Working in Bulgaria: New life and new opportunities in Sofia

In the cozy lobby of the Hyatt Regency Sofia, we met two inspiring young ladies from Indonesia, Alya Novita and Lia Azlina, who arrived in Bulgaria a little over six months ago to look for new opportunities outside their country of origin and start a new job. 

I am Georgi Klisarski, an International Mobility Consultant, and together with Ivan Sherbanov, Managing Director of Manpower Bulgaria, we organised this meeting to get feedback and hear their stories. They shared their experiences and impressions of integrating and staying in Bulgaria, highlighting the challenges they faced and the joys they found in their new environment. 

Georgi Klisarski: Welcome, Alya and Lia! Tell us a little bit about your experience before you arrive in Bulgaria. 
Alya & Lia: Thank you! Before coming to Bulgaria, we worked as maids in a hotel in Romania. The hotel was high up in the mountains, which limited our social and entertainment options, and the food wasn't as delicious as it is here. Also, we had problems with the employer. 

Georgi Klisarski: How did you decide to apply for a job in Bulgaria? 
Alya & Lia: We applied through Manpower Bulgaria for a job in a big Bulgarian hotel. After several online interviews, we were approved to work in a 5-star hotel. 

Georgi Klisarski: How was the process of your placement in Bulgaria? 
Alya & Lia: We have been provided with accommodation in the center of Sofia, with very fast internet. The whole process of registering and issuing the necessary documents took just over a week, which was much quicker compared to Romania, where it took us over two months. 

Georgi Klisarski: How did you adapt to life in Sofia? 
Alya & Lia: At first there was a language barrier and difficulties with the Cyrillic alphabet, but we adapted quickly. Regarding places to visit - we manage directly through Google Maps and every day we make a list of places to visit. The managers and supervisors at the hotel speak English which made it much easier for us. Also, our Manpower consultant helped us open bank accounts and get Bulgarian SIM cards, which also contributed to a smooth adaptation to the dynamic daily life in Sofia, for which we are very grateful. 

Georgi Klisarski: How do you rate the working conditions and the atmosphere in the hotel? How do you get along with your colleagues? 
Alya & Lia:  The hotel is at a very high level, and the conditions are excellent. The attitude of the colleagues and the environment is supportive, and the overall atmosphere is pleasant to work in. All colleagues are friendly and always willing to help. We also exchanged a lot of know-how and best practices in the work process, which helps us to develop professionally and work more efficiently. Bulgarian colleagues give us the opportunity to work independently. 

Georgi Klisarski: How do you spend your free time in Sofia? 
Alya & Lia: Also, we often go out in the city center, the central part is our favorite. We also regularly visit an Indonesian restaurant. 

Alya: We like the weather in Bulgaria, winter is a bit colder than we would like but it is beautiful to see the snow. The beaches were lovely and the sea was warm and clean, perfect for relaxing and having fun. I also love to dance and I am seriously into hip hop dancing. At the beginning of the year, I took part in an international competition and workshop in Pernik, where I won second place. 

Georgi Klisarski: What do you think about Bulgarian cuisine? 
Lia: We like the Bulgarian cuisine very much. We often cook our own food at home and find everything we need in supermarkets. Every now and then we have dinner. We also order spices and foods from Indonesia and other Asian countries online and receive our shipments without a problem. 

Georgi Klisarski: What do you miss most from Indonesia? 
Lia Azlina: What we miss the most are our families and friends, whom we hear from regularly on the phone. We participated in gatherings organized by the Indonesian community in Bulgaria, and we had the opportunity to exercise our right to vote in the presidential elections in Indonesia. 

Georgi Klisarski: What are your plans for the future? 
Alya Novita: We hope more people from our country will come to Bulgaria and more people will have the opportunity to come here to work and study. We want to continue to learn about Bulgarian culture and develop professionally. 

Georgi Klisarski: What would you share with people who are exploring the possibility of working in Bulgaria? 
Alya Novita and Lia Azlina: Do not feel anxious about the arrival and check-in process. The employers and counselors are very helpful and supportive. People in Bulgaria are friendly, helpful, curious, and accepting of different cultures and communities. 

Georgi Klisarski: Thank you for sharing! We wish you success and many happy moments in Bulgaria. 
Alya Novita and Lia Azlina: And we thank you, good luck!