Why you may want to work in Poland (A guide with tips)

Updated 6 March 2023

Poland is a fast-growing economy that presents foreigners with attractive employment opportunities. Relocating to this country may present you with a series of benefits, like the low cost of living or access to high-quality medical services. Exploring what it's like to work in Poland may help you decide if it's the location in which you want to live. In this article, we explore reasons for pursuing work in Poland, list the country's skills shortages, look at language requirements and share ways to secure a job in Poland.

Please note that none of the companies, institutions or organisations mentioned in this article are affiliated with Indeed.

Why work in Poland

There are numerous reasons for relocating and finding work in Poland. Here are some of the attractions of living and working in Poland:

Location

Thanks to its location, Poland is the geographical centre of Europe. The country has a network of modern motorways and railways that allow people to travel between different Polish cities quickly. In addition, travellers may explore various international land, sea and air connections. For example, you may get to Berlin from Warsaw or to Prague from Cracow in under two hours.

Cost of living

The cost of living in Poland is appealing to many foreigners simply because it's much lower than in most Northern and Western European countries. While the actual amount you spend each month depends on your lifestyle, budgeting and saving may be easier in Poland, especially if you work for an international organisation.

Healthcare

Poland's healthcare system is relatively cheap and gives you access to experienced and highly-qualified medical specialists. The system is a blend of public and private healthcare services. If you secure a full-time employment contract with a Polish employer, the organisation is likely to provide you with private healthcare as part of your employee benefits package. To register for the public healthcare system, it's a requirement to be a resident. Most doctors in Poland speak fluent English, which makes appointments efficient and comfortable for foreigners.

Recognition of professional qualifications

Most employers in Poland recognise professional qualifications from abroad. This is thanks to the free trade agreement that the UK has with the European Union. The schooling and university systems in Poland are also similar to what British education offers. In addition, most large organisations operating in Poland have experience hiring foreigners, so hiring managers are likely to understand and approve of your international qualifications. Formally translating your degrees and documents may be a requirement in some situations, for example, when you want to enter a doctoral programme or pursue an academic career at a Polish university.

Food

Most people who visit Poland recognise the country for its tasty food. The country's traditional cuisine comprises both meat and vegetarian dishes. In most restaurants, there are also numerous vegan options. According to Happy Cow, an online service that lists vegan and vegetarian food options, Warsaw is in the top 10 vegan-friendly cities, with hundreds of fully vegan restaurants.

Language requirements for foreigners working in Poland

Securing a job in Poland without speaking Polish can be fairly easy, unless you aspire to work in a customer-facing role. There are various large organisations, including international corporations, that are looking for candidates to fill English-speaking roles. In addition, many start-ups and private organisations adopt a fully international mindset right from the start, making it possible for foreigners to communicate with their colleagues and complete projects in English.

Understanding Polish is helpful when running errands or if you decide to live in a smaller city or town because fewer people may understand English there. Because of the country's history, many citizens still understand and speak other European languages, including German and Russian. If you aspire to become a permanent resident in Poland, then learning the language is necessary. To qualify for the status, an intermediate (B1) language level is a requirement.

Shortage of occupations in Poland

Just like in any country, there are labour shortages in certain occupations in Poland. Demand is currently high in these professions:

Accountant

Polish employers continuously look for accounting and finance specialists. As an accountant or financial analyst, you may work for local start-ups or international organisations that have offices in Poland. Choosing this form of employment may be beneficial, as some positions only require you to be familiar with taxation and financial laws from your country of origin. This is possible because many employers work closely with organisations from other countries, exchanging services, products and even employees.

Cook

Poland has a strong restaurant culture. People living in large cities like Warsaw or Poznan like exploring new cuisines and participating in culinary experiences. If you're a cook, this presents you with attractive opportunities to become a head chef or start your own restaurant in Poland. Depending on your skills, background and interests, you might teach yourself the secrets of Polish recipes or allow Poles to explore new, exotic cuisines.

Agricultural specialist

As of February 2023, according to the Polish government website, Poland is one of the biggest producers and exporters of agri-food products in the European Union. To provide customers and their business partners with great produce, producers and agricultural specialists work to continuously improve the quality of goods they sell and export. For this reason, the industry may be attractive to foreigners with an agricultural background who want to contribute to the country's food sector.

Programmer and IT specialist

Finding a job as a programmer is relatively easy in Poland because there are numerous software development and IT firms based in the country. These organisations often outsource their services to international clients. This creates a demand for highly skilled English speakers with experience in the IT and tech industries, including IT project managers or product owners.

Tips for getting a job in Poland

If you plan to look for a job after relocating to Poland, here are some tips you may use to increase your chances of finding employment in less time:

Research job offers on Indeed Poland

To determine employment options in Poland, you may start by researching job offers on Indeed Poland. If you're unsure of which Polish city you want to live in, you can check open positions in different locations, which may help you explore more attractive opportunities. To make the job search easier, here's a list of the keywords Indeed Poland uses and their meaning in English:

szukaj pracy - find jobs
stanowisko - job title
firma - company
miasto - city
dodaj swoje CV - upload your CV

Teach English

If you're unsure what role you want to pursue after relocating to Poland, you may take advantage of your natural ability to speak English. Many Poles attend English lessons and work with native speakers to improve their level of English or prepare for exams. If teaching is something you might consider, you may offer your services as a freelance native speaker or contact private language schools. Depending on your needs and location, you may teach in person or online.

Contact people from your network

To find a job that suits your skills and qualifications, consider maximising the potential of networking. For example, determine if any of your friends or former colleagues lives and works in Poland and inform them about your relocation plans. You can also ask if they know about any open English-speaking positions.

Use recruitment agencies

If you're unsure if you want to handle a job search in Poland on your own, you may contact a recruitment agency. For a small fee, a recruitment agency helps you assess your employability in Poland, prepare an application and apply for jobs that align with your qualifications. In addition, some agents help foreigners apply for work permits and act as translators in formal situations.

Adjust your CV

If a job that interests you accepts CVs in English, there are still some steps to take if you want to qualify for recruitment. Employers require that you include a protection clause on your CV, which gives organisations permission to store and process your personal and contact information. Here's the protection clause that is required at the end of CVs in Poland:

Polish: Wyrażam zgodę na przetwarzanie moich danych osobowych przez (nazwa firmy) w celu prowadzenia rekrutacji na aplikowane przeze mnie stanowisko.
English: I hereby give consent for my personal data to be processed by (name of the company) for the purpose of conducting recruitment for the position for which I am applying.