http://businessculture.org - Find out about business culture in Romania. This guide is part of the Passport to Trade 2.0 project which examined European Business culture in 31 countries looking at business communication, business etiquette, business meeting etiquette, internship and student placements, cost of living, work-life-balance and social media guide.

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businessculture.org
Business Culture
in Romania
http://businessculture.org/easternContent Template
europe/romania/
Last updated: 02.10.2013
businessculture.org
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This
publication reflects the view only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held
responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
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TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
Business
Culture
in
Romania
.....................................................................................................
4
Romanian business culture .................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Xenophobia: being a foreigner in Romania .........................................................................................5
International business in Romania........................................................................................................5
General educations ................................................................................................................................6
Educational standards ...........................................................................................................................6
Other issues such as transport infrastructure ........................................................................................7
Cultural taboos ......................................................................................................................................8
Business
Communication
..........................................................................................................
9
Language matters ..................................................................................................................................9
Business relationship ...........................................................................................................................10
Making contact....................................................................................................................................10
Personal titles.......................................................................................................................................11
Business
Etiquette
..................................................................................................................
13
Corporate social responsibility ............................................................................................................13
Punctuality ..........................................................................................................................................13
Gift giving ............................................................................................................................................14
Business dress code ..............................................................................................................................14
Bribery and corruption........................................................................................................................14
Business
Meeting
Etiquette
....................................................................................................
16
Importance of business meetings.........................................................................................................16
Business meeting planning ..................................................................................................................16
Negotiation process .............................................................................................................................17
Meeting protocol .................................................................................................................................17
How to run a business meeting ...........................................................................................................18
Follow up letter after meeting with client............................................................................................18
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Business meals .....................................................................................................................................19
Business meetings tips..........................................................................................................................19
Internship
and
placement
.......................................................................................................
21
Work experience .................................................................................................................................21
Internship and placement advice ........................................................................................................21
Social security and European health insurance card ..........................................................................21
Safety ...................................................................................................................................................21
Do I need a visa? .................................................................................................................................22
Internship and placement salary .........................................................................................................22
Internship and placement accommodation ........................................................................................22
Cost
of
Living
...........................................................................................................................
23
Money and banking ............................................................................................................................23
Travelling costs....................................................................................................................................23
Work-­‐life
Balance
....................................................................................................................
25
National holidays.................................................................................................................................25
Working hours .....................................................................................................................................25
Work culture .......................................................................................................................................26
Health insurance .................................................................................................................................26
Social
Media
Guide
.................................................................................................................
27
Private individuals ...............................................................................................................................27
Search and Social Media Marketing for International Business .........................................................28
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Business
Culture
in
Romania
The following is a very short introduction to Germany. External links at the end of this page
provide you with more in depth information concerning different topics.
The following video gives you an overview of the general facts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fd0RsVewKE8
Romania is the largest of the countries of south-eastern Europe with a surface area of
238,391 km2. It is bordered to the north by the Ukraine, by Hungary to the north-west, by
Bulgaria and Serbia to the south and south-west, where the natural borders are defined
mainly by the River Danube, by the Republic of Moldova to the east along the River Prut and
by the shores of the Black Sea to the north-west.
Romania became a sovereign state in 1859, when Moldavia and Wallachia were united under
the rule of Prince Alexander Ioan Cuza, and independence was achieved in 1878. In 1918,
Transylvania, Bukovina and Bessarabia joined the Kingdom of Romania and the interwar
period between 1918 and 1939 saw the largest territorial expansion in the history of
Romania. Following the abdication of King Mihai in December 1947, Romania became a
Republic; until 1965 when it fell under control of the Dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and socialist
party. The collapse of the communist regime and execution of Ceausescu in 1989 paved the
way for Romania to adopt a new constitution and transition to a market economy.
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The current population of Romania is 20.121.641 inhabitants (July 2013 results of the data
collection 2011) with 1,883,400 inhabitants living in Bucharest, the capital city. Romania has
a number of cities with large populations, namely: Cluj-Napoca , Timisoara and Constanta.
Romania’s main ethnic groups are Romanian (88.6%), Hungarian (6.5%), Roma (3.2%) and
the remaining 1.4% of the population is made up of Ukrainians, Germans, Turks, Russians
and Lipovani Tartars.
Romania is a secular state but still a predominantly Christian country with Romanian
Orthodox representing 86.8% of the population followed by Roman Catholics at 4.5%,
Reformed at 3.7%, Pentecostals at 1.5%, Greek Catholic at 0.9%, Baptists at 0.6% and
Islamic Minorities at 0.3%.
The official language of Romania is Romanian and its official currency is the Romanian Leu
(RON). The current exchange rate is approximately 4.45 Leu to the Euro. Romania is in the
Eastern European Time Zone and adheres to EET (UTC +2) during the winter and EEST (UTC
+3) during the summer.
