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Post by ray51 on Aug 11, 2011 14:06:37 GMT 1
Zagreb has changed a lot , over the last 20 years ; IMHO , not for the better ( sadly ) ; but , after you have lived in major cities , like Chicago , if you can accept what Pula or Rijeka have to offer , Good Luck ! Do let us know , how you get on , cheers !
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Post by justapixel on Aug 11, 2011 14:47:57 GMT 1
I am considering working in Zagreb, and as I've wintered in Chicago and New Hampshire - in the latter I lived in an area known as the "weather belt", a truly brutal part of New England, the weather is really less of a consideration for me than other things. But I would really prefer Pula or Rijeka. Pula has nice weather while Rijeka is Mediterranean more in spirit than in climate because most of the rain clouds arriving to Croatia decide to offload there. Civilization-wise, they are similar to Zagreb, albeit smaller and poorer. It's hard to find a job in Zagreb these days, but it's even harder to find it in Rijeka or Pula. What kind of job are you looking for? Why in Croatia? .
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Post by splitpersonality on Aug 11, 2011 15:24:54 GMT 1
Honestly, I got sick and tired of living abroad. Visas and travel arrangements get really tedious after you have lived abroad alone for a decade, and I figured I have the skills and experience now to get a fairly decent job in Croatia, which wasn't necessarily the case 5 years ago when I finished college. (I'm 29 now.) I have a degree in IT but am not the programmer type - now I'm working in the marketing dept. of the travel agency you can see in my sig. Prior to that, I helped a friend in the US turn his work into a private business (this was in Chicago), and before that I worked for a real estate search engine. I'm not very picky as I consider all these to be "day jobs" and I'm hoping to turn a hobby, which requires a lot of sitting and thinking, into a career somewhere down the road... long story that, but now you see why I'm not very picky about what jobs I work in the meantime. Right now the major Croatian job portals have about two dozen postings where I think I have a realistic chance of landing the job as I'm well-qualified and can prove I have the skills they're looking for. About a half-dozen are in Pula and Rijeka - one of the latter is an opening for five people. Or I can sign a deal with my present company for another season, and delight y'all with my comments next year as well Or I can move back in with the parents - they'd love that, having hardly seen me at all after I finished high school - and sit and think for a while. But that seems looserish
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Post by justapixel on Aug 11, 2011 21:51:55 GMT 1
Honestly, I got sick and tired of living abroad. Visas and travel arrangements get really tedious after you have lived abroad alone for a decade, and I figured I have the skills and experience now to get a fairly decent job in Croatia, which wasn't necessarily the case 5 years ago when I finished college. (I'm 29 now.) Yeah, that's a typical trajectory of Croatians going abroad. Major difference is that you got homesick too soon and returned too young and without capital accumulated abroad (yeah, I understand your parents are well off, but if you wanted to depend on your parents as 90% of young Croats do, you should have never left). I have a degree in IT but am not the programmer type - now I'm working in the marketing dept. of the travel agency you can see in my sig. Prior to that, I helped a friend in the US turn his work into a private business (this was in Chicago), and before that I worked for a real estate search engine. I'm not very picky as I consider all these to be "day jobs" and I'm hoping to turn a hobby, which requires a lot of sitting and thinking, into a career somewhere down the road... long story that, but now you see why I'm not very picky about what jobs I work in the meantime. Neither are you picky about the location, obviously... except that you insist on staying within this doomed country. Right now the major Croatian job portals have about two dozen postings where I think I have a realistic chance of landing the job as I'm well-qualified and can prove I have the skills they're looking for. About a half-dozen are in Pula and Rijeka - one of the latter is an opening for five people. Or I can sign a deal with my present company for another season, and delight y'all with my comments next year as well You might not be especially ambitious, but you do seem to have solid education and diverse job experiences which combined with having broader outlook than most Croatians makes you competitive. But then again this is Croatia and we are in the middle of financial crisis the world has never seen before. We also have incoming elections after which the sh|t under the carpet will really hit the fan (as it did in Greece). If you're looking for a job in IT, I have no idea where you've seen that many job posting. I have first hand experience of looking for job a few months ago and even then, there were much more jobs offered than today. But there were also much, much more qualified people on the street than a few years ago, because too many companies have closed or experienced shrinkage. There were 50 people applying for the job I got and it was a job with very specific requirements which would have attracted maybe 5-10 candidates a few years before. That means that in spite of your qualifications you are not much likely to be called to the interview (and they surely won't pay you the travel costs) because they have a pool of qualified locals to choose from. It would also be useful if you took some time to create an attractive linked in profile which can serve as your online CV. I also estimate that the salaries are around 20% lower than before, myself I went 30% down and I currently consider my job to be somewhere between volunteering and being male "sponzoruša" ;D (I do like my job, though). It's even harder in Rijeka, especially hard in Pula. Salaries are also substantially lower than in Zagreb, probably similar to the ones in Split and you should take into account that if you leave Split, you will have to pay 200-300€ for rent. You also won't be able to eat at your momma's Or I can move back in with the parents - they'd love that, having hardly seen me at all after I finished high school - and sit and think for a while. But that seems looserish One word - don't! You're far too close already. .
