WHEN CLARA BODIN arrived in Ukraine in 1997 as a volunteer, she was perceived very exotic.
- Either I was almost eaten by curiosity or people were afraid to talk to me as a foreigner, says Clara Bodin. That is not the case anymore, at least not in Kiev where many foreign companies set up business and foreigners are everywhere.
REGARDING LANGUAGE QUALIFICATIONS, English is still a struggle for most Ukrainians.
- When I arrived in Ukraine in 1997, you could not manage in English, neither in hotels nor at the airport. Today, they at least understand what you are saying. Clara Bodin is surprised that their knowledge in English hasn’t developed and that young people don’t realise the importance of learning foreign languages. One explanation is that Ukrainians feel closer to Russia than to the EU, she explains.
- They prefer Russian TV and don’t have access to European TV channels.
HOWEVER, Ukrainian private economy and frugality has changed in the past years. Ten years ago, many Ukrainians turned every penny and recycled everything. Today, everything is plastic wrapped and packaged. Disposables are a growing trend.
- The problem is that waste sorting hasn’t been modernised resulting in growing garbage mountains. Traffic is experiencing similar problems. Ukraine is peaking in car sales but infrastructure has not followed. There are traffic jams between 07-21 every day, except on Sundays.
SINCE 1997, Ukrainian salaries have experienced substantial changes with extreme increases. There is a big lack of all sorts of specialists, from marketing to IT programmers. The more foreign companies in Ukraine, the tougher competition and difficulty finding skilled personnel.
- I have a friend that in five years advanced from secretary to marketing manager with a salary increase of USD 2 350. This career and salary development is still comparatively slow!
MANY FOREIGN COMPANIES are outbidding each other in salaries. Young Ukrainians pick and choose between jobs. At the same time as job offers are massive, young Ukrainians experience big pressure to make a lot of money and feel ashamed if they don’t make as much as their friends, says Clara Bodin. This could result in frequent job changes and excessive wage claims. However, with the big lack of specialists, Clara Bodin’s advice to foreign companies hiring in the Ukraine, is to hire directly if you find the right person. Tomorrow, that person will be gone.
Emelie Ring