Romania has become a member of various international organizations: the United Nations in
1955, the EBRD and OECD in 1991, the OSCE and OIF in 2003, NATO in 2004 and the
European Union since January 1st, 2007. Romania’s main trading partners are members of
the European Union, as well as China and Russia, with most exports going to Germany, Italy,
France, Turkey, Hungary and the UK.
Xenophobia:
being
a
foreigner
in
Romania
Romanian hospitality is very well known and they have a kind and friendly attitude towards
visitors.
Most people who live in the urban areas know at least one foreign language (English, German
or French), which helps to easily overcome any language barriers.
Romanians are reliable business partners who respect their signed contracts, deliver to the
agreed terms and pay their debts.
International
business
in
Romania
This section examines the general business environment of Romania focusing on the attitudes
and values of the Romanian people, followed by details of the education system, training and
placement opportunities in Romania.
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This section is intended to equip you with the basic ‘ground rules’ for doing business in
Romania to ensure that you are sufficiently able to deal with most of the business situations
that you may encounter.
General
educations
The Romanian education system follows the typical stages of preschool, primary and
secondary education leading up to the Baccalaureate, after which students may choose to
proceed to a higher education institution.
Primary enrolment is at age of 6 and it is compulsory for first 10 years. After 8 years – the
primary school, they can decide to continue in a high school for next 4 years or to continue on
the same school next 2 years.
The admission in high schools is based on the results of previous years and options and it is
made on a national level. High schools could be theoretical (history, mathematics, physics,
chemistry, foreign languages, biology etc.) or technical (informatics, telecommunication,
mechanics etc.). The high school graduation is done by passing a baccalaureate exam. Small
part of the scholars are choosing to follow the trade schools and to joint the labour force.
In Romania, the higher education system is structured according to three levels of university:
stage 1 (license) which corresponds to a bachelor’s degree, stage 2 (degree/specialization)
equivalent to a master’s degree and stage 3 (PhD or Doctorate). The admission in higher
education requests a baccalaureate diploma and differs from one university to another. It is
based on the baccalaureate results or includes an additional knowledge test.
Generally Romanians attends in a large rate to higher education and majority gets master or
doctoral degrees.
Educational
standards
In Romania, there is no governing body or central organisation that administers student
employment or placement opportunities for foreign students.
Each university has different ways to ensure job offers reach their students, including:
•
allowing interested companies to advertise their job offers through faculty
websites and bulletin boards;
•
allowing company representatives to attend workshops, seminars, debates inside
the university;
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•
organising student job fairs for companies to interact with the student population;
•
allowing companies to recruit students for training sessions in order to develop
their practical abilities.
Students internship is compulsory and it is usually organised by the universities through
partnerships with companies, public bodies etc. Sometimes students associations contribute
or organise the placement. This work is mostly unpaid.
Other
issues
such
as
transport
infrastructure
Travelling by Train
The national rail operator is Romanian Railways, which operates the network with other
private transportation companies covering 22,247 km of track and connecting all the major
cities.
Travelling by Car
The road network in Romania is made up of motorways, express ways, national roads,
country roads, and local roads, which totalled 82,386km in 2010. Since Romania’s accession
to the EU, plans and funding have been put in place to double the Romanian road network by
2015 and major construction projects are already under way.
Travelling by Taxi
In major cities, there are at least one taxi company. Taxis can be hailed on the street, found
at taxi ranks at the local station or ordered by telephone. The hire charges for a taxi depend
on the city and the taxi company, but they must be displayed in a highly visible place in the
cab and on the inside of the passenger’s door.
The average cost of a fare is the passenger fee, generally equivalent to the cost of travelling
one kilometre, and then a rate per kilometre of between 1.4 to 2 Lei. In Bucharest, a taxi fare
from the airport to the city centre would cost between 300 to 500 Lei, depending on the route
and level of traffic.
For safety reasons, it is best to avoid unsolicited offers from private individuals who are not
with a regulated taxi company. It is also important to ask the driver for a price before getting
into the taxi and be aware that the rates will increase during public holidays and at night.
Travelling by Plane
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The largest airports in Romania are located in Bucharest and Cluj and have connections to
airports all over the world.
Cultural
taboos
In Romania, there are no real taboos. However, there are some subjects that could cause
offence and should be avoided, including talking about the Communist regime or jokes about
the Roma peoples.
At business meetings, it is important to behave in a polite and appropriate manner, paying
attention to good etiquette. Things such as chewing gum, smoking without your partner’s
consent, or drinking directly from a bottle could offend your counterpart and jeopardize the
business relationship.
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Business
Communication
Negotiation is perhaps the most important part of doing business in Romania, so it is very
important to know how to negotiate and how to behave in order to seal the deal. Romanian
business executives value a serious approach and you should be well prepared with all the
relevant information and documentation to substantiate your interest in doing business.
