amount of this contribution. 2. Leave it to the well-trained and professional accountant who will do all the job for you leaving your mind free of all the tax problems. 36 WP4 Transference of methodology in recruitment Banks Nowadays almost everyone keeps their money in banks. It is important for us to keep money fluency. There is no problem with paying by credit card or take cash from cash machine. Earlier you can see the exchange rate which will help you to plan your spending. In Poland there are a lot of commercial banks so probably you will be able to find yours. Stuff there shouldn’t have any troubles with English so you can ask about everything. However if you have any other questions we send you to http://www.nbp.pl/homen.aspx?f=/en/banki_w_polsce/ewidencja/ewidencja_en.html Shops We live in the world which is covered by globalization. Probably there is no difference between you country and Poland. Here you can find  supermarkets,  shopping centres  local shops  markets Supermarkets work between 10 an 22 as same as shopping malls. Smaller shops are If you want to buy vegetables you should go to small local shop or market. It gives you certainty that product will be fresh and healthy. To purchase furniture you can go to bigger supermarkets. In most of shops you will be able to pay by credit card, but not everywhere. Because of that, you ought to be sure you have at least small amount of money at hand. 37 WP4 Transference of methodology in recruitment Polish dictionary How to speak in Polish Basics Hello (formal) Dzień dobry (Jeyn Dob-ry) Hello (informal) Cześć (Tch-esh-ch) How are you? Jak się masz? (Yahk sheng mah-sh) Fine, thank you Dziękuję, dobrze. (Jenkoo-yeng dob-zhe) What is your name? Jak masz na imię? (yahk mah-sh nah eem-ye) Note: meaning in Polish 'What is your given name?' (not a surname) My name is ______ . Nazywam się ______. (Nah-zivam sheng ____) Please. Proszę' (PRO-she) Thank you. Dziękuję. (Jenkoo-yeah) You're welcome (formal) Proszę (PRO-she) You're welcome (informal) Nie ma za co (nye ma za tso) Yes. Tak (tahk) No. Nie (nye) 38 WP4 Transference of methodology in recruitment Excuse me (for getting attention) Przepraszam. (pshe-pra-sham) I'm sorry. Przepraszam. (pshe-pra-sham) Goodbye (formal) Do widzenia (do vee-dze-nya) Goodbye (informal) pa (pah) I can't speak Polish [well]. Nie mówię [dobrze] po polsku. (nye moo-vye [dob-zhe] po pol-skoo) Do you speak English? Czy mówisz po angielsku? (chi moo-vish po ang-gyel-skoo?) Is there someone here who speaks English? Czy ktoś tu mówi po angielsku? (tch-y ktosh too moo-vee po ang-yel-skoo) Help! Pomocy! (po-mo-tsy) or Ratunku! (ra-toon-koo) Good night Dobranoc. (doh-brah-nots) I don't understand Nie rozumiem (Nyeh roh-zoom-yem) Where is the toilet? Gdzie jest toaleta? (g-jeh yest twa-leta) Talking to somebody Can you help me? Czy może mi pan m / pani f pomóc? (Tchih MO-zheh mee pahn / PAH-nee POH- moots?) Problems Leave me alone. Zostaw mnie. (Zostaff mnieh) 39 WP4 Transference of methodology in recruitment I'll call the police. As in summoning - Zawołam policję! (ZAH-voh-wam poh-litz-yeh) As in using a phone - Zadzwonię na policję (ZAH-dzvohn-yeh nah poh-litz-yeh) Police! Policja! (po-litz-yah) Stop the thief! Zatrzymać złodzieja! (zah-tschy-matz zwoh-TZIEH-yah) I need your help. Potrzebuję pomocy. (poh-tscheh-BOO-yeh poh-moh-tsi) It's an emergency. To nagła potrzeba (toh NAH-gwah poh-CHEh-bah) (has a slight "rushing to toilet" flavour, as it literally means "it’s a sudden need") To pilne ("toh pee-lneh") (literally it "it's urgent") - good in "please, hurry up" context To find more go to http://wikitravel.org/en/Polish_phrasebook 40 WP4 Transference of methodology in recruitment Bibliography 1. Foreigners in Poland- www.foreignersinpoland.com/, 14-02-2014 2. Prospects the UK’s official graduate careers website www.prospects.ac.uk/work_in_poland.htm, 14-02-2014 3. Migrant info www.migrant.info.pl/working-in-poland.html, 14-02-2014 4. Eures Polska Sieć Europejskich Ofert Pracy www.eures.praca.gov.pl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=84&Itemi d=119, 14-02-2014 5. Numebo, Costs of living in Poland, www.numbeo.com/cost-ofliving/country_result.jsp?country=Poland, February 2014 6. Poland’s official travel website www.poland.travel/en/cities-towns/, 14-02-2014 41