UK family moving to Budapest. How to find a job?

Would be helpful if we knew more about what type of  job your husband works in.
It is probably allot easier to make money in the UK then here in HU.
Even with costs being less here overall, the pay is usually lower as well.
It offsets any low prices.
My HU husband and I are retired, I actually have not worked or collected my retirement yet, just living on one monthly SS check and it is more then enough for the two of us here in HU.
I have not worked in ages, maybe over 10 years now.
Always worked part-time in the states and still made more in my chosen line of work in a few months then if I worked full time here in HU at the same job.
Used to just work for 6 months in the US and stay in HU for 18 months just on my savings.
Traveled back and forth between Vegas and HU.
Could still do that if I was not getting tired because of old age.
In HU they would never offer anyone my age a job that pays.
In fact last visit to the states, I was trying to show my new DIL around and I was hired on the spot by a few places even though I told them I was not looking.
I would never in a million years actually get up, go to work and perform a serious job for the average wages offered here in HU.
I suppose it all depends on what type of job one does.
HU is great for being retired but for making bank, no way.

Hi Emese,I am Zsolt and am from Budapest too and i also lived in the UK for 9 years.I moved back to HU nearly 2 years ago with my portuguese wife and 2 kids for family reason.Despite the fact that it is difficult to live and work here and the salary is too low compare to other much developed countries I am still here and managing to get by.English language is a must and if your husband has any sort of skill he wouldnt have a problem to find a job.I would suggest to start to look for and apply positions the way before you want to come over as it takes couple of weeks/month to get any respond, if you lucky.There are several multi companies over here especialy in the SCC,Bsc industries(Unysis,Diaego,Sykes etc)where they always for a look out for english speakers.Also language schools or catering,hotels etc.If you wanna go out and meet other expats i could recommend the internations budapest website to sign up and the meetup.com where you can find a lot of info about jobs and dining too.I wish you luck and if you need anything i can help with just let me know.I already went through couple of things with my wife before we settled down.

Yes, wish you luck, I guess I have been out of the game for too long.
Many talented people have left HU for work so there could be openings here as the brain drain has hit HU hard.
Think it all depends on what your skill set is.

Amesha80 wrote:

....Also would like to know if there is a Guy Fawkes celebration anywhere in Budapest on the 5th of November we could go to and meet other expats? Many thanks.

Now that would be something.  One of the traditions I miss in Hungary. Probably wouldn't be allowed as it involves fireworks which - I believe - are restricted to only certain days of the year like New Years Eve etc

Dear Emese. you made a good decision when you decided to have special treatment for your doughter because budapesti plasztikai sebészet and other health care facilities are equiped with modern tools and provide high level of services. I would like to know what is your husband's profession ?

Thanks very much for everyone's kind response to my message. Wanted to write back sooner but my daughter has been ill this week so I had no chance to do it. As for my husband profession I realised he could explain it better, so asked him to join the conversation. He's name is Matthew and I hope talking to other foreigners living in Hungary he will be encouraged to have a go himself! ;-)

Hello everyone, I'm Emese's husband Matthew.

So just a quick heads up on what I do. For the past 11 years I have worked for Bosch here in the UK in their Quality department. So specifically my job entails ensuring that components are fit for purpose and conform to engineering drawings and their standards.

We use a variety of Metrology equipment for this purpose most notably a CMM and more recently we have purchased a Faro Arm which is a laser measuring device. I have led the way in the implementation and understanding of the Faro Arm and the complex software used with it and have already been assigned to train others.

Bosch do have a number of sites within Hungary and I have already made some enquiries.

Furthermore I am also currently working my way through the AAT accounting qualifications and whilst I have no hands on experience as yet, I have recently completed the level 3 qualification and will shortly be starting the final level 4 course.

If anyone would like to know anything more or if you have any helpful advice, information etc then I look forward to hearing from you.

Hello Matthew,
Welcome to the forum.
And soon , welcome to Hungary !!
My Hungarian wife & I left the UK 4 years ago to live here, and for our child'a best interests too.
Hungary is great.
The bureaucracy sucks, but once you're attuned to it, it's less & less irksome by the month. Everything else about living here REALLY makes up for it though.