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Post by ray51 on Aug 12, 2011 10:04:04 GMT 1
Nice work , pixel ! However , I do know a number of Croats in Zagreb who appear happy about their jobs and circumstances . The success formula , as I see it : a "job" in public service of any kind , incl. social services - there you start ( appear ) earlyish , leave for a smoke/coffee/beer/shopping/out/doctor/any excuse at anytime , get the mobile phone , nice laptop and the car-use for free , "work" is over by 15.00 , officially , whatever has been done ( or not ) , noone seems to worry much about petty details like that ...and you still get your regular monthly 1000 Euros equivalent , or well above that , plus plenty of paid holidays . ( Similar to the Greek model , looks to me . ) On top of this , since the salary is insufficient to sustain you in all the labour-free time you have , in which to hang around cafes , malls , the coastal resorts , clubs , fashion-shopping etc . there should be ample family support , financially and otherwise . I've seen it and it works amazingly well . Some guys have all the Luck !
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Post by justapixel on Aug 12, 2011 10:41:41 GMT 1
Nice work , pixel ! However , I do know a number of Croats in Zagreb who appear happy about their jobs and circumstances . The success formula , as I see it : a "job" in public service of any kind , incl. social services - there you start ( appear ) earlyish , leave for a smoke/coffee/beer/shopping/out/doctor/any excuse at anytime , get the mobile phone , nice laptop and the car-use for free , "work" is over by 15.00 , officially , whatever has been done ( or not ) , noone seems to worry much about petty details like that ...and you still get your regular monthly 1000 Euros equivalent , or well above that , plus plenty of paid holidays . ( Similar to the Greek model , looks to me . ) I tend to avoid people who find working at such positions preferable. If I ever had such a job (and I won't because I avoid anything remotely similar) I would be deeply unhappy and irritated. On top of this , since the salary is insufficient to sustain you in all the labour-free time you have , in which to hang around cafes , malls , the coastal resorts , clubs , fashion-shopping etc . there should be ample family support , financially and otherwise . I've seen it and it works amazingly well . Some guys have all the Luck ! Errr... you call being supported by family luck? Then all the slackers in the world living in their parent's basement at 30 are extremely lucky indeed. .
