Szczecin is a city in northeastern Poland, which, together with Warsaw and Poznan, is one of the three leaders in terms of the number of vacancies provided. There is work in Szczecin for everyone: the huge labor market requires both graduates and unskilled workers. How to get the desired job? What to be prepared for when moving? Let's try to understand all the nuances of employment.
Benefits of finding a job in Szczecin
Szczecin is one of the industrial centers of Poland. Together with neighboring Swinoujscie, they form the country's largest port complex on the Baltic Sea. Port, engineering, petrochemical and other enterprises located in Szczecin constantly need labor force.
Work in Poland in Szczecin is diverse: there are vacancies in almost all areas. If you do not attract labor in production, you can go to construction or apply for vacancies in one of the many agricultural enterprises.
For its ancient architecture, Szczecin is called Little Paris, so tourism is actively developing in the city. Accordingly, there is work in the service sector here all year round - vacancies are open in numerous restaurants, bars, hotels.
Job search
There are two main ways to find jobs in Poland:
- select an employer yourself;
- contact a specialized agency.
An independent search is suitable for those who are not the first time traveling abroad and at least have a minimal level of knowledge of the Polish language. In the search box, you must drive in "oferta pracy", the name of the profession in Polish and the city. For example, for those wishing to work as a waiter in Szczecin, the request will look like: "oferta pracy kelner szczecin".
On specialized sites, you can not only view employers' ads, but also leave your own resume in Polish. Examples of such resources:
- https://www.gumtree.pl;
- http://www.praca.pl;
- https://www.pracuj.pl.
An independent search is often time-consuming and carries the risk of stumbling upon an unscrupulous employer or fictitious company. You can get detailed information about the employer on the state websites - http://stor.praca.gov.pl and http://stat.gov.pl. To do this, you need to know the Regon business tax identification number or NIP.
Intermediary firms take over the search for vacancies. They are in contact with Polish recruiting agencies (less often - with employers), negotiate, which is important for applicants who do not speak Polish. In addition, full registration of the package of documents or partial support in this matter is offered. Services of intermediary firms usually cost from 150 euros.
A package of documents for work in Szczecin
From January 1, 2021, new rules for the employment of foreigners in Poland came into force. They are regulated by the law of June 22, 2021 "On Amendments to the Law on Promotion of Employment and Labor Market Institutions and Other Legislative Acts." Major changes have affected employers.
For potential employees, the important points are the following:
- for seasonal work (agriculture, gardening, tourism), you must obtain a special permit, which is valid from 9 to 12 months;
- a foreign worker can take up duties immediately on the day the employer submits the required documents to the Polish Labor Office.
These points apply to citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia and Armenia. 2021 is considered a transitional year, which means that permits issued in 2021 remain valid until the end of the year.
So, in order to work in Poland legally, a foreigner must have the following documents:
- signed employment contract;
- work or seasonal work permit;
- document legalizing stay in the country - work visa, biometric passport.
There is a visa-free regime for Ukrainians, but if we are talking not about tourism, but about work, then you will still have to apply for a work visa. True, this does not apply to seasonal work.
For citizens of Russia, for legal employment, it is imperative to open a work visa for a year or six months. The documents that the applicant must personally submit to the visa center or consulate include:
- international passport;
- copies of all pages of the internal passport, including blank ones;
- 3 passport-size photographs;
- job invitation (original and copy);
- completed application form (issued at the place of submission of documents).
Employment in Szczecin: recruitment agencies and firms
Polish employers are used to looking for employees through recruiting agencies. In 90% of cases, a professional job seeker will respond to a resume independently posted on a job site.
It is also beneficial to contact the agency because the employer pays for its services. If they are trying to withdraw money from a potential employee, this is a reason to contact another company. Also, in cooperation with the agency, it is necessary to check the availability of a license and permission to engage in employment mediation. You can do this here.
List of well-known recruitment agencies in Szczecin:
| Name | Contacts |
|---|---|
| Sam-pu, Sp. z o.o. | +48 882 026 913 |
| Aps Profit Polska, Sp. z o.o. | +48 508 131 748 |
| Ochotnicse hufce pracy - zachodniopomorska wojewodzka komenda | +48 918 127 981 |
| Polaris maritime services ltd. | +48 914 310 770 http://www.maritime.pl/ |
Szczecin: In-Demand Jobs
Szczecin is a working Klondike with a huge range of jobs for both men and women. Consistently high demand is entrenched for unskilled labor, technical specialists.
