Romanian university students expect 800-euro salaries upon graduation

Romanian university students continue to believe the current crisis will be over by the time they have finished their university studies, and that employers will have to pay them 800 euros after graduation, after seeing "how competent" they are. However, employers say their expectations are unrealistic, and that the next few years will see a downward trend as far as salary offers for the young are concerned.

At least 6,600 Romanian university students are expecting a net salary of 800 euros after graduation, with the majority of them believing they will find a job within an average of four months from graduation, show the results of a survey of German research institute Trendence.

"The crisis will pass by the time I have graduated, and I expect to earn a minimum 3,000-RON (715-euro) salary at my first job. I will study hard in college and I will be competent, so I don't see why they wouldn't pay me the money," says Cristina Luca, a first-year student at the Faculty of Tourism Geography, who wants to become a tour guide. Employers, however, have a different opinion.

"The salary market for young graduates has seen a steady degradation especially over the last two years, so their expectations are unrealistic. Employers are more prudent when it comes to paying big net salaries, because they don't know what the Fiscal Code will look like next year and what social contributions they could pay for a net monthly salary of 800 euros (...)," says Adrian Lupulescu, HR manager of Freescale Semiconductor Romania.