More and more young Bulgarians take the one way ticket, but to this country, not abroad. This trend, giving hopes is confirmed by the Career in Bulgaria. Why not? Forum, organized for a 7^th year in a row by the Tuk-Tam association and Back2BG. About 6,000 Bulgarians, educated and experienced abroad have sought job opportunities in this country, as their number is growing with each year. Companies willing to employ them are also on the rise. More than 350 employers from different economic sectors have taken part in the event till now. 95 percent of last year’s business representatives have stated that they have found the suitable persons for the positions offered. About 70 companies will be presented at this year’s edition of the forum opening as of September 10 at the Inter Expo Center, as 60 percent of them register their first participation.

“Some 15 percent of the companies are not from Sofia,” says Nusha Spirova, a representative of the organizers of the forum. “We try to expand year on year the range of the different business sectors and also to include companies from other cities and towns. There are about 20 percent of Bulgarian companies this year, while the others are international, operating here for years. The sector of services comes first, followed by the production sphere. There are mobile operators, also representatives of the banking, financial and consultative sectors in the HR area. Accounting has also been represented, EU projects’ management, legal consultations etc. Traditionally, HR in the spheres of IT, engineering, electronics and software are sought. Companies from the area of marketing, outsourcing activities, the NGO and start up sectors attend the event, i.e. the opportunities for the starting of a business in Bulgaria. We have spotted the trend over the past years many of the Bulgarians, returned from abroad, to take up their own business. They come here with good ideas, good contacts abroad and good chances for a successful start.”

Simona Dakova, a representative of a big polygraphic enterprise, which is an exhibitor and sponsor of the forum for a second year, says that 40 percent of her IT team have returned from abroad. She has lived in Germany for three years, where she had her master degree and probation at the SAP multinational software company.

“I found job via personal contacts – the employer called me himself. I got a position I never had dreamt of – a dynamic and interesting one. Our team has developed a new product, innovative for the entire globe. It was designated Innovation 2014 at a prestigious exhibition in Las Vegas. It is good to go abroad, to get experienced and to return to work here”, Simona Dakova says on career opportunities in Bulgaria.

Over 1,000 participants will look for career opportunities in Bulgaria at this year’s edition of the forum. Those, registered by now have studied or worked in 38 different countries. The greatest number of them traditionally comes from England, followed by Germany, the USA and Holland. France, Denmark, Italy, Spain and Austria also enter the Top 10 of the most preferred destinations. However, there are Bulgarians, who have returned from exotic destinations like China, the Cayman Islands, Bahrain or Equatorial Guinea. 75 percent of last year’s participants say they have found an employer that is of interest for them. Over 80 percent have recommended the forum to people they know. More than half of the candidates, who have participated in the forums, have already returned here. 49 percent hesitate, while 1 percent refuse to do it. .Alex Redov graduated marketing a year ago with a prestigious British university and then worked in Hong Kong for a couple of months as a teacher.

“I returned in September last year,” he says. “Then I participated in the forum. I met my both current employers there, as I have two jobs now. I think I can develop wherever I go, why not in Bulgaria as well… I feel good here; most of my friends are here, along with my family. I missed them all, while I was abroad. I missed cheese and the social contacts. I think Bulgaria has what to offer to a positive person, who wants to develop some skills here.”

English version: Zhivko Stanchev