I hope you have your qualification certificates for what you do / what you'd like to do. They're big on written qualifications over here, over & above experience & ability ...... I'm sure  you'll find something, and Budapest offers up to 50% better wages than out here in the sticks !!!

I'm happy to try & help , if you need, give me a shout if you need

Have an easy move

Toby

Hi Toby, thank you very much for your response. Having travelled to and around Hungary on many occasions I have no doubt that I will settle in quickly. It already feels like a second home every time I go and as you say the country is great!

I'll be sure to drop you a message if I have any questions etc. that you might be able to help me with.

Thanks once again.

Matthew

Angolhapsi wrote:

The bureaucracy sucks, but once you're attuned to it, it's less & less irksome by the month. Everything else about living here REALLY makes up for it though.

All relative of course.

What you do in Hungary, how you earn your income, who you interact with (mostly expats or not), etc. etc. etc. all will determine one's long term opinion of the region.

Frankly, I find that the shifting bureaucracy does not become less ikrsome over time, but is a moving target. But I do take solace in other factors and benefits of living here.

Matthew_79 wrote:

Having travelled to and around Hungary on many occasions I have no doubt that I will settle in quickly. It already feels like a second home every time I go and as you say the country is great!

Short visits are not necessarily of much value for a long term experience and perspective of final "settle in". Because you may not. Especially in Hungary. It is more complicated than that.

One may do well here, but, for example, to the locals you may always be just a foreigner. It is just that the locals may never tell you what they are thinking -- so you can live in a very incorrect perspective of your actual social position.

I know Hungarians who are considered "outsiders" where I live simply because they were not born and breed locally. It is just that kind of place. Which is of course fine, if you are fine with how "settle in" is defined.

Budapest is becoming quite international  so many people can get employment if they have language skills and good qualifications.  For some families money isn't the only consideration.  It could be other aspects such as better schools,  bigger gardens and non G M foods.  I live on less in Hungary and feel out of the rate race.   I don't need to keep a car on the road because public transport is brilliant.  And I don't need to dress up either.  Housing is also still relatively cheap compared to the uk.

It is true that most people in Hungary will always see you as a outsider even if you are Hungarian.
You have been away and as the saying goes, one can never go home again.
My husband was born and raised in Budapest, used to be a very well known and semi-popular  guy, one of the "Downtown Boys"as they were known.
Gone for 40 years, comes back and people think he is a "weirdo" with his proper way of speaking in Hungarian, they way he dresses "too young" for his age etc. He now knows hardly anyone and they don't know him, they often have a strange look on their faces when he speaks, perfect Hungarian but something is off with him and they are trying to figure it out.
I know local Hungarians more then not believe just about every foreigner is not really "one of us" and never will be, just an object to get something out of most times.
Jealous at best, hateful or just not even seen as a real human in many cases.
Just a dollar sign to be abused in any way we are dumb enough to open ourselves up for.
It is not just us who sees it this way, we know several born and raised Hungarians who lived in the west for 30 to 40 some years who have returned to HU to retire.They just hang together and do not mix with HU who have never moved out of HU. Many times at parties only their old friends get together who still live outside of HU. They visit HU and everyone comes together for birthdays, holidays etc. They do not mix with HU inside of HU at all.
My HU old friend (or former friend ) is a fashionable smart women who is /was considered a sort of beauty in her day has moved back here to Budapest after 30 years.
She had been a teacher in HU in her youth married to a college professor who was much older then she.
She is young at heart and still looks "fabulous" for 62. She told me she feels like a foreigner now here in HU and feels people are judging her all the time.
Most people get angry that you had the chance to live away and came back, they feel you must have something wrong with you to come back and not be a multi-millionair.
They still think the streets are paved in gold in the west and you must be the biggest loser to come back with your tail between your legs.
That's just for their fellow countrymen/women.
Us real outsiders are on a whole different level of resentment, smiling faces hide the real feelings behind many people.
I am a positive person have to be to get out there everyday and deal with people who do not have your best interests at heart, most times.
Always there is decent people to be found but in general, really think over moving back, if not for yourself then for your kids.
In the states people always ask my husband where he is from, never going to lose that accent. He tells them, many say, my grannie was from there etc. They ask if he is American, he says yes and he is good to go. Over here in HU he is not even treated like a HU.
Not sure why it is that way. In the states people except just about anyone from anywhere, not a biggie to have multi-racial friends and neighbors etc. Here in HU I generally pass as a Hungarian for the most part. I really wonder what it is like for "non white" foreigners in Hungary. I would bet they face obstacles we don't even think of as people of European background.

