Working in Poland - Logistics, procurement, imports-exports

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Oct 27, 11, 16:06 #1

Hello everybody,

I am a new member joining in order to get some useful info and at the same time being helpful if I can. I' ve visited Poland 5-6 times and I might consider moving there in the near future. I would like to ask you some questions :

1) Could anybody wrap-up all the job websites having ENGLISH adds as well?
2) How would somebody characterize the domain of Logistics and generally Supply chain in Poland? Could somebody get a job by speaking few Polish?
3) What may somebody ask you for an interview in Poland? Questions? Certificates necessary?
4) Warsaw or Krakow for newcomers concerning the absence of knowledge of the local language in a good level?

Thank you very much for your comments...

♂

Edited by: hythorn Oct 27, 11, 16:50 #2

welcome

you will love it here
we are so friendly, just don't mention the war

pavdel:

1) Could anybody wrap-up all the job websites having ENGLISH adds as well?

what do you mean? please explain
you want someone to quote all the job sites in Poland?

pavdel:

2) How would somebody characterize the domain of Logistics and generally Supply chain in Poland? Could somebody get a job by speaking few Polish?

briefly, it was fragmented, now it is getting much better. Not speaking Polish is the Mount Everest of problems

pavdel:

3) What may somebody ask you for an interview in Poland? Questions? Certificates necessary?

I take it that you live in Athens
Are you Greek?
they will ask you if you speak Polish that is for sure

pavdel:

4) Warsaw or Krakow for newcomers concerning the absence of knowledge of the local language in a good level?

if you are in import-exports, why not start trading?
what sectors have you worked in import-export?

♂

Oct 27, 11, 19:15 #3

"Tak, jestem Grekiem. Na "wrap up" chce piszac wzysztki strony ktorej robia rekrutacji po Angielsku albo po Francusku.

Na razie, mieszkamy z moja dzewczyna tutaj w Atenach. Ja pracuje w firmy logistikowy z 4 lata, ale ona szuka pracy. Jesli nie znajduje cos, myslimy na przyjedzac do Polski. A ty jestes w Polsce? Pracujesz tam?"

Its strange that Polish is so required since in international logistics and trade everything happens in English, at least to all places I ve been working so far, even if I am Greek, Greek as a language wasnt so used.I speak English, French and to my Polish I would say I am level A2 but for sure takes improvement if its so important.

Trading without capital I guess isnt possible anywhere. To trade there are 2 options:

1) As a trade agent meaning representing Greek companies there concerning products to be supplied ( this is not a stable job though).
2) As a buyer working in a company in such a position.

Meaning what I need, I wanted to ask If I should present any proof of my degrees and working experience? If yes what is used, references or working record by the Greek state?

Besides, could you make a description of expected salaries in Logistics?

Dziekuje bardzo (i przepraszam, nie moge piszac po Polsku bardzo dobrze)

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Edited by: gumishu Oct 27, 11, 19:20 #4

pavdel:

Its strange that Polish is so required since in international logistics and trade everything happens in English, at least to all places I ve been working so far, even if I am Greek, Greek as a language wasnt so used.I speak English, French and to my Polish I would say I am level A2 but for sure takes improvement if its so important.

you should try logistic companies in Tricity area (Gdańsk and Gdynia) - look for spedycja Gdańsk/ spedycja Gdynia - at www.praca.gazeta.pl - like that example http://praca.gazetapraca.pl/200,4001,,1141559,,SPEDYTOR+MI%C4%98DZYNAR ODOWY+.html

or this http://praca.gazetapraca.pl/200,4001,,1134596,,Spedytor+morski.html - your girlfriend should get the general idea how to search for similar offers - have courage, be a bit imaginative and apply

yet another sea logistic operative needed http://praca.gazetapraca.pl/200,4001,,1121051,,Spedytor+morski.html

♂

Edited by: gumishu Oct 27, 11, 19:37 #5

pavdel:

Meaning what I need, I wanted to ask If I should present any proof of my degrees and working experience? If yes what is used, references or working record by the Greek state?

