Career Advice Detail Europe

General tips for finding and applying for a job in Romania

If you want to find a job in Romania, the minimum requirement is usually a high-school diploma. A university degree is a must for certain positions. Fluency in English or French is also highly valued, and German is currently in high demand. Many HR agencies are looking for native speakers for executive-level positions in multi-national companies. Computer literacy is becoming more and more of a basic requirement. An internationally-recognized IT certification will greatly improve your chances of finding a job in Romania.

The employment rate increased (67.7 % in Q3 2016), still at some distance from both EU and national targets while unemployment is falling.

Skills shortages exist particularly in the ICT sector, but also among health and services professionals and teachers (CEDEFOP, 2016a). Additionally, occupations such as skilled trades, engineering, transport and distribution (Manpower Group, 2015) are in short supply.

There are 2 types of employment agreements in Romania, no matter if the individuals are residents or non-residents:

• Employment agreement for indefinite period
• Employment agreement for definite period

As a rule, the employment contract must be concluded for an unlimited duration. The unlimited duration is a measure of protection for the employee.

The future employee must present to the employer documents as:

• the study diploma(s)
• medical check
• identity card
• birth certificate
• the afferent documentation regarding professional specialization (if the job profile implies such
• special authorization or qualification)

For some positions specified in the National Classification of Positions in Romania are required superior studies and it is not allowed to hire an individual without the necessary qualification.

The Labour Code requires that an employment contract must be terminated in written form and in Romanian language.

The minimum elements that a labour contract must contain are:

• the identification details of the employer and employee
• contract duration
• salary
• vacation days and other days off entitlement
• trial/probationary period
• notice period
• The contract may also specify provisions such as confidentiality, copyrights (in IT area) etc.
• The medical check before concluding the employment contract is mandatory. If this obligation is not met, the agreement will become null.

The employee is entitled, according to the provisions of the Labour Law, to a minimum of 20 days’ vacation per year (working days, not calendar days).

The employer is obliged to pay monthly contributions and income tax for its employees. The company also has a set of social contributions due monthly on the 25th of the following month for which the payroll is processed.

The actual percentage of contributions and income tax are as follows: Income tax: 10%, Health insurance contribution: 10%, Social (pension) insurance contribution: 25%, Work insurance contribution: 2.25%.

According to the Romanian Labour Code, the place of the work may be unilaterally modified by the employer by delegating or posting the employee to another workplace than the one provided in the individual employment contract. During the delegation or posting, the employee shall retain his position and every right set in the individual employment contract.