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Bulgaria is a small country in the Balkan Peninsula of Southeastern Europe. It borders Romania, Serbia, North Macedonia, Greece and Turkey. With a population of over 7 million people, Bulgaria is the 14th most populous country in the European Union. It has a temperate climate and is known for its beautiful mountains, Black Sea coast, and vibrant cities like Sofia, Plovdiv and Varna. Bulgaria is also home to diverse flora and fauna, as well as numerous ancient monuments and archaeological sites. The country boasts a rich culture, with a rich history that dates back to the early 7th century. Its culture is characterized by a mix of Slavic, Balkan and Thracian influences. The official language is Bulgarian and the currency is the Bulgarian Lev. Bulgaria is also a great place to find software developers. But software engineers in Bulgaria are also hard to find and hard to hire. Experienced developers get a lot of messages from recruiters, in some cases five or ten messages per day. To find engineers in Bulgaria you have to search for engineers in different sources, reach out based on their preferred contact details, personalize your outreach and make an attractive offer. In this guide you'll learn more about the tech ecosystem in Bulgaria, which methods to use to find developers and how to hire them.
According to the 2019 Report on the State of the IT Industry in Bulgaria, the country had a total of approximately 162,000 IT professionals in 2018. This accounted for about 8.2% of the total working population in the country. There was a 10.4% increase from the previous year in the number of IT professionals. Additionally, over the past three years, the number of IT professionals has grown by 19.8%. Most of the IT professionals work in the capital city of Sofia, accounting for about 58% of the total. The other major cities in Bulgaria with a large number of tech professionals are Plovdiv, Varna, and Burgas. In terms of salary, the average monthly wage for IT professionals in Bulgaria is around 1,300 euros.
The tech ecosystem in Bulgaria is rapidly growing, and it is becoming an important hub for innovation and technology in Eastern Europe. It is home to numerous tech startups, established tech companies, and innovative research centers. The Bulgarian government has been investing heavily in the tech sector, offering generous tax incentives and grants to entrepreneurs and investors. The country is also becoming a popular destination for international tech companies, with many of them opting to open offices in Bulgaria. Additionally, the country is home to a robust network of incubators and accelerators that are helping to foster the growth of the tech community, as well as a number of incubators, venture capital funds, and angel investors providing funding for early-stage tech startups.
1. Sofia Technology Meetup
2. Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Meetup Bulgaria
3. Startup Bulgaria
4. Cloud Computing & Big Data Meetup Bulgaria
5. DevOps Bulgaria
6. Sofia JavaScript Meetup
7. WebDev Bulgaria
8. Women In Tech Sofia
9. IT Networking Meetup
10. Sofia Data Science Meetup
1. Recruitment Agencies: Partnering with a local recruitment agency is one of the best ways to source software development talent in Bulgaria. The agency should have a strong network of contacts in the local tech community and should be able to quickly identify talent with the necessary skills and experience.
2. Job Boards: Job boards such as Indeed and Craigslist can be an effective way to source software development talent in Bulgaria. Candidates can directly apply to your job postings and you can easily filter applications by skills and experience.
3. LinkedIn: LinkedIn is an excellent platform for sourcing software development talent in Bulgaria. You can use advanced search filters, network with other professionals in the software development industry, and even post job openings.
4. Networking Events: Attending local tech events is a great way to meet potential software developers and build relationships. You can also use these events to promote your company and find out about other potential candidates.
5. Referrals: Referrals from existing employees, partners, and customers can be a great way to source software development talent in Bulgaria. Ask around and see if anyone has any recommendations for a suitable candidate.
The best way to find developer talent in Bulgaria is to find them in the places where they have an online profile and are active. Examples of those platforms are GitHub and Stack Overflow. LinkedIn can also be a valuable source.
Talent search engines can help you find developers online through a variety of sources. Most talent search engines also provide verified contact details so you can reach out to the talent you have found. In some cases these engines even automate a big part of the outreach process so you can reach hundreds of candidates per day.
An example of a talent search and engagement engine is HeroHunt.ai which can find 1 billion candidates worldwide and lets you reach out automatically with personalized messages.
An alternative way to attract development talent is to post a job on a (local) job board.
1. LinkedIn
2. JobTiger
3. Jobster
4. Rabota.bg
5. Job.bg
6. Monster
7. eJobs.bg
8. HeadHunter
9. Job.bg
10. JobDir.bg
If you are sourcing for remote talent then you can utilize remote specific job boards where you can post your remote job.
1. remote.co
2. Upwork
3. Freelancer.com
4. Fiverr
5. Hubstaff Talent
6. We Work Remotely
7. LinkedIn
8. Stack Overflow
9. Konsus
10. PeoplePerHour
When you’re hiring software developers you need to be aware of the local average salaries in order to provide a competitive job offer. Below are the average salaries for software developers per experience level.
The average salary for a junior developer in Bulgaria is around 2000 BGN (Bulgarian Lev) per month, which is the equivalent of about €1,000. This salary is slightly lower than the average salary for a junior developer in Europe and the US. This salary can vary depending on the type of project and the company, with some companies offering higher salaries for more experienced developers. In general, junior developers can expect to earn a salary of around 2000 BGN (€1,000) per month.
The average salary for a senior developer in Bulgaria is around 3,500 BGN (Bulgarian Lev) per month. This figure includes base salary, bonuses, and other incentives. Senior developers in Bulgaria typically earn more than junior developers and often have more responsibility. They may be expected to lead project teams, create detailed plans for development, and provide technical expertise. Senior developers typically have a minimum of five to seven years of experience in their field.
Maybe your company doesn't have an office (yet) in Bulgaria. But that doesn't mean you can't hire employees in Bulgaria. There are several options like EORs which can help employ developers legally according to the regulations in Bulgaria.
An Employer of Record (EOR) is a third-party service provider that acts as an employer on behalf of a company in a foreign country. An EOR can help companies in Bulgaria hire employees without having to establish their own legal entity in the country.
Here’s how to use an EOR in Bulgaria:
1. Choose an EOR Provider: First, you need to find an EOR provider that is experienced in Bulgarian labor laws and regulations. This will ensure that the EOR is familiar with the local employment laws and can provide you with the best options for hiring employees in Bulgaria.
2. Establish an Employment Contract: Once you have chosen an EOR, they will help you establish an employment contract with your employee. This contract should include all the details of the employment, such as salary, benefits, and working hours.
3. Handle Employee Benefits: The EOR will also manage employee benefits, such as health insurance and other similar benefits. This way, you won’t have to worry about managing these benefits yourself.
4. Register Your Employees: The EOR will handle the registration of your employees with the Bulgarian government. This includes registering them for taxes, social security, and health insurance.
5. Manage Payroll: The EOR will also handle payroll for your employees, ensuring that they are paid on time and in compliance with Bulgarian labor laws.
With the help of an EOR, you can easily hire employees in Bulgaria without having to establish your own legal entity in the country. This will save you time and money, while still allowing you to get the best candidates for your job openings.
Across GitHub, Stack Overflow and LinkedIn, including emails
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