- Many factors prove the effective start of a career, primarily the correct analysis of labor market offers.
- In practice, this means regularly analyzing advertisements consistent with their specialization, interests and expected remuneration and fringe benefits.
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Most expensive employee? The one who isn't there
Choosing your first employer is important
Representatives of Generation Z, growing up in a fully digitized environment, do not attach much importance to the compatibility of their profession with their education. They focus on the ability to learn and acquire new knowledge and skills.
– Generation Z wants to have a sense of meaning in the work they do, and the mission and values of companies are also important. Representatives of this generation want them to be consistent with the principles they follow in life, emphasizes Ewa Michalska, operational director of Grafton Recruitment.
According to the report "Generations on the Polish labor market" by Grafton Recruitment, Zetki fit well in teams and are focused on achieving their goals on a daily basis. A good atmosphere (56.3%) is more important to them than a high salary (50.6%). The third most important factor is employment stability (48.3%). The possibility of development is also important for Zetek (44.8%).
From the point of view of the young generation's concern for building a professional future and employment stability, it is worth the Zetki finding out what opportunities to improve qualifications, training programs and courses are provided by a potential employer. Knowledge of formal and legal matters will also be crucial, without which it is impossible to effectively undertake satisfactory work.
Types of employment contracts – know what you are signing
On the Polish labor market, you can take up employment on the basis of an employment contract or civil law contracts, such as mandate contracts and contracts for specific work.
– When deciding to sign an employment contract, a young employee should be fully aware of the scope of his future responsibilities. He will also receive a guarantee of remuneration, paid regularly, usually monthly, and payment of ZUS (Social Insurance Institution) contributions for social security and health insurance. He will also be entitled to paid leave, including holiday, maternity, paternity and other leave – explains Grzegorz Gojny, regional director at Gi Group Poland SA
The situation is different when signing civil law contracts. It is worth for people entering the labor market to know that in the case of an order, they themselves determine the time and place of its execution, and the remuneration for performing specific tasks depends on the hourly rate. A contract for specific work, in turn, specifies in advance the result of the work performed, which is combined with the remuneration that is paid after its completion. Both in the case of a contract of mandate and a contract for specific work, the employee cannot count on paid holiday leave, although the first type of contract allows for paid sick leave if the employer pays a sickness contribution.
Employee rights and obligations
A young employee is entitled primarily to timely remuneration and paid leave, the amount of which depends on the length of service and amounts to 20 days for employees with less than 10 years of experience. It is also worth mentioning the right to safe and hygienic working conditions, equal treatment and privacy protection.
The employee's duties include conscientious performance of work, compliance with the regulations applicable at the place of employment, protection of the employer's property, including maintaining confidentiality of information, compliance with working hours and cooperation with the superior in the scope of, among others: organizing an ergonomic workstation or subsidizing glasses for people who spend more than four hours a day in front of a monitor screen.
Employment begins with signing an employment contract for a trial period, which may not exceed three months. In practice, it is possible to conclude another trial contract with the same employee, but only if it covers a different position or the scope of responsibilities differs from the previous one. Otherwise, the employer signs a contract with the employee for an indefinite or specified period. A fixed-term contract cannot exceed thirty-three months. After this period, the employee is automatically employed under an indefinite-term contract.
Salary – why do I receive this amount and not another
An employee's remuneration consists of various elements that are regulated by labor law, regulations or result from an individual decision of the employer. Before starting your first job, it is worth knowing the difference between gross and net remuneration – personal income taxes and social security and health insurance contributions are deducted from gross remuneration, which affects the amount of net remuneration received by the employee.
– Basic remuneration, also known as basic remuneration, is a fixed part of the remuneration that an employee is entitled to for the work performed. It may be specified as a monthly, weekly or hourly rate. The employee also has the right to apply for allowances for overtime and night work, as well as, among others, for a functional or internship allowance. It is important for young people entering the labor market to understand the differences between bonuses, including discretionary bonuses, and prizes – explains Ewa Michalska.
Further career path
The first job, as well as internships, allow you to verify whether the chosen career path is right for a given person. The acquired skills will be useful in the coming months and years, and together with professional knowledge and experience, they will be the basis for applying for a salary increase and promotion. They will also play a large role in the decision to change employers.
