Work in Poland | Everything you need to know

Poland, country of music festivals, pierogi and of course vodka, with plenty of beautiful landscapes, vibrant big cities and historical monuments. There is something worth seeing all around the year depending on the season. 

Since in 2004 Poland joined the EU, the number of expats significantly increased, bringing many diverse cultures and customs into the country. If you are hesitating about where you should start your journey with working abroad, check our Job offers in Poland. Come and try to learn the third hardest language in the world. The main industries in Poland are chemicals, food processing, shipbuilding, coal mining, glass and textiles.

Basic Facts: 

The Republic of Poland is located in central Europe. The capital city is Warsaw. From the Baltic Sea on the north to the mountains on the south it has a total area of 312 685 km². Number of inhabitants is appx. 38 523 000 and the language is Polish. Currency is Złoty (zł or PLN). Climate is continental, this means that winters are cold and summers are hot. During the year you can see four seasons changing. 

5 Curiosities about Poland:

1. You can eat in the oldest restaurant in Europe. “Piwnica Swidnicka” is located in Wrocław and was opened back in 1275. 
2. In Białowieża Primeval Forest you can meet the heaviest animal in Europe. Wisent (or bison) weighs 600kg and really makes an impression!
3. There is also a first world’s upside-down house. Enter it through an attic window in one of the small villages in Poland – Szymbark. 
4. Castle in Malbork was built in the 13th century and it’s the world’s biggest castle. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site (of which Poland has as many as 15!)
5. The environment of Poland is very diverse. From mountain chains, through beautiful lakes, beaches, deserts to sand dunes and forests. Combined with four seasons changing along the year it creates a range of beautiful views to see. 

Welcoming Culture in Poland

Poland is a nation with a strong bond to traditions and focus on family. Despite the destructive effects of World War II, many customs are still “in use”. Each region of this charming country has its own, unique identity. Everywhere you will be warmly welcomed and introduced to the best. Polish people pay special attention to hospitality. 

In big cities like Warsaw, Wrocław or Gdańsk social life is vibrant. You can find many spots to eat, drink or dance accompanied of course by making new friends. Except for the fact that people in Poland, especially elderly ones, might be a bit close-minded when it comes to foreigners, it’s just a matter of time before you will feel like home here. 

Well-known Cuisine in Poland

Polish cuisine is very rich in flavours. That’s because in the past there were plenty of minorities living in Poland. Nowadays Polish cuisine is a combination of old, traditional dishes and current culinary trends. Delicious bread is commonly made from wheat and rye. Honey has an incredible quality. The most well-known national dishes are 

1. Pierogi (dumplings) 
2. Bigos
3. Gołąbki
4. Kotlet schabowy
5. Gulasz

Good meal in the restaurant will cost you €7-9, depending on the dish and location. Beer is around €2.50, similarly for a cappuccino. 

Work in Poland

In the last years Poland has become one of the most developed economies in the world, which has made the country an objective for many people to work abroad but also it has the most percentage of people who knows English as a second language and because of the diversity, there are many job opportunities for expats and multilingual people. The IT industry has found a spot in Poland’s economy, so there are many offers in this field in particular. 

The working hours in Poland are 40 hours a week in the typical 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. The minimum wage in Poland is €620, while the average wage is about €1,107.16. Because of its location, Poland is just in the centre of Europe, so you can easily visit your family abroad or visit other countries. However, if you choose to know more about other cities in Poland make use of their many transport methods like express roads, motorways and high-speed trains, these connect all the main cities.

Work in Warsaw

Warsaw is the capital of Poland, but also it’s the biggest city on an economic level in the country, it has large firms and some international companies. The service sector is the biggest in Poland, with the banking industry leading with many international banks located in the city. Though most of the population knows fluent English, they value a lot all the knowledge in Polish, so if you’re interested in work in Warsaw, try to have some level in Polish to get some advantage over other foreign candidates.

Taxes in Poland

Once in Poland and you decide which city you’re going to live in, it’s important to register in the Municipal Office in order to obtain your PESEL number, you can check HERE which documents you need. After this, you’re ready to start making contributions and your salary is registered to pay at the end of the fiscal year around 17% up to 32% depending on your income. If you need more information about taxes for expats or taxes in general in Poland just visit this site and it will probably solve your doubts.

Finding accommodation in Poland

Finding accommodation is sometimes a difficult task when the city you’re thinking of is too busy and commercial. The recommendation is to live near your job in order to lose less time on going to work and getting back home, so here you have some major tips that will help you with a good start in Poland

• Get all your documents ready
• Network. Don’t be afraid to ask people. Maybe your new friend just have a room for rent. 
• Visit these sites:

• • • https://www.olx.pl/nieruchomosci/stancje-pokoje/ 
    • https://www.otodom.pl/pl/oferty/wynajem/pokoj/cala-polska
    • https://www.gumtree.pl/s-pokoje-do-wynajecia/warszawa/v1c9000l3200008p1 

• Register in social media groups, like facebook groups about accommodation in Poland. Contact your future landlord in person.

Living cost in Poland

The living cost in Poland is lower than in some European countries, being for a single person about €475.11 without renting, however renting is also quite cheaper than in other countries so it’s very balanced. Regarding food, it depends on the season since some products vary the prices, for example, tomatoes may cost €1 Kg in its season but in others may cost up to €3.

Here you have some more detailed information about general costs in Poland.

* Prices can vary depending on the neighbourhood, the number of people living in the apartment and facilities.

**Depends greatly on your diet and which shops you buy food and drinks.

Expats in Poland

The diversity in big cities of Poland, like Warsaw, Wrocław or Cracow is big so you can find plenty of groups in the social media of expats living there and their comments about the country. You can also find people like you at work and ask them if they want to get some friends and meet one day. On the Internet it is useful to search for communities of expats and meetings organized by them. So just take the opportunity. But also, don’t forget to try to merge with the nationals and be open to new customs and traditions. That way you can learn something new.

Where to learn Polish

Even though a large part of the society speaks English, it’s common mostly for the younger generations. Elderly nationals still find difficulties in speaking English. The language used in everyday life is Polish. There are several ways to learn the language. Prices also vary. Here you can find some examples of free courses available:

• http://linguaemundi.pl/pl/kursy-jezyka-polskiego-jako-obcego/
• https://ecs.gda.pl/title,JEZYK,pid,2084.html 
• https://maszprawowiedziec.com.pl/en/for-foreigners/ 

If you would like to take a paid course, prices are around 15€ for an hour. 

Another good idea is to find Polish-speaking friends and talk with them as much as you can. Beginning with the Polish language might be funny, but isn’t it interesting to know even the basics of one of the hardest languages in the world?

Why Poland?

Poland is a country with plenty of breathtaking places worth visiting. It’s still developing, creating work opportunities for people from all around the globe. You can be sure that you will gain a lot of unforgettable memories and meet friends for life. 

You can have a look at our Job offers in Lodz, Poznan and Gdańsk and we will guide you during the entire process of finding a job, accommodation and getting used to the city. Check our social media like instagram to know more about our guys over there and other destinations.