You should also pay attention to body language and maintain a professional attitude that is
not overly rigid or relaxed.
Here are some tips you should keep in mind:
Romanians have an appreciation for a healthy mind and body, such that if you look tired, your
partner may think that you will not be able to fulfil your commitments.
Businesses have different rules regarding service providers and generally accepted codes of
conduct; try to get as much information about the business as possible.
There is nothing worse than your partner not understanding your ideas. Some deals fail even
though the ideas behind them are great, simply because the message could not get through.
Avoid technical terms and use clear, simple phrases.
Set clear objectives in advance with a solid understanding of what is required to achieve those
objectives. Being well prepared allows you to project confidence and show that you know
what you’re doing.
As first impressions are crucial to success, you should pay attention to facial expressions,
comments and attitudes.
Language
matters
The official language of Romania is Romanian, with over 91% of the population speaking
Romanian as their first language. Romanian is a Latin language, so it presents many
similarities with French, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese.
The Romanian language is also spoken in variation by thousands of people in other countries
like the Ukraine, Bulgaria, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Poland, Austria, Canada,
Israel, Italy, Germany, Russia, Spain, and the United States.
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Minority languages in Romania include Hungarian, spoken by 6.5% of the population, Romani,
spoken by 1.1% of population and a variety of other languages comprise the remaining 1.7%
of minority languages spoken by Germans, Turks, Russians-Lipovans, Ukrainians, and Tatars.
The Romanian people are familiar with English, French, Italian, Spanish and German
languages. You can easily find a person on the street speaking one of these languages who is
willing to help you.
Business
relationship
In business, success depends not only on the ability to distinguish occasions and
opportunities, but also to leave a good impression and basis on which to strengthen long-term
cooperation.
Business rules are based on polite and appropriate behaviour. In Romania, communism had a
profound effect, prolonging poverty and encouraging corruption. With the collapse of the
communist regime, the economy has shown marked improvement and Romanian
businessmen have realised that they can conclude long-term contracts if partners treat each
other with respect and politeness.
It should be remembered that the way you talk and present yourself is as vital to the success
of a meeting as the content of your proposals.
Another important aspect in the smooth running of business meetings refers to the ability to
stay calm and polite throughout tense discussions; working together to find resolve
differences and find a mutually beneficial compromise.
Making
contact
In Romania, when business partners meet for the first time the custom is for them to shake
hands as they greet each other with a simple ‘hello and how are you’ form of greeting.
The first meeting is formal, so it is advisable to avoid jokes and maintain a professional
appearance. At future meetings, after the relationship is cemented, the formality tends to
soften and conversations are more cordial. It is important to know your partner very well and
observe their attitude before you try to lighten the conversation.
Refusing to shake hands will easily offend your Romanian partner, so it is important to let
your partner know if you are under any restrictions that prevent you from shaking their hand.
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Keep in mind that first meetings are very important. Romanians are very welcoming and
therefore any small, misplaced or seemingly insignificant gesture could offend. Also, your
attitude must inspire confidence, in order for your partner to believe that you are the one
they should make a deal with.
At the first meeting, you must address your partner and their assistants with “Mr.” or “Miss”.
Where conversing on the telephone, it is important to always be polite, no matter whom you
are speaking with. Always answer a call if you’re available and if you are unable to provide
the information that is requested, you should promise to return the call when the information
is available. If you promise to follow-up, it is also extremely important that you do so within
the expected timeframe.
Personal
titles
Presentation is very important in Romania and if you do not respect certain rules it may lead
to embarrassing situations.
At the first meeting it very important to address your Romanian partner with Mr. or Mrs.
followed by their last name or title, such as ‘Mr. Doctor’, ‘Mrs. Professor’, ‘Mr. President’,
‘Madam Director’, etc.
-It is customary for the younger person to take the initiative when greeting and for men to
greet women first.
Students will normally address teaching staff by their professional titles, such as ‘Professor’,
rather than ‘Mr. Popescu’.
In Romanian, the polite form of address uses the second person plural ‘dumneavoastra’ and
the more familiar ‘tu’ form is usually only used between friends. You should wait until you are
invited to address your partner by the more friendly ‘tu’ form of address, although it is
expected that a man should wait for the lady to make this suggestion first.
Kissing a woman’s hand is a very polite way of greeting used generally by older men.
•
Mr. = Domnule
•
Mrs. = Doamna
•
Ms. = Domnisoara
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In Romania, the use of titles is considered a sign of respect and even if the relationship
becomes more informal, you should continue using titles during formal meetings.
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Business
Etiquette
Romanians consider themselves as trustful business partners and they are very serious when
speaking about business. They are professionals; many of them are holding MBA degrees in
prestigious universities abroad. They are aware of the international business practice and they
are studying the particularities of the potential partner before first meeting. Romanian
business men pay respect to the foreign partners and expect to be treated in the same way.