I do however really hope your child gets better soon.
I know nothing at all about the health system in the UK.
I have however experienced having a knee operation in Budapest and my husband had a hernia operation here in HU.
Survived but in my case it was a nightmare.
Different hospital then my husband was sent to.
He was fine and the staff alright.
In my case they did little more then the bare min. and then even that was not great. Roommates messy bedpan was left near my bed for 30 some mins. Screaming matches between her ( 80years old) and 2 night nurses, I was so happy to hobble out of there the next day.
I am guessing you have brought your child to HU not only for treatments but to be able to afford to stay off work yourself to care for her, not sure can't really think of any reason that the health care would be better here then in the UK.
My son had 4 major surgeries as a child, I know how scary they are.
One was at a private hospital and the other 3 at UCLA one of the best hospitals in the nation.
I never paid a penny for any of his surgeries contrary to what people say about health care in the US. In special cases it is done for free for children. We were not in dire straits but caught between insurance policies.
We had the best care for him without any hardship on our income, teaching hospitals such as UCLA often waver fees.
Wish you the best and a speedy recovery for your little child.

anns wrote:

Budapest is becoming quite international  so many people can get employment if they have language skills and good qualifications.

Just wondering: Have you applied for jobs in Hungary, with English as your only language skill? Because that appears to me (OP correct me if I am wrong) to be the topic. 

anns wrote:

such as better schools,

Seriously?

Teachers, students protest education system in Hungary

Of course, one can enroll one's children in expat schools, but those are expensive.

anns wrote:

I live on less in Hungary and feel out of the rate race.

Yes, one can live on less in Hungary, but if one is working in Hungary, one also makes less. That is, if one retires to Hungary it is far, far different than if one is working in Hungary and making a living here and trying to make ends meet.

anns wrote:

I don't need to keep a car on the road because public transport is brilliant.

Public transportation in Hungary is adequate. We sold our car because buses were good enough. But "brilliant"? No. Buses and trains have been late and I have missed connections. I lived in Switzerland. There public transportation was "brilliant". So in comparison, Hungary is pretty good, but not "brilliant".

anns wrote:

And I don't need to dress up either.

  Personally, I always dress up a bit nicer when going out of the house and out and about town.

anns wrote:

Housing is also still relatively cheap compared to the uk.

Relative. Houses/apartments are cheaper because incomes are less. Again, if you earn your income here, the relative price of property/renting is not really that great compared to local income.

Well thanks for picking apart my post.  No wonder not very many people bother to post on here.  All I hear is negativity and sniping.
My experience is my experience and yours is yours.

Thank you. Essentially our daughter is behind in her development for her age. We decided for her to be in Hungary as there are a number of pro active therapies available that have no comparable in the UK.

In short here in the UK when we have been to see specialists their response has typically been let's wait and see!

With regards to the discussion about settling in
Well the social side is but one aspect of this process. I love the food, the climate is going to be fantastic as i love nothing more than a bitterly cold freezing sub zero winters day. Everything i enjoy doing will be equally if not more available to me in Hungary.

People wise well obviously through my wife i already know plenty. To be honest aside from my family i can't think of anything I'd miss. I mean you can even get Heinz baked beans in Hungary these days so i think I'll survive!

So funny about the Heinz beans, as an American I never really understood it before I moved to HU and started missing silly things like Taco Bell.
Glad to hear the treatments are helping out for your child.
I know how hard it  can be to wait and see when you wish your child healed now.
Sometimes though waiting is a good idea, all depends on the issue.
Took my boy to UCLA for his eyes, born with crossed eyes.
So many visits in their world famous Jules Stein eye clinic.
Back and forth for 18 months, drops, glasses I just wanted his eyes fixed. Went to another doc. much faster, had surgery right away.
I now however wonder if we should of waited because although the second clinic was good, he was not a specialist with children and my son's one eye still slightly wanders off when he is tired, he is now 40.  Had allot of time to wait thinking it over now. Not a fan of repeat surgeries on a 3 year old, freaked me out for life as it is.

