A very serious question - may be a life changing decision?

Question

If you were offered a position to work as a Qualified Accountant in the following countries, what will be your first 5 choice and why?

Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Russia, Moldavia, Slovakia, Latvia, Ukraine, Slovenia, Yugoslavia, Serbia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Lithuania, Estonia, Sarajevo and Kazakhstan.

I thank you for your valuable input.

Regards....please keep your silly answers to yourself if you cannot answer sensibly. Sorry if I put you off.

Answer 1

Estonia, don't know more about the other countries you had mentioned. The World Bank ranks Estonia 16th in its Doing Business in 2006 report, which covers 155 countries. Not bad for a country who only has 1.4 million people.

http://www.vm.ee/eng/kat_131/3364.html

On a side note to one of the previous answers, Kazakhstan is a real country.

Answer 2

Ok first of all Czechoslovakia is now split into Czech Republic and Slovakia, and Yugoslavia into Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia... Sarajevo is a town in Bosnia, not a country, and Kosovo is a province in Serbia (though it might become independent soon)...
My best five would be:
1. Czech Republic, especialy if in Prague
2, 3. Croatia if anywhere on the coast, if not then Serbia if (and probably yes) in Belgrade
(Croatia is currently more developed, but Serbia will overcome Croatia in a few years time so it depends on how long do you plan to work there)
4. Slovenia, currently the most developed of the new EU countries, but you're stuck with alpine climate (thats usualy cold)
5. Hungary ...well i like Budapest

Answer 3

Kari L's got it pretty alright, although you might find things somewhat stifling in the smaller Baltic countries. I'd also rate Sarajevo (a city though, not a country) fairly high. It's cheap, has culture, money's pouring in, and it's not unsafe by any means.

I would definitely avoid Bulgaria, Slovakia, Romania, Moldavia, Ukraine, Serbia, and Kazakhstan. They've got a long way to go to be "nice" in most places, but aren't so primitive that they're interesting. If you're looking for some mind-expansion, try Albania or Macedonia . . . rough, but the people are lovely and it's still very different there.

If you want something closer to home, the Baltic states, Poland or the Czech Republic would do. But I'd vote for Hungary.

Answer 4

Let's try to eliminate the "not good" country and see then what remain.

Some country from the ex-russian space is not a safe, specialy: Russia, Kazakhstan and Moldavia.

Latvia is already in EU and it's a small and nice country. The economy is growing. Same thing for Estonya.

Croatia, Czechoslovakia (Czehia and Slovaqia now), Poland. They are new EU members, a lot of foreign people there, nice town and people. More occidental than Romania, Bulgaria and ex-yougoslavian country. The foreing people are just tourist for them.

Hungary, they have a very nice capital (rest of the country is just a regular picture) but if you don't know hungarian language and want to stay there longer you will not have what to do in your free time. The treate you like a regular foreign person.

Romania - latin country, very nice moutains and people. A lot of people speak english, very nice girl, they like a lot to party. The try to treat you specialy because you're foreign. Don't know why.

Bulgaria - also nice country, trying to be almost like romania but not so sure for foreign people.

Ex-yugoslavian countries: nice peolple, not ok with the infrastrucure. Poor economy.

So, my choice is:

1. Czechia
2. Romania
3. Hungary
4. Poland
5. Latvia

Answer 5

I would go to Poland or Hungary. Most of the countries you list are political fragile. Roumania is a very poor country, Russia is full of mafia, Serbia, Kosovo and the rest of former Yugoslavia is not as save as the Poland maybe.
Poland is near Germany and they are really coming up with their business since they have become a part of the EU. And Hungary is a really nice country. I was there many times. Its a friendly (that not means - that people in the other countries are not) place and is quite warm in the summertime.

Answer 6

The first choices wouldn't be 5, but 8
Czek Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Latvia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Estonia. (the order is yours, not my choice)
Why? Because that way, I would stay in EU! I am French! which might explain my choice and, moreover, the reason for it. I doubt a lot of British would see EU as a good reason!
PS: Yugoslavia does not exist anymore

Answer 7

As a European I would choose:
Hungary, Czech, Slovakia, Poland or Lithuania. Of all the countries you mentioned, I think they have the best economy, so they need more accountants, better chances of getting a job, that also might be better paid.
BTW Czechoslovakia = 2 countries now, Yugoslavia doesn't exist anymore and Sarajevo is a town, not a country.

Regards & Good Luck from The Netherlands!

Answer 8

Albania - dangerous
Bosnia - dangerous
Bulgaria - it is ok, read on the internet that is very dangerous
Croatia - very beautiful, it would be good choice
Czechoslovakia - there is no such country; there is Czech republic and Slovakia - very nice places; Slovakia have nice skiing resorts
Hungary - I love Hungary, it is very beautiful, economy is getting better and better, ir would be a nice place to live
Poland - personally I do not like Poland, very boring
Romania - one of the poorest countries in Europe, dangerous place, would not go there
Russia - interesting place - reminds me of the Wild Wild West Moldavia - probably THE poorest country in Europe and one of the poorest in the world, just saw a TV report about Moldavia - nice but would not move to work there
Slovakia - already mentioned above
Latvia - very nice place, definetelly would go
Ukraine - poor and dangerous, coruption
Slovenia - best choice to work in
Yugoslavia, Serbia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Sarajevo and Kazakhstan - no way in hell anybody would drag me there
Lithuania, Estonia - nice places, booming economy, a lot of opportunities

so my top 5 choices:

Slovenia
Czech republic
Hungary
Estonia
Lithuania

Answer 9

Bulgaria, Croatia, Russia (if it is big cities Moscow or St.Petersburg), Latvia ..not sure about Slovenia and Slovakia - i haven't been there...i felt safe and comfortable in these countries...good people...more or less political and economic stable..though of course my opinion is subjective and may be biased..i would not advice Romania, Poland, Ukraine and Kazakhstan ..i had visited these countries and i did not like them...but it depends on the employer - if it is an international corporation why not to try. Good luck

Answer 10

I suggest you look on some professional accountancy companies websites to identify which countries they have offices in, since these are likely to have the fastest emerging economies and so will be the ones to focus on.

The latest members of the EU should be on your list, since trade with these countries and other EU states is bound to increase so I would go for Czechoslovakia, Estonia, Hungary and Poland. Finally, although not in the EU, don't forget Russia, still a formidable presence!