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Post by crojoe on Aug 12, 2011 10:46:52 GMT 1
Nice work , pixel ! However , I do know a number of Croats in Zagreb who appear happy about their jobs and circumstances . The success formula , as I see it : a "job" in public service of any kind , incl. social services - there you start ( appear ) earlyish , leave for a smoke/coffee/beer/shopping/out/doctor/any excuse at anytime , get the mobile phone , nice laptop and the car-use for free , "work" is over by 15.00 , officially , whatever has been done ( or not ) , noone seems to worry much about petty details like that ...and you still get your regular monthly 1000 Euros equivalent , or well above that , plus plenty of paid holidays . ( Similar to the Greek model , looks to me . ) On top of this , since the salary is insufficient to sustain you in all the labour-free time you have , in which to hang around cafes , malls , the coastal resorts , clubs , fashion-shopping etc . there should be ample family support , financially and otherwise . I've seen it and it works amazingly well . Some guys have all the Luck ! Ray, you sure know how to call a kettle black in a comical way, although I would have to steam in and say I know people working in the private sector who are doing ok. The main difference I see between here and say the West is many people have their own apartment, house or live with parents in Croatia. This then compensates for a smaller income. I know some might not agree, but if people cut out packs of cigarettes, cut down on the daily alcohol consumption, not try and stay up to fashion with the elite and glossy magazine propaganda, then they could easily live off their monthly income. It's all the people who have a mortgage, spend after work hours at bars and coffee shops and wear only designer clothing that suffer big time. You then of course have the poor folks, but then every society has them. Yes, there are also others who are taken advantaged off like employees not paying salaries and so forth, but as someone who does quite a bit of charity work I would say most people can live within their means.
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Post by justapixel on Aug 12, 2011 11:27:36 GMT 1
Ray, you sure know how to call a kettle black in a comical way, although I would have to steam in and say I know people working in the private sector who are doing ok. The main difference I see between here and say the West is many people have their own apartment, house or live with parents in Croatia. This then compensates for a smaller income. I know some might not agree, but if people cut out packs of cigarettes, cut down on the daily alcohol consumption, not try and stay up to fashion with the elite and glossy magazine propaganda, then they could easily live off their monthly income. It's all the people who have a mortgage, spend after work hours at bars and coffee shops and wear only designer clothing that suffer big time. You then of course have the poor folks, but then every society has them. Yes, there are also others who are taken advantaged off like employees not paying salaries and so forth, but as someone who does quite a bit of charity work I would say most people can live within their means. As a person paying a substantial home mortgage, I dislike comparing me to the people spending most of their money on cigarettes, alcohol and needless trivial stuff. Having roof above your head can hardly be called living beyond your means. .
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Post by ray51 on Aug 12, 2011 12:07:57 GMT 1
Hey , guys , I was actually not joking ( as I know a few examples , exactly like I mentioned , at those kind of "jobs" ) ; the main thing is : either be seen at "work" at the correct morning time , or phone in "sick" ( either works equally well ) ; - so , your mobile phone is only a Nokia or a Siemens , not a Blackberry - but you can use it 24/7 all year-round cost-free and there'll be a replacement in due course ; - and your notebook is only a 15.6 Hewlett Packard and not the latest Sony Vaio 17"Professional - yet it is good enogh for e-mail , 'net , YouTube , .,.,.,.,.,.,. etc ; - and your car is only a Skoda Fabia S/W manual , yet you can use it at all times , on weekends , for hols , transport of mates , family , building materials etc and guess what : the registration , insurance , maintenance , tires , fuel...does not cost you one single lipa . So , with all those items beautifully "sorted" , you then get to fix up all your private chores , banking , health , family etc . during the "working" hours and , when there's nothing else left on your personal agenda , then you can pose relaxed and Shminkerski on the Spitza or at any number of cafes , until it's time to go home , or to wherever . Dire Straits , indeed !
