Observers have noticed a slight movement in the labour market. More than a year after the onset of the economic crisis in Bulgaria the companies have gradually started shaking off the anxiety that had taken hold of them and to ‘look’ for new employees. Only this time the level of requirements has risen manifold, whereas the remuneration offered has plummeted. The trend is all too explicable given the growing unemployment rates and the huge number of unemployed specialists fighting for their place under the sun.
Until recently few employers dared to hire new employees considering that in hard times like these it was still risky to expand their scope of activities and earmark additional funding for payroll and insurance. “Since January 1, 2010, however demand for highly qualified specialists has increased. The fear of the unknown that was haunting the businesses seems to have subsided. The companies have already grown used to the crisis and have already began working at their normal pace,” Ms. Simona Harizanova of the back2bg career development online source for highly qualified Bulgarian specialists told a Radio Bulgaria reporter. The largest number of opportunities now offered lies in the IT and finance sector. The state administration also provides a good terrain for professional fulfillment, as well as the marketing sphere.
The high level of education, the command of more than one West European language and the readiness to work flexi time, to name but a few, top the list of job requirements. At the same time the job advertisements lack any referral whatsoever as to the remuneration they can offer. The human resources experts are unanimous that the payroll has dropped sharply in the past year or so at the expense of the companies’ demands, which have in turn risen with the growth in unemployment in this country, accordingly. What does the profile of the ideal job applicant look like?
“In my opinion the ideal job applicant should not expect too much,” Simona Harizanova maintains. “The command of foreign languages is another serious advantage. Young experts with solid experience are in demand, which of course is in itself absurd. But if you are, say, 23-30 years old, fresh from university and with a couple of years’ professional experience, you stand good chances of landing a job.”
Being young, well educated and experienced, speaking several foreign languages and being strongly motivated will not do to make you the winning job candidate. It is so because the competition on the labour market is so fierce. Usually 20 people compete for a single job. Employers often complain that whetting down the candidates to the ideal one is a tough task. That is why advantage is given to the candidates who can prove their professional experience and personal qualities with a huge file of diplomas, certificates, motivation letters, recommendations from previous employers and an impressive CV. Your future boss might even enquire after your hobbies or favourite pastimes. In a word get ready for a scrutinized ‘examination’.
“Overall I see the companies in Bulgaria have started recruiting employees based on foreign standards,” Ms. Simona Harizanova explains. “It is a very good thing though that actual recommendations are required, and that a CV alone will not do. Anyone could embellish a CV with all sorts of non-existing accomplishments. On the other hand, this chart of personal data of sorts is hardly able to present the candidate in all their qualities and peculiarities. That is why the trend to require comprehensive documentation will do favour to both employers and candidates!”
English version by Radostin Zhelev