Corporate
social
responsibility
According to the Environmental Performance Index (EPI), developed by a team of experts
based at Yale and Columbia universities, Romania ranked as a weak performer in 88th place
with a score of 48.34 in 2012.
In recent years, Romanian authorities have turned their attention to environmental issues by
introducing new environmental regulations to control pollution from factories, strategies for
adopting environmentally-responsible behaviours and environmental certification schemes.
Romania is beginning to invest heavily in renewable energy programmes and establish new
organisations and associations to oversee the rapid growth in this area, such as the Romanian
Wind Energy Association (RWEA).
The Romanian Ministry of Environment is enforcing measures and monitors the environment
protection. The applied role is “polluter pays” that means penalties paid by the companies
that pollutes. Companies interested in implementing non polluting technologies and
environmentally-friendly production processes are supported and encouraged by the
Government. National programs, part of them co-financed by European Union were developed
to improve the networks of water, roads infrastructure, electricity, gas. Waste management
measures were settled for a better waste water treatment, waste collection and recycling.
Being part of several conventions regardless the environment protection Romanian authorities
focused on the citizens’ education and legislation to contribute to a climate of environmental
conservation.
Punctuality
In Romania, punctuality is considered a strength when doing business and it is important to
arrive at the appointed time, or even a little earlier, for a meeting.
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If you are going to be late for any reason, it is important to call ahead and apologise for the
delay. Due to the heavy traffic and lack of parking spaces, it is advisable to allow plenty of
extra travel time.
Gift
giving
In Romania, when invited to a business meeting by a Romanian partner, arriving with a small
gift is considered polite. The gift does not have to be very expensive (up to 100 Lei). Should
the guest be a foreigner, the recommended gift is a traditional object from the visitor’s
country. These gifts are considered a sign of international cooperation and are usually opened
immediately.
Business
dress
code
The dress code is dictated by the formality of the business meeting. For a formal meeting,
where business is to be discussed between people that have not met before, it is important to
present a highly professional image. A conservative style would be most appropriate, in the
form of a tailored business suit with elegant tie or accessories. For women, skirt length should
be at or below the knee and jewellery should be elegant and discreet.
In a more casual setting, such as a business lunch, outfits can be more relaxed and tend
towards the business casual style. Casual business attire may include jacket and jeans for
men, and a suit skirt and blouse or knee-length dress for women.
Smart casual would be the most casual form of attire that you would need on a business visit
and would mostly be appropriate when sightseeing or dining out in a casual situation.
For ceremonial or highly prestigious social events, there will be a very specific dress code that
must be followed and you should pay attention to the invitation or ask your host, to ensure
that you are dressed appropriately. In general, it is recommended to avoid wearing flashy
colours or outlandish outfits, earrings, hair dyed in striking colours or extreme styles, or
excessive use of perfume.
Bribery
and
corruption
During January and February of 2011, the fraud investigation department coordinator (FIDS)
at Ernst & Young commissioned a survey to reflect Romanians point of view on corruption and
bribery.
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The survey found that 88% of respondents believed that bribery and corruption were
widespread practices, and 56% said the recession had created conditions that led to
increasing levels of corruption.
Given that 31% of respondents believed that bribery was a common practice used to win
contracts, it is clear that unethical behaviour is still tolerated, if not encouraged. 48% of
Romanian participants also believed that providing personal gifts of money or entertainment
could be justified, as long as they contributed to business development.
Romanian companies are aware of the concept of fraud by their employees, and bribery and
corruption are recognised as significant problems.
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Business
Meeting
Etiquette
Romanian business partners pay particular attention to the details of organising a business
meeting and may base their interest in a negotiation on the professionalism shown in the
arrangements.
The venue of the meeting should be appropriate to the number of expected meeting
attendees, allowing enough space to move freely around the room without crowding.
The meeting organiser should provide necessary documentation, paper, pens and
refreshments to ensure that attendees do not want for anything that would disrupt the
smooth running of the meeting.
It is also important to ensure that suitable presentation equipment is available or that you
bring enough equipment and supporting documentation with you.
Importance
of
business
meetings
In Romania, business meetings are taken very seriously and you should adopt a very
professional attitude and approach to give the right impression to your Romanian
counterparts. Your ideas must be clear and precise with evidence to substantiate your
arguments and the means to achieve your objectives. This will enable you to demonstrate
that you are well conversant and well organised, which will reflect well on your proposals.
Business
meeting
planning
For organising business meetings you should consider the number and composition of
attendees, the meeting time and place and the table arrangements.
Both sides should coordinate the time and place for the meeting, the subject of discussion and
the language of the discussion. If a translator is required, this should be arranged well in
advance of the meeting, with both parties agreement.