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Post by crojoe on Aug 12, 2011 12:44:11 GMT 1
Ray, you sure know how to call a kettle black in a comical way, although I would have to steam in and say I know people working in the private sector who are doing ok. The main difference I see between here and say the West is many people have their own apartment, house or live with parents in Croatia. This then compensates for a smaller income. I know some might not agree, but if people cut out packs of cigarettes, cut down on the daily alcohol consumption, not try and stay up to fashion with the elite and glossy magazine propaganda, then they could easily live off their monthly income. It's all the people who have a mortgage, spend after work hours at bars and coffee shops and wear only designer clothing that suffer big time. You then of course have the poor folks, but then every society has them. Yes, there are also others who are taken advantaged off like employees not paying salaries and so forth, but as someone who does quite a bit of charity work I would say most people can live within their means. As a person paying a substantial home mortgage, I dislike comparing me to the people spending most of their money on cigarettes, alcohol and needless trivial stuff. Having roof above your head can hardly be called living beyond your means. . No, your right! I guess my point is this. I see people who have a house (own it), they even have a job, but they live in squalid conditions. I then look at them and I see their life style (and I'm not just talking about Croatians here), and many of them are smoking packs of cigarettes a day, every spare moment as Ray pointed out are sitting at bars, and then from 12 mid-day start drinking large amounts of alcohol. To some these may be moments of pleasure, but they also put a huge drain on their monthly budget. These people shouldn't be complaining. To those with a mortgage, then all the above would also apply if one finds it very difficult to meet that mortgage payment. Sadly big business, banks and governments can get bailed out, but we humans do not. Please note, I am not saying all persons with a mortgage live beyond their means, now am I saying that all who smoke and drink live beyond their means, but this fact of life or life-style does affect many in a negative way.
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Post by ray51 on Aug 12, 2011 13:12:02 GMT 1
As far as I know , smoking comes dirt-cheap in Croatia , compared to 5 Euros for a packet of Marlboros here , 6 Euros for Kent , not sure if there are even 20 ciggies in there ; I don't smoke , but am always amazed , what kind of monies people blow on that , when a decent lunch can be had "out" for a few pennies more ; as for drinking , Pelinkovac and similar can be had very cheap in Zagreb , whereas any wine is usually grossly overpriced ( why ? ) ; quite the oposite from my side of the world , where wine and beer are v. good and affordable , whereas the spirits are heavily taxed and therefore expensive .
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Post by crojoe on Aug 12, 2011 13:34:04 GMT 1
As far as I know , smoking comes dirt-cheap in Croatia , compared to 5 Euros for a packet of Marlboros here , 6 Euros for Kent , not sure if there are even 20 ciggies in there ; I don't smoke , but am always amazed , what kind of monies people blow on that , when a decent lunch can be had "out" for a few pennies more ; as for drinking , Pelinkovac and similar can be had very cheap in Zagreb , whereas any wine is usually grossly overpriced ( why ? ) ; quite the oposite from my side of the world , where wine and beer are v. good and affordable , whereas the spirits are heavily taxed and therefore expensive . Since I only smoke when I'm on fire, I have no idea how much a pack of cigarettes cost. Maybe this is why the economy is going up in smoke, or is it the coffee?
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Post by ray51 on Aug 12, 2011 15:14:12 GMT 1
Went out to the newsagent to play a few numbers of our silly Lotto ( EUromillions tonight ) ; A single box of Camel is 7 Euros i.e. more than a tasty 2-course lunch , as served by beautiful females at my local Thai or Lebanese . Some things are just : incomprehensible ? That's where the Croats are still O.K. , for what they think they like ; but just wait , until the EU laws catch up with all those fantasies ( enough of assorted other countries are real bitter , about EU-membership and consequences thereof ) .
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Post by crojoe on Aug 12, 2011 15:42:11 GMT 1
Went out to the newsagent to play a few numbers of our silly Lotto ( EUromillions tonight ) ; A single box of Camel is 7 Euros i.e. more than a tasty 2-course lunch , as served by beautiful females at my local Thai or Lebanese . Some things are just : incomprehensible ? That's where the Croats are still O.K. , for what they think they like ; but just wait , until the EU laws catch up with all those fantasies ( enough of assorted other countries are real bitter , about EU-membership and consequences thereof ) . Ray, if you ever win the lotto, let me know and I'll be your instant friend... you know, like instant soup. I'll be your bestest friend just in front of the tax man who will be in front of any lovers who will be in front of anyone else your owe money too. hehe!
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Post by ray51 on Aug 12, 2011 15:51:07 GMT 1
If I were to win a decent payout , I promise to take you for a good lunch , in any Zagreb or Bruxelles place of your choice , taxies and the lot !
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