Matthew_79 wrote:

.... To be honest aside from my family i can't think of anything I'd miss. I mean you can even get Heinz baked beans in Hungary these days so i think I'll survive!

Oh, believe me, you'll almost certainly miss:

Marmite
Bovril
Ginger Beer
Salt and Vinegar Crisps
Smoked Bacon
Many different types of rolls
Cheddar, Stilton, Double Gloucester Cheese (etc)
HP Sauce
Jelly

Life is a daily struggle to get these essentials.

Marmite and hp  sauce are both in the larger tescos  now. Alongside colmans  mustard.   Lidl or aldi now sell proper cheddar.  Probably why I have put on a few pounds over summer.
I am still seeking Branston pickle and mint sauce. And custard powder.
Crazy how we desire such silly foodstuffs.

anns wrote:

Marmite and hp  sauce are both in the larger tescos  now. Alongside colmans  mustard.   Lidl or aldi now sell proper cheddar.  Probably why I have put on a few pounds over summer.
I am still seeking Branston pickle and mint sauce. And custard powder.
Crazy how we desire such silly foodstuffs.

You are right about Mint sauce. I did not see Cheddar (Mature?) in Aldi.  There's a slight imitation of Stilton through Aldi's blue cheese.

It's entirely reasonable to expect Marmite and HP Sauce to be available.  Marmite might not be available in Tesco soon.  Tesco is in a dispute with the  manufacturer over pricing because of the Brexit spill over.

I've also seen Cider occasionally but quite pricey.

I would love me a Hershey candy bar once in awhile. Have seen their chocolate sauce at a import store but so far, no candy bars.
Even so the sauce was very pricey.
Might be a idea for UK ex pats to bring over a ton of their faves and help out their fellow ex-pats just for cost.
Not a big thing really as they do sell Snickers candy bars here and I do think them but might only eat one bar a year in reality.
Things always seem more special when you can't find them.

Yes I would love to do that but I usually just travel with hand luggage and they are very strict in confiscating stuff. And charging a lot if your bag is the wrong shape and /or overweight.  So I play safe and just bring what I need for the journey.

fluffy2560 wrote:

Oh, believe me, you'll almost certainly miss:

Personally, when I became an expat I went all in. I take advantage of what is available locally as sufficient surrogates and replacements, and so I miss nothing**. 

** Cough... cough.... I can buy tortilla chips, my only from home vice, at Aldi. ***

*** But of course, this all has nothing to do with finding a job in Budapest. 

klsallee wrote:

....Personally, when I became an expat I went all in. I take advantage of what is available locally as sufficient surrogates and replacements, and so I miss nothing**. 

** Cough... cough.... I can buy tortilla chips, my only from home vice, at Aldi. ***

*** But of course, this all has nothing to do with finding a job in Budapest. 

I think it does have something to do with finding a job indirectly. 

One of the about modern Hungary is this Euro-normalisation.  The details might vary but it's pretty much becoming homogeneous across the  EU.  All the "local" products are becoming the same - same washing powder, same names of shops, same format DIY stores etc. 

I'm drawing a parallel there that other things should Euro-normalise as well, including finding a job.

There is some expansion in Internet based working.  Even team meetings were done over Skype when I was based at home for two years.  I found it utterly boring not having any real life work colleagues and a total intrusion because I would drift off and do other daytime things but it was very well paid.  Some work is truly international.  If I was seeking employment now I think  doing a variety of Internet searches would be essential.