Formal business meetings are usually scheduled for 9.30am or 10am and last approximately
90 minutes. Where meetings are scheduled in the afternoon, they should not be set for
immediately after lunch or extend beyond 5pm to 5.30pm. According to official protocols,
meetings with foreign partners should take place in specially prepared rooms with the
delegation being met at the entrance and accompanied to the meeting.
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The table arrangement should take into account the status of members. Usually, the
delegations are seated face to face, with the leaders placed in the centre.
Transcripts are another important point to be taken into account in the meeting.
Negotiation
process
The key to success in a foreign country is to learn as much about the country and sincerely
want to integrate with a new and different culture. The characteristics and psychology of
Romanian negotiators do not differ radically from business partners in other countries.
In Romania, the negotiation process can be easy or very harsh. It depends on the subject,
negotiators’ skills, importance of the result and limits of the negotiation. Negotiations are
usually made with managers who have decision-making power and the number of meeting
participants will depend on the size of the company. Most company owners and managers are
still male, so it will be rare to meet with a female manager in a negotiation process. Due to
historical problems with fraud and fake investment deals that were common in the 1990’s,
partners on both sides should be expected to perform their own due diligence to ensure the
authenticity of the partnership arrangement.
Sometimes a mandate letter is requested by the Romanian partner to certify that the persons
involved in the negotiation process are genuinely representing the company. This can also be
requested by the foreign partner as a matter of assurance. One of the most important aspects
of the negotiations is price with a discount variation of between 5 to 15%, depending usually
on the quantity of products.
The conclusion of the negotiation process will be subject to a signed contract, agreement or
memorandum, which records all the terms and conditions and must be validated with the
company seal.
Meeting
protocol
When greeting people in Romania, there are a number of typical greetings that vary according
to the time of day, situation and person you are addressing.
In the morning with a casual greeting would be ‘Buna dimineata’ (Good morning) or ‘Salut’
(Hello) followed by ‘Ce mai faci?’ (How do you do?).
The person who enters a room should be the first to make a greeting.
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The most common greeting is ‘Buna ziua’ (Good day), which can be used at any time of the
day and is more formal. A greeting may be accompanied by a handshake and men will often
offer a greeting first and wait for a lady to extend their hand.
Informal greetings between friends would include ‘Buna’ (Hi), ‘Pa’ (Bye), etc.
It is usual to shake hands at the beginning and end of a meeting, especially when guests or
partners are attending.
Keep in mind that your Romanian counterpart can be easily offended if you refuse to shake
hands. So, if there are any issues that prevent you from shaking hands, you should politely
explain them to your partner to avoid any awkward situations.
In business meetings, partners exchange business cards as a matter of protocol and to ensure
that they are able to maintain contact with one another.
Close friends greet each other by hugging (men) and kissing on both cheeks (women).
How
to
run
a
business
meeting
When participating in a meeting, it is important to gather as much information as possible
about your counterpart’s business. Partners have to be convinced about the realism of the
proposed objectives and meetings must have a firm objective. To create a professional image,
all materials must be structured coherently, correctly sized and spelled and printed on quality
paper.
If you can establish common ground with your business associates and break the ice by
discussing familiar topics, it will help to establish a relationship faster.
By paying attention to body language, you should be able to understand your business
associates better and more easily overcome any miscommunications. As part of the
negotiation process, you will be expected to ask questions and present real case examples
that illustrate your understanding of the ways in which a partnership will benefit both
partners.
Follow
up
letter
after
meeting
with
client
After a business meeting, the host is usually responsible for preparing the minutes of the
meeting, which should summarise the main points of discussion, present the overall
conclusions and provide a detailed list of action items and dates by which they should be
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completed. The minutes will normally be circulated within a few days of the meeting, giving
the meeting participants the opportunity to comment and allow for any modifications, before
a formal agreement is written up.
After a formal contract has been approved and signed, further communication may be
required to implement goals, resolve operational issues and report on partnership milestones
and deliverables. This will then form the basis of any dispute resolution negotiations or the
grounds for the further development of an ongoing business partnership.
Business
meals
Business meals may contribute to both cementing your relationship with your business
partner and sealing the deal. Therefore, business meals should be carefully organised and you
should behave according to the rules of formal dining etiquette.
You should greet your associates on arrival and wait for the host to sit before taking your
seat. It is important to avoid ordering the most expensive items on the menu and follow the
lead of your host when deciding what to drink. It is best to either avoid alcohol or limit
yourself to one glass.
‘Pofta buna’, meaning ‘good appetite’, is usually said when the food arrives and you should
take care to be polite and avoid any controversial subjects at the dinner table. At the end of a
meal, you should not leave before saying goodbye and shaking hands with everyone.
Business
meetings
tips
When you are travelling or working in Romania you should be aware that Romanians are very
welcoming and will gladly assist you, but expect you to behave with propriety and respect at
all times.