if you want to apply present them with everything you have - definitely don't be minimalistic - and yes the references will help a lot - foreign references in this field must be a very much sought after pearl in Poland - btw if you have knowledge of the EU foreign trade law, the import/export procedures, duty regulations even if you can't prove them on paper state these in your CV - it can prove a big asset - when in Poland eventually and after you improve your Polish (your Polish is already quite good anyway) you can get the official licence/certificate to become a 'duty agent' - 'agent celny' - http://ogloszenia.trojmiasto.pl/praca-zatrudnie/spedytoragent-celny-og l4302453.html

and hell overestimate your knowledge of Polish - you will be all right in your job with English after all

MEMBER ♀

Oct 27, 11, 19:37 #6

pavdel
You will never find a job outside an anglo saxon country in Europe where local language is not required exept if you are sent by an international company where English is the comunication language withing the company, so make the effort to try and continue learning it.

pavdel:

Its strange that Polish is so required since in international logistics and trade everything happens in English

What about interracting with your Polish colleagues ? What about meetings at the work place ? If you are the only one speaking English among a team of 8 Poles ,they may not want to swich to English just for you.
A2 level in Polish is not bad so you should be fine saying at job interviews that you can get by in Polish.

♂

Oct 31, 11, 13:16 #7

Thank you very much for your prompt answers. My gf tells me some things that really sound incredible concerning the Polish job market so I would like to share in case you have any comments:

1) In Poland good jobs even in the private sector are not announced in adds or through the internet, they are only taken by connection or "recommendation".
2) Generally companies avoid hiring people with a regular contract, they prefer more flexible ways of employment as consultants (one person companies) or freelanching even if the job has regular duties.
3) It plays a huge difference in which the company where you work and in your connections to get a salary :

a) If there is a position open for ex. if somebody goes randomly he is likely to get less than somebody recommended even if the duties are the same.
b) If there is somebody that works as an accountant for ex. in a small company might have a different salary than an accountant of a big company. This is partially logical but can these difference be like the 2nd earning 3 times as much as the 1st.

Besides that I should mention some things concerning big international companies, since I work at the moment in one of them.

1) Generally they do not send their employees abroad on a permanent basis but on an assignement (project basis), meaning for a certain period of time.
2) The language plays a role depending on the function. If for ex somebody works in the procurement or logistics dpt. he is more likely to work in english better than somebody that works in PR or customer service where local language is crucial. Its a matter of a function as well.

I ve seen some adds in hays.pl that for ex. require greek, or italian or russian or hebrew speakers. Does anybody have any idea on their reliability and subject of working?

hythornThreads: 6 Posts: 843 Joined: Feb 21, 08 ♂	Oct 31, 11, 13:23 #8
pavdel: I ve seen some adds in hays.pl that for ex. require greek, or italian or russian or hebrew speakers. Does anybody have any idea on their reliability and subject of working? Hays is a reliable high street recruitment company they are professional. they will not ask you for an upfront fee then cheat you

♂ [Suspended]

Oct 31, 11, 13:27 #9

pavdel:

1) In Poland good jobs even in the private sector are not announced in adds or through the internet, they are only taken by connection or "recommendation".

Same as anywhere.

pavdel:

2) Generally companies avoid hiring people with a regular contract, they prefer more flexible ways of employment as consultants (one person companies) or freelanching even if the job has regular duties.

Only true for low level workers. Anyone who is valued won't be asked to work this way.

pavdel:

b) If there is somebody that works as an accountant for ex. in a small company might have a different salary than an accountant of a big company. This is partially logical but can these difference be like the 2nd earning 3 times as much as the 1st.

Again, totally normal. Big companies pay more because they attract the best.

♂

Oct 31, 11, 13:28 #10

pavdel:

I ve seen some adds in hays.pl that for ex. require greek, or italian or russian or hebrew speakers. Does anybody have any idea on their reliability and subject of working?

That would be mainly for call center jobs. You might try Accenture. They have all the time jobs posted for native speakers - with no Polish required.
www.accenture.pl
I know a few people here in Poland who started their life in Poland with working for them.

pavdelThreads: 5 Posts: 23 Joined: Oct 27, 11 ♂	Oct 31, 11, 14:58 #11
Thanks a lot. Any other comment more than welcomed !!!

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