It does appear that they only sort of jobs in HU for foreigners are IT jobs.
I know some people who are skilled with their hands that found jobs here, one is my hairdresser who is a ex -pat.
I also knew a talented women who was hairdresser from Cal. who just couldn't make money over here.
Looks like whatever one does for income, they had better be willing to work harder here then in their home country.
I have almost given up on tortilla chips in HU.
Lived in the SW US for far too long I suppose, nothing like the chips sold fresh from the Mercado. Dang, even Walmart chips are fresher then any I have found so far here in HU.
It is almost like a Hungarian eating Goulash from a Denny's restaurant, they may call it Goulash but that's about all that they have in common.
I really must buy some corn flour and experiment with making my own chips.

Hello everyone;
My family and I have moved to Hungary recently too.
My wife in Hungarian but I can only speak English (and Persian).
I had a computer business back in the UK with hardware and software support for the last 20 years and also worked as the IT manager of a language school for the last 6 years...
I would like to have a part time or full time job here and it doesn't have to be in IT. The only problem is that my Hungarian is very much work in progress!
I have realised things are very much different here and am going to give it a go dealing with it. I am not young (57) so more patient I hope!
Any suggestion would be appreciated. Thanks.

I wish everyone lucky finding a job in HU.
I do wonder why you would move here if you had a great business already up and running, it is sometimes hard to repeat success.
Age 57 in the HU workforce is not going to be easy I would think.
People retire here at 60  for women and 62 for men.
You need 15 years of work in HU to collect SS in Hungary.
Whatever pension you made in the UK is probably going to be it.
Every society looks at older workers differently.
In the US we had a women working in our gaming pit in Vegas who was 86 years old and new to the business.
Everyone loved her, thought she was so cute and all. She was able to do the job although they gave her special days off, she had juice, knew someone in the office.
My son's ex longtime girlfriend from Japan went to college in NV, came to the US by herself, paid her own way through college by working several jobs, was 26 years old when she got her degree.
She knew some English before coming to the US, worked as a tour guide in Japan. Beat out 11 US citizens for her first IT job.
She went back to Japan for a visit, for fun she looked at IT jobs in Tokyo. Everyone told her she was over the hill, too old at 26, she could only get a sales girl job or cleaning lady at that old age!
Not sure how they view older workers in HU but I think your best bet is to try working for yourself again.

Thanks for your reply Marilyn.
Of course you appreciate that life is not just about jobs and earning and being close to a family for the children is one reason we moved to Hungary.
I am thinking of working for myself but I think with right connections there are always jobs for experienced hands everywhere. It's just to be able to show that you are an asset to whoever you are going to work for not someone who is going to collect wages only!
It's early days, so I am after making connections to some good people like yourselves for now!

It always depends on the person and their qualities and qualifications.  I've interviewed people for jobs and if someone has drive age doesn't come into it.  Hungary followed the same EEC directives on employment as anywhere else.

I've not particularly spent time at Hungarian language lessons yet because I am working on improving my French and travel a lot.
However I met UK language teachers last year who attended classes and worked intensively and were fluent within six months.
Like most things if there is anything you want to succeed in you have to show determination and work for it.  Older people always have these life skills.
Quality of life is measured by far more than just employment and in comparison I have found Hungary much more relaxed. I travel to the UK more often than I would wish and the wages are higher but so is the general cost of living.  The weather is worse and it always feels overcrowded to me now.  But I still love to go shopping on Oxford Street.

fluffy2560 wrote:

I think it does have something to do with finding a job indirectly.....

I'm drawing a parallel there that other things should Euro-normalise as well, including finding a job.

The OP asked for a rather specific practical advise. Indirect theories may be fun discussion points over at Absolutely Anything Else, but even homogenized products sold around the EU still have Hungarian language labels on them here. That is, even by using a product as analogy, finding a job without local language skills is far more difficult. Which is a critical point many posters are missing. Or are applying their experiences from abroad as if these equate to how things work in Hungary (they probably do not).

Jobs for those with only English language skills are fewer and more limited; mostly concentrated in specific sectors (education, IT, etc.). The best option for those with a specific and narrow skill set is to be transfered here via their existing employer. That is also the most fiscally lucrative option.

anns wrote:

Hungary followed the same EEC directives on employment as anywhere else.

On paper and in theory.

I ask again (since you did not answer the last time), Have you ever gotten a job in Hungary? Are you talking from direct employment experience in Hungary? Because "helpful advise", if misleading, can give others making serious life decisions to maybe draw incorrect conclusions. I know you mean well, but job experience one had abroad may not mean much here in Hungary.