•
You should ask for help, if you need information and ‘Va rog’ is the Romanian for
‘Please’.
•
When entering a public space, it is polite to give priority to women, the elderly or
higher ranked persons. Usually, men will open and hold a door for women or the elderly.
•
Always be on time for appointments, stick to the agenda and respect the amount
of time that has been allocated to the meeting.
•
It is appreciated if you ask your counterpart about themselves and their family.
•
If you are invited to the home of one of your colleagues, it is recommended to
bring flowers for the lady of the house and a bottle of wine for the host.
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•
Gifts of souvenirs from your home country can be a useful ice breaker and provide
an opportunity for cultural exchange.
•
You may compliment your partner, but take care not to exaggerate or choose an
inappropriate moment. If asked for your opinion about Romania, you should give your
sincere appreciation and limit any criticisms you may have.
•
When somebody offers you food or drink, you should at least taste it and not
refuse straight away.
•
It is normal to stand up when someone older, female or more senior enters the
room, in order to greet them properly.
•
In presenting a professional appearance, you should still take the time to smile
and show an appreciative nature.
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•
Internship
and
placement
Work
experience
In Romania, there is no governing body or central organisation that administers student
employment or placement opportunities for foreign students.
Each university has different ways to ensure job offers reach their students, including:
•
allowing interested companies to advertise their job offers through faculty
websites and bulletin boards;
•
allowing company representatives to attend workshops, seminars, debates inside
the university;
•
organising student job fairs for companies to interact with the student population;
•
allowing companies to recruit students for training sessions in order to develop
their practical abilities.
Students internship is compulsory and it is usually organised by the universities through
partnerships with companies, public bodies etc. Sometimes students associations contribute
or organise the placement. This work is mostly unpaid.
Internship
and
placement
advice
Students who have a residence permit are entitled to work part-time for up to 4 hours per
day, provided their employer is able to obtain a student work permit.
Social
security
and
European
health
insurance
card
Students with a work permit are subject of social security and health insurance according to
the Romanian law. From their wages is deducted the cost of this social services and they can
ask about the facilities they can benefit.
Safety
Pickpocketing is a significant problem in crowded areas, especially on public transport, similar
with other European countries and care should be taken with personal possessions and
valuable items
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The telephone number used to contact the emergency services is 112.
Do
I
need
a
visa?
Citizens and permanent residents of member states of the European Union are entitled to
enter and stay in Romania for a period of up to 90 days within 6 months, without having to
obtain a Romanian entry visa. Detailed information is provided on the website of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs: http://www.mae.ro/node/1470.
For stays longer than 90 days, it may be necessary to obtain a residence permit or long-stay
student visa, and further information is available from the website of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs.
Internship
and
placement
salary
The salary for part time jobs is at the slowest level of the position. The minimal salary is
about 180 euro (2013) and the medium is 470 euro (2012) In case of part-time jobs it is paid
on hourly base.
Internship
and
placement
accommodation
Each university has student dormitories, which can accommodate up to 5 students in each
room and rates are set by the University Senate.
Private student hostels also exist, which offer accommodation in fully-equipped rooms with 2
or 3 beds and shared kitchen, laundry and common areas. Private hostels may also offer
broadband internet, professional security service, room cleaning, parking and laundry
services.
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Cost
of
Living
The cost of living in Romania for students from western European countries is lower then in
their home places. The allowance for Erasmus students’ mobility is 275 Euro. It covers the
cost of a place in dormitories of about 50 Euro and meals of about 150 Euro. If they are
looking for a private room the cost doubles.
Money
and
banking
Romania’s official currency is the Leu (RON), which is subdivided into 100 Bani.
Since July 2005, the following banknotes and coins have been in circulation:
•
Coins: 1 ban, 5 bani, 10 bani, 50 bani
•
Notes: 1 leu, 5 lei, 10 lei, 50 lei, 100 lei, 200 lei, 500 lei
All banks and exchange offices are authorised to conduct foreign exchange operations, as all
transactions in Romania are conducted in the national currency.
It is important to note that shops do not accept checks and payments are normally made in
cash or by credit or debit card.
Travelling
costs
Bus, Trolleybus and Tram Tickets
Travelling by public transport is very popular and the cost of one trip by bus, tram or
trolleybus is 1.30 Lei. Tickets can be purchased is multiple journey formats, as well as a
rechargeable Active Card that can be bought for 3.70 Lei and is debited for each trip.
Tickets and cards are available at special kiosks near the most important stations or
designated offices.
Metro Tickets
Metro tickets are sold as return tickets (4 Lei), a book of ten tickets (15 Lei), a one-day ticket
(6 Lei) or as travel permits, which are usually issued for periods of 30 days.
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Student discounts are available for some travel permits.