Working conditions depend on the employer. A work day can last up to 12 hours with a 6-day work week. At most factories and farms, employees receive work clothes for free.
It is not uncommon for workers to be provided with a hostel or paid for housing.
Less often, one or two meals a day are organized, but its cost is deducted from wages.
Szczecin is known for its yacht factory, where applicants with such specialties as welder, electrician, turner, plumber can get a job.
We also need warehouse employees, laborers for mechanical engineering and food enterprises - these vacancies do not require experience.
The service sector is experiencing a shortage of hotel maids, bartenders, waiters, cooks and dishwashers. Such vacancies, like work in the food industry, require a health certificate.
The city is actively developing and growing. Many construction projects are in need of workers. Plasterer, installer, painter, fitter, bricklayer will be able to find jobs on the labor market quickly and on favorable terms.
Those wishing to get to seasonal work should pay attention to agricultural enterprises. Those who wish to find a job picking berries and vegetables are always welcome here.
Salary
The Polish zloty is the single national currency in which salaries are paid in Poland. In most cases, we are talking about a fixed hourly rate.
For 2021, the Polish government has set a minimum hourly rate of PLN 13.7.
After deducting fees and taxes, the result is PLN 9.59 per hour or EUR 2.28. Such earnings are higher than the level of salaries in the post-Soviet countries neighboring Poland and, of course, attracts job seekers.
A qualified technical worker, a driver can receive from 500 to 780 euros. In agriculture, they pay less - from 450 to 620 euros. Approximately the same salary in the tourism industry, but hotel and restaurant employees can count on tips in addition. Vacancies in supermarkets also captivate with a salary: an unskilled cashier earns about 600 euros.
The level of prices for housing and goods in Szczecin
In comparison with other cities in Poland, prices in Szczecin are at an average level, but this port city cannot be attributed to the cheapest settlements either. However, rental housing here is 25-30% cheaper than in Warsaw or Krakow. The same goes for food prices.
The minimum expenses per month of living in Szczecin are shown in the table.
Expenditure | Cost (in EUR) |
|---|---|
| Room rental (outskirts) | 100 |
| Room rent (center) | 130 |
| Rent a one-room apartment (outskirts) | 150 |
| Rent one-room apartment (center) | 280 |
| Nutrition | 90 |
| Urban transport | 15 |
| Communication, electricity | 40 |
On average, the minimum monthly cost for renting a room in a remote area is around € 300. However, it should be borne in mind that not everyone uses the services of city transport, and the employer often pays for food and accommodation. In addition, housing prices fluctuate depending on the season.
Illegal employment
Those who find a job in Poland without following legal procedures face the following consequences:
- lack of social protection against the employer's arbitrariness;
- lack of free health care insurance;
- a fine from 200 to 965 euros;
- deportation;
- adding to the list of persons unwanted to enter Poland and other Schengen countries (reason for refusing to issue a visa in the future).
Szczecin: Comparison with Other Polish Cities
Each labor migrant has his own priorities when choosing a city for work. This can be the level of wages and prices, working conditions, the opportunity to get a job in a rare specialty, the prospects for obtaining a residence permit, further studies.
Let's compare the most popular cities among migrants in Poland in terms of basic parameters.
| Town | Average rental price (euro per month) | Average cost of food (euro per month) | average salary (euro per month) | General quality of life index (maximum score - 10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Szczecin | 281 | 148 | 530 | 6,0 |
| Warsaw | 470 | 163 | 745 | 7,0 |
| Krakow | 340 | 152 | 645 | 6,6 |
| Poznan | 275 | 155 | 540 | 3,9 |
| Wroclaw | 350 | 155 | 640 | 6,5 |
| Lublin | 309 | 128 | 500 | 8,5 |
| Gdansk | 321 | 152 | 620 | 7,0 |
Outcomes
Szczecin is a city where everyone can find a suitable job. The average level of salaries in Poland, relatively inexpensive rental housing, of course, attract job seekers. In addition, Szczecin is located almost on the border with Germany, and there is a ferry to Sweden and Denmark. That is why this city is considered as a launching pad for further job searches in neighboring countries.
