Choosing a job

The choice of a job is largely determined by the decisions made in relation to education. It is good for a person's career orientation to start early in school, so that a better connection between education and professional realization can be achieved. This increases the probability that people will do better at work, earn more, and be satisfied with their development.

The choice of a job largely determines the income levels of each person. The National Statistical Institute annually publishes data on average wages by economic sectors in the Annual Statistics of Employment and Labor Costs.

In addition to economic activity, there are a number of other factors that can affect salaries -  geographical location of the employer, the employee's experience, ownership (private or public sector), etc.

However, income is not the only thing that matters when choosing a job. Usually, a person with an education in a certain field has several alternatives for realization. Therefore, other factors are often decisive – e.g. the opportunity to work from home, flexible working hours, frequent communication with clients, frequent business trips in the country or abroad, taking responsibility and high levels of stress, and the opportunity for career growth.

In some sectors – such as healthcare and education, for example, a very strong motivational factor is the satisfaction with the social impact achieved on people. And when people are motivated and satisfied with their work, they perform better, and therefore their careers and incomes rise. If cooking is your passion, for example, then becoming a professional and well-established chef will earn you more than working as a financier who does their job reluctantly.

It is important to keep in mind another thing – in recent years, the labor market has been very dynamic. As a result of globalization and technological development, new professions are constantly emerging. Artificial intelligence, for example, has significantly reduced the demand for programmers. If you are making decisions about the future based on current data, you are likely to make a wrong decision. You should think in the long term and choose a job that brings you pleasure.

 

Applying for a job

Finding your first job in your field or after retraining is often a difficult task. It is usually advisable to look for internships that are unpaid or with a symbolic amount of remuneration. If both the employee and the employer are satisfied with each other, internships can often lead to a job offer. A recommendation along with the experience gained is an important prerequisite for future success.

When applying for a job, a person should prepare their CV, focusing only on the details relevant to the position – education, previous experience, interests, relevant soft skills (personal qualities and social skills), and technical skills. There are many platforms on the Internet for writing a CV, and one of the most popular is the European format – Europass. A big advantage is that the data is stored and can be easily updated later, and the design can be changed quickly and conveniently.

It is important that the CV is written correctly. It is advisable to become familiar with the potential employer’s activities in advance – for example, from their website or social media pages. This way, you will not only be better prepared for questions, but you will also be able to ask them. Remember that the interview is a two-way process – you also need to like the employer. If you comment on the salary during the interview, make sure that both parties have the same amount in mind – gross or net.

It is possible that before you are invited to an interview, a telephone conversation will be held to pre-select candidates. Sometimes cases or tasks are set, for which it is good to be prepared in advance. A trial day is often organized, where you can get acquainted with the work.

 

Starting work

Before starting work, you will conclude an employment contract with your employer in compliance with the requirements of the Labor Code. It will stipulate the date of conclusion, time limit for entry into employment, position, place of work, gross remuneration - basic and additional, paid annual leave entitlement, working hours (length of the working day or week), duration of the contract (fixed-term or open-ended contract), probationary period and notice period. The paid annual leave entitlement is at least 20 days. The standard working time is 8 hours per day in a 5-day working week.

The notice period is between 30 days and 3 months, and under a second employment contract it is 14 days. The probationary period can be up to 6 months. If it is agreed in favour of the employer, they can terminate your employment relation without notice. In this situation, however, if you are not satisfied with the work, you will still have to comply with your notice period.

Before you start work, you should also be given a job description that details all your duties and position in the hierarchy. You will also sign a notification to the national Revenue Agency (NRA), with which the employer guarantees that your employment contract is registered. For greater security, you can use your NRA ID number (Personal Identification Code - PIC) to check the submitted position, social security income, and other details. An important step after starting your first job (in employment or non-employment legal relation) is also to choose your private pension fund, where the contributions for the Supplementary Mandatory Pension Insurance (SMPO) will be deposited (more information can be found here). You can learn about the benefits you are entitled to under different risks in the article "Other insurance. Health insurance" in the "Income, insurance, taxes" section.

 

Career development

Each person's career path is different. Some prefer to change jobs more often, because this gives them the opportunity to negotiate for better conditions. Others feel comfortable in their position and prefer a clear and stable path of growth, even if it is longer. Still others have no intention of changing their jobs, but periodically apply for positions and participate in interviews to monitor labor market trends in their field. Some people do not wish to occupy management positions because higher remuneration is associated with more responsibilities and stress.

To grow in your career, it is good to take advantage of opportunities for internal training, additional qualifications, and also higher education - for example, a master’s or even a PhD degree. Qualification courses are also provided through various state structures (most often the Employment Agency) - for example, training in digital or entrepreneurial skills. It is important to achieve the goals you set, which in the short term can bring you bonuses and premiums, and in the long term - a promotion.

An extremely valuable resource for good professional realization is contacts - with colleagues, with clients, with experts in the field, etc. Employees who are trying to grow should seek feedback from their managers and be proactive.

 

Requalification

Sometimes in life, a person needs not just to improve their qualifications, but to retrain and seek another career path. This can be a consequence of many factors, for example, dissatisfaction with the nature of the job or the level of remuneration. It is possible that due to the restructuring of the economy, there is currently no demand for the relevant specialists on the labor market. Another possible factor is the need for relocation - to another settlement or abroad.

The retraining process may seem stressful, but in fact it provides an opportunity for a person to once again find a suitable job that will match their motivation. Retraining can be carried out, for example, through another master’s degree or through qualification courses. In our time, many different programs are available both nationally and internationally. A large part of them can be completed entirely remotely.

Remember that you have experience from your previous job. Look for the strengths you have from it and use them when finding your new field.

 

Useful links:

Annual statistics on employment and labor costs - National Statistical Institute website

Employment Agency