Here people do not have experience with raised voices, emphasized sentences, or sarcastic remarks

Introduce yourself with a few sentences. What does your work as daily commitments consist of?

Hello, my name is Neli Nedyalkova and I currently work as Deputy Director of Marketing and Sales at BNP Paribas Personal Finance, which covers the following countries: Poland, Turkey, Ukraine, Morocco, and South Africa.

The work is extremely varied, on one hand covering standard topics from sales and marketing such as budgeting, monthly tracking of results, by products, partners, business lines, and channels. Analyzing deviations and proposing products/initiatives to compensate for the differences.

Regularly analyzing the market: competition, innovations, and the effect of regulations.

But on the other hand, the perimeter covers countries that are very different in terms of business structure, team skills, business models, and cultures.

In addition, Ukraine is not functioning at full capacity and this requires increased attention when setting goals and ways to achieve them.

And all of this makes the work interesting, dynamic, and motivating.

In which country and city do you currently live and how did you end up there?

I currently live in France, having been here for almost 5 years now.

My arrival in France was not planned, but turned out to be a result of internal reorganizations in the company. 

My departure from Bulgaria happened as a result of an offer to join the Regional team of Central Europe (Romania, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Bulgaria), which came at a time when I was ready for such a step. My work in Bulgaria had rather turned into a routine, of course with daily challenges, but always within the familiar.

I decided to accept and this required moving to Slovakia. I worked there for about a year and a half, a period coinciding with the beginning of the Covid pandemic.

During Covid, everything changed drastically and I had to decide, move to France, but with a different team and different responsibilities or back to Bulgaria, to what is still relatively safer and more familiar.

I chose to accept the move to France, without being able to travel beforehand and choose where we would live, how we would settle, where the child would study, etc. I had to make all choices online.

What were the biggest challenges you faced at the beginning of your stay?

I had an incredible amount of difficulties at the beginning, for example, getting internet took about 2 months.

I did not speak the language, and with English, it is almost impossible to meet daily needs. Still, the younger population speaks English and there was always someone to help with signing an insurance contract, internet, buying a car, etc.

My colleagues in the office also tried to help me, especially those with whom we were together in Bratislava.

In France, for any situations, it is known what to do, it is not the most optimal and there is a chance that it will require going through many steps and can lead to confusion.

For example, I am still learning how to reimburse certain expenses for medical needs, for which in Bulgaria, if there is additional health insurance, reimbursement happens extremely quickly and easily.

One of my biggest concerns turned out to be unnecessary, namely visiting a doctor. For all of France, there is an application that allows you to choose a specialist, by address, language, that they speak, booking an appointment, exchanging documents, and consultation.

How did you overcome the language barrier (if there was one)?

I am still overcoming it...

Of course with lessons, listening to colleagues, trying to speak...but it is a real challenge to talk with French people on everyday topics...

They speak quickly, have an accent depending on which region of France they come from, and use slang, as not everyone tries to make the conversation easier.

What resources or networks (local communities, colleagues, organizations) helped you adapt?

Given my arrival during the Covid period, I had no opportunity for standard socializing, even work in the office was minimized.

I relied on Bulgarian colleagues, although there are very few of us.

There is a much larger group of Romanian colleagues.

Still, whenever I sought help from Bulgarians, they always responded willingly. Even if we did not know each other, I created contacts on LinkedIn and later, when life resumed, I received invitations for various meetings.

What are the main differences between the work culture in your current country and that in Bulgaria?

The differences are serious, but it seems that the attitude towards vacations seriously impresses me. For me, contacting “for work” during vacation has always been normal and happens in both directions, both as a manager and as an employee.

When you are on vacation in France, no one will look for you and this is expected at all levels from everyone.

Observing the workday and lunch break is also time that is respected.

What values and practices in the workplace impressed you the most?

Respectful attitude towards all employees is the norm.

Have there been situations where cultural differences have hindered you?

I had such situations in Bulgaria as well, since we are more direct both in our expression and in giving feedback, and in setting tasks, and in presenting a problem.

Here, such an approach is considered rude and is more likely to hinder overall work or unblock a more complex  situation. It can even completely freeze the discussion because people do not have experience with raised voices, emphasized sentences, or sarcastic remarks.

It happens, but very rarely and is accepted only if it is from someone higher in the hierarchy.

Hierarchy is important and if the manager  requires it, then it is done, without being questioned and almost no further explanation is sought.

How does finding work differ in your current country compared to your homeland?

I don’t think it differs much, recommendations, presentation on LinkedIn, experience, free use of English, but also another language play a role.

Recent graduates attend career fairs. It often happens that interns are hired directly after their internship.

They often send requests on LinkedIn to introduce themselves and seek work.

Large companies organize career days to stimulate internal career mobility.

They invite representatives from Human Resources who explain what profiles are being sought and what positions are or will be open. They also describe the specific duties, team, and workplace.

Did you have to go through any additional qualification courses?

I have not had to go through courses for my actual job.

But it is practiced and it is possible to apply entirely for a retraining program.

Have you encountered prejudices or obstacles because of your foreign origin?

Not really. In the company there are many initiatives focused on diversifying teams. When I started in my current team, we were from eight different countries.

What would you advise people who want to take a similar step?

I will always advise people to try, to take risks, especially the younger generation, I believe that for them it is essential to work abroad.

They will touch upon cultural differences, will accept them more easily, and will learn to overcome them without taking them as personal.

Young employees here are very open to working abroad for a few years. They strive for this and there is also government support for companies that hire people aged 18-28 for work abroad.

If you could go back, would you choose the same path?

Not for a moment have I regretted taking this path.  

What do you miss most from your homeland in professional and personal terms?

Dedication and commitment to work.

The pace and pragmatism sometimes miss me.

Celebrating birthdays in the office.

Warmer relationships and perhaps a bit more sincere relationships.

Longtime friends and  Bulgaria I miss. That’s why we regularly go back.

Have you considered returning and under what conditions would you do it?

Yes, I would return, but rather hypothetically, because the positions that would interest me at this stage are limited.

What do you think about money? What is their influence on your life? What is your advice to people who often ask themselves questions related to money and how sufficient they are?

Money is important and necessary, and for a large part of Bulgarians, they are still at the level of a hygiene factor, especially for people outside the capital.

It is a fact that there are people who do not like their job and it is only a source of income and does not bring them satisfaction.

If I were in a similar situation, I would change my job.