"Are you crazy? Why would you want to give up a good job and become unemployed?" These were the words Alexandru Alexandrov could hear from his family ten years ago, when he decided to enter the business world.
In spite of the others' pessimism, Alexandrov, who used to hold a high position with Iasi-based Industrial Construction Trust, soon after the Revolution left the state-owned company to start his own business.
"The state did nothing to reward employees. You did your best, but you were still regarded as an insignificant entity. I couldn't bear it any longer," says the owner of construction company Alex.
Alexandrov recollects that after he broke away from the company where he used to work, he was willing to do anything, from opening his own small boutique, to a commerce firm or a small enterprise.
He eventually decided to remain in constructions and established a firm with 20 employees. His first contract came after a deep meditation in his balcony, where he used to smoke.
"I was in the balcony, smoking a cigarette and I was watching the old building near the block of flats where I live. This building, Vama Veche, was extremely decayed. I went to meet the manager and asked him if he agreed to let me restore the building. After a few days, his answer was positive and I posted a job ad to hire workers, as I didn't have any. I selected the candidates on the halls of the Culture Centre, as I didn't even have an office," Alexandrov recollects.
The orders didn't take long to appear, but his company was registered as a small firm and it had to confine to a particular number of employees. So Alexandrov established a new company with a larger number of employees.
The Iasi-based company has been erecting lots of buildings in the ten years since its establishment, for companies such as RomTelecom, Coca Cola, Bruni Food Products, the Bucovina and Moldova Metropolitan Church and partially for Metro.
Other customers were the General Customs Department, Iasi City Hall, SNP Petrom and BancPost.
Four years ago, Alex received the Quality Award from the Romanian Association of Construction Entrepreneurs (ARACO), for RomTelecom building. Alex is likely to receive the same award for the General Customs Department this year.
The Iasi-based company, which now has 200 employees, has crossed over Romania's borders, as it currently performs works in Kishinev.
The company's turnover amounted to 56 billion lei last year and is expected to increase by 20% this year, reaching about 100 billion lei.
Alexandrov says his company has orders to last them by the end of the year and, if it gets more orders, he will have to hire more workers.
More often than not, Alex management prefers to conclude contracts with private companies, which are more reliable and likely to pay for the works.
The company's employees are offered salaries "as motivating as possible," which is a little higher than the salaries from other Iasi-based competitors.
Wages depend on the quality of work performed by each employee. Some "loyalty" packages are offered to those who have been with the company for a long time.
While the migration to other competing companies is not a real threat for the Iasi-based owner, immigration to foreign countries gives him trouble.
"The exodus to foreign countries creates problems, but there is nothing we can do about it. Fifteen workers left for Israel last month," Alexandrov complains.
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