Moving back to Poland after 7 years in Canada

POLAND . The Unofficial Guide

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Jan 6, 11, 19:05 #1

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

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Jan 6, 11, 21:31 #2

Malo:

The beginning in Canada was very harsh for all of us.

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).

Malo:

I am very homesick. I miss my family and friends

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

Malo:

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.

Malo:

Therefore, the goal is to find a job in Poland or other EU country first and then move.

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

Malo:

who will work for the retirement plans of the Polish citizens in future?

Immigrants. They will be brought in.

Malo:

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

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Jan 7, 11, 02:49 #3

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

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Jan 7, 11, 07:13 #4

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. :)

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Edited by: aphrodisiac Jan 7, 11, 12:05 #5

Ashleys mind:

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

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.

Ashleys mind:

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.

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.

Ashleys mind:

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

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.
http://www.polishforums.com/everyday-life-7/moved-back-canada-poland-h ere-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.

MaloThreads: 1 Posts: 1 Joined: Jan 6, 11 ♂	Jan 22, 11, 15:35 #6
Thank you all for your contributions malo

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Mar 21, 11, 23:53 #7

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...

PushbikeThreads: 3 Posts: 65 Joined: Feb 15, 12 ♂	Mar 18, 12, 12:29 #8
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.

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Mar 18, 12, 18:01 #9

Malo:

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.

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.

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