Joint RATB & Metro Tickets
In Bucharest, it is possible to purchase travel cards which can be used on the bus, trolley and
metro networks. With this type of card, you can have unlimited trips for the duration that the
card is valid: either 60 minutes (5 Lei), 24 hours (16 Lei) or 10 one-hour periods (30 Lei).
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Work-­‐life
Balance
According to Eurostat data, Romanian employees work an average of 41 hours per week,
which is slightly greater than the European average of 40.4 hours.
Almost 29% of the employed population work in agriculture in Romania, which is the highest
proportion in the EU and significantly greater than the European average of 5%.
At the opposite end of the scale, Romania has the lowest percentage of employees working in
service sector market, 43% compared to a European average of 69.8%.
National
holidays
In Romania, the public holidays are:
•
the 1st and 2nd January;
•
May 1st;
•
December 1st;
•
the First and Second day of Easter – not fix date;
•
the First and Second day of Rusalii – not fix date;
•
15th August – St. Mary’s Day
•
30th November – St. Andrew’s Day
•
the First and second day of Christmas – 25th and 26th December;
•
2 days for each of the two annual religious festivals for people of other religions
than Christians;
Each year employees are also entitled to annual leave of between 15 to 30 working days,
according to their seniority at work and position.
Most annual leave is taken during the month of August, with the remainder decided according
to personal negotiation and employer needs.
Working
hours
Normal office hours for company employees in both public and private organisations are from
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Shops are typically open every day from 9am to 10pm.For
full-time employees, the normal working week is 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week. For
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young people aged up to 18 years, working hours are limited to 6 hours per day and 30 hours
per week.
Some companies may adopt an unequal distribution of working hours, subject to the normal
working week. The maximum legal working time is 48 hours per week, including overtime,
except under specific terms and conditions that may be set down in a collective bargaining
agreement.
Pregnant women and anyone under the age of 18 cannot work a night shift between the
hours of 10pm and 6am.
When daily hours exceed 6 hours, employees are entitled to unpaid lunch and other breaks.
People under the age of 18 have lunch breaks of at least 30 minutes, if daily working time
exceeds 4 ½ hours.
Work
culture
Romanians are taking their jobs seriously and generally work more then the normal working
program. The work in Romania is subject of specific legislation very similar with other
European countries. They are open to foreigners and treat them as professionals if they are
coming from countries with best practices and expertise in the area. They respect the
foreigners for their skills not for their origins or titles.
Health
insurance
In Romania, all employers and employees are responsible for contributors to the state social
insurance system, which are deducted from employee wages on a monthly basis.
Social insurance is governed by the fiscal code and is used to fund public health care services,
unemployment benefits, pensions, risk and accidents at work and occupational health
benefits, etc.
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Social
Media
Guide
Private
individuals
Mobile telephony in Romania has been the most common method of communication over the
last decade. There are now a number of major companies operating in the Romanian
telecoms market, primarily: Orange, Vodafone, Cosmote, Digi (RDS / RCS), and Romtelecom.
So, it is not surprising that 82% of Romanian households use mobile services and 77% of
Romanians aged 16 years or over have a personal mobile phone that is not paid for by a
company or institution. According to the statistics (Internet World Stats) in 2010, the
proportion of households with Internet access was 35.5%, with and it is grows up to 41.1% in
2012. The largest segment of internet users is 16-74 years, domestic, urban and more then
half are using broad band.
Approximately half of Romanian internet users have access to social media networks, threequarters of whom use these communication channels to express their dissatisfaction with
products and services from various companies.
The latest research and market surveys carried out in Romania in the spring of 2011 by
Daedalus Millward Brown company indicate that in urban areas, internet usage already
exceeds traditional media usage. In fact, the time most users spend on the internet almost
doubles the time spent watching television. The same study revealed that although the main
activity of Internet users is searching for information and news online, a significant proportion
of their time at around 21% is focused on social networks. Although, younger users spend far
more time on social networks.
In June 2011, there were approximately 63,000 Romanian blogs, with around 200,000 posts
and over 3 million readers monthly, and over 51,000 Twitter accounts with 1.2 million
monthly posts (TreeWorks, 2011). The most popular site in Romania was Trilulilu.ro
(Netbridge Services, 2011), a video-sharing social community with over three million
domestic unique users in May 2011.
Local social networks, Netlog and Neogen occupy a significant market share. However,
Facebook and Hi5 are national leaders in social media, with Facebook growing fast and Hi5 on
a declining trend. Facebook has a 43.3% penetration in 2013.
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Search
and
Social
Media
Marketing
for
International
Business
Learn how to use social media for business from one of Salford Business School’s latest
business management courses.
The course was jointly researched by the Passport to Trade 2.0 project team and prepared in
collaboration with some of the leading digital marketing agencies in the UK.
This Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) can help businesses and individuals to make the
best use of search and social media platforms.
The course is called Search and Social Media Marketing for International Business and is
applicable to students looking for placements abroad as well as businesses thinking about
new trade links; it comprises the following twelve topics:
How to develop a personal brand online (1/12)
•
•
Whether you are a student beginning a job search
or a business person planning a new business
venture, personal branding can make a difference.
Learn about personal branding and why it is
important for you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=l9LYw0mgtn4&feature=player
_embedded
How to use Twitter (2/12)
•
•
Learn the basics of using Twitter to develop an
individual or business profile.
Remember to use hash tag #SSMMUoS to share
your learning journey on this course so far!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=9CVY3pp91Dc&feature=playe
r_embedded
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How to use Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) (3/12)
Learn the principles of SEO to ensure that your
website and any social media profiles are found by
individuals searching for your name, products and
services.
These basic principles of SEO include keyword
research, on-page optimisation and off-page
optimisation.
•
•
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=zw27cRcwtM0&feature=player
_embedded
How to use social media for international business development (4/12)
Social media networks break down the traditional
country barriers, but do you know which networks
are relevant for the country you are interested in
trading with?
Find out in this video how to identify the relevant
networks and what social media strategies you
might be able to use on these networks.
•
•
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=Bx-B56AHS4c&feature=
player_embedded
How to use Facebook (5/12)
•
•
Facebook is currently the largest social media
network in the world and it can benefit you as a
business as well as an individual.
Learn how to develop a Facebook business page
and see how other businesses use it and what
strategies work for them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=UmRGn-vdcO8&feature=
player_embedded
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How to use YouTube (6/12)
•
•
YouTube was identified as the second largest
social network amongst younger internet users as
part of the Passport to Trade 2.0 project.
Learn how to optimise your video content in order
to reach wider audiences for your profile.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
feature=player_embedded&v=G2
0OVpmTBss
How to use LinkedIn (7/12)
•
•
LinkedIn is one of the three main professional
social networks – the others being Xing and
Viadeo which are also popular in several
European countries.
Learn how to make the most of LinkedIn for your
profile.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=N6e_EAUQqic&feature=playe
r_embedded
How to use Google+ (8/12)
•
•
•
Google+ is the second largest social network as of
January 2013.
It is one of the fastest growing social networks and
one that has the biggest impact when it comes to
search engine results integration for anyone who
uses Google as their main search engine.
Learn how to make the most of Google+ for you
and your digital profiles.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
feature=player_embedded&v=8ti
3SPHkEWw
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How to use copywriting online (9/12)
•
•
Copywriting is a process of translating technical
specifications and product descriptions into
engaging and understandable customer focused
text.
Learn about the basic techniques in structuring
your online content here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=5f1hx_f2ONI&feature=player_
embedded
How to stay legal on social media (10/12)
•
•
Everything and anything you do and say online
can be potentially viewed by anyone who has
internet access.
Always respect the law and familiarise yourself
with new options offered to you through a creative
commons licence which is popular online.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=eQxDpiHsdk&feature=player_embedde
d
How to use monitoring and reporting (11/12)
•
•
Whether you are an individual or a business
spending time on social media – there has to be a
return on your engagement online.
How do you justify your engagement on social
media to your boss? Listen to the industry experts
in this area and see what you might be able to
measure in respect of your on-line engagements.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=LbEq7jsG0jg&feature=player_
embedded
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How to blog (12/12)
•
•
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=OqVjR7oI8Rs&feature=player
_embedded
businessculture.org
•
Blogging is a process of writing text and sharing
content with others. It can help your customers or
friends to keep in-touch regardless of social media
platforms.
Think about the voice you might want to adopt
and who your audience might be. Share your
thoughts with us by writing a blog post about this
MOOC.
Tweet us the link to your post on the
#SSMMUoS Twitter hash tag.
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Passport
to
Trade
2.0
Project
Partnership
Five Universities:
Lead partner: Salford Business School,
University of Salford, United Kingdom
Elena Vasilieva
Aleksej Heinze
Alex Fenton
URENIO research unit at Aristole University
of Thessaloniki, Greece
Christina Kakderi
Nitsa Papadopouloui
TSE Entre Research Centre
Turku School of Economics, University of Turku, Finland
Satu Aaltonen
Elisa Akola
Institute for Information System Research
University of Koblenz-Landau, Germany
Verena Hausmann
Susan P. Williams
Petra Schubert
Valahia University of Targoviste, Romania
Adriana Grigorescu
Leonardo Badea
Three Small & Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs)
Spin, Italy
Carmine Antonio Donato
Dorella De Tommaso
Technology Development & Innovation – TDI LTD
Bulgaria
Milanka Slavova
Ivan Stoychev
TIS Praha, Czech Republic
Anna Klosova
Richard Adekeye
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