I am entitled to my point of view like anyone else.  I base my experience on talking to friends,  reading  and many other aspects. Just as you do.
This is a forum not just a one man band .  If you don't like anyone else's opinion don't read it. 
You are turning into an online bully. Although troll is a more modern description.  This is the second time you have targeted my posts and if you continue I will report you to the administrators.  Remember this is a forum not just  a space for your opinion.

We are starting to realise too that the only realistic way for my husband to move to Hungary is through his existing employer Bosch (the question is would they offer him the opportunity and if they do when). Still interested in other people's experiences though as everyone's story is different. Hungary is my home, only left 7 years ago so it won't be difficult for me at all to adjust back (apart from all the paperwork it will take to get back into the system)......but for my husband it will be challenging and it's useful to read how other foreigners/expats see the way of living there (the system, the people etc). I wanted him to see he is not alone. :-D

I have never considered working in Hungary, gosh hated even working in the US with my own beauty salon!
I personally work for money and that's it.
Not enough money then I would rather not bother getting to the job.
Bad attitude, maybe but it has worked for me.
I worked in NV which is a right to work state, they can fire you for no cause at any moment, no loyalty from either side.
Had some great jobs working with great people, not enough money though so had to move on.
Hungary as is anywhere else all depends on connections and who you know.
One must have special skills, looks or a connection, at least in Vegas it's that way.
Any good looking young person can get a great paying job in Vegas with little to no skill in the casinos. Any blonde 21 year old women with a nice shape and can deal the game craps can pick and chose where she wants to work and just about any shift.Sounds horrible to most but that is the climate for work there. Every place has it's own sort of work climate.
My son has gone into casino management, need some brains for that but one has to start on the bottom unless you have connections.
I have mentioned in the past that once over 15 years back though, my husband who was a highly paid sub contractor in the aerospace/aircraft industry looked at machinist jobs in HU on a lark. saw a add in the paper and called just to see what the average wages was. It was so low it was unreal. 15 years ago but still one could make 4 times more at Micky D's in the US then doing highly skilled handwork here in HU.
It would of been laughable if it wasn't real for some poor HU to work for such wages.
Going from  $50. to $100. an hour to less then $4. is no laughing matter.
Seriously the only reason to work in HU is if you are transferred and have a good package, Otherwise connections are a must.
There seems to be a large Persian community here in HU, that might be a start.

anns wrote:

I am entitled to my point of view like anyone else.

You are absolutely entitled to your own opinions.

But not to your own facts. Such as:

anns wrote:

I base my experience on talking to friends,  reading  and many other aspects. Just as you do.

No, actually, you are wrong. Not like me.

I am an entrepreneur. So I am directly, and personally aware of the business climate in Hungary. And my Hungarian wife, who speaks four languages, has worked here and also runs a business. So my experience is direct, not second hand like yours.

anns wrote:

This is a forum not just a one man band .  If you don't like anyone else's opinion don't read it.

I respect you having an opinion. But that does not mean your opinion needs to go unchallenged, especially when, like I said in my opinion, it may harm others. That is kind of the entire point of a discussion -- others can express their differing (even critical) opinions as well.

anns wrote:

You are turning into an online bully. Although troll is a more modern description.  This is the second time you have targeted my posts and if you continue I will report you to the administrators.  Remember this is a forum not just  a space for your opinion.

Well, that is your opinion as well. I can respect that. If you wish, feel free to report me if you think it is warranted. No need to give a "threat" that you will unless I "behave". 

Hi Jamshid,

Wlecome to Hu. I can suggest you try Unisys at West End by Nyugati,they are always for a look out for english speaker skilled or non-skilled professionals.You could try this agency as well, named Kelly Services.

Best regards

Best thing is not to disrespect people's opinions just for negativies  sake we are all entitled to contribute. Make a positive contribution if you can.  We only post on here to support other ex pats and to share our knowledge and opinions but personally I don't support bullying or trolling.

Many thanks Benei Zsolt; Most helpful. I will check it out.
Best Regards.
Jamshid.