I don't believe that every single employer would ignore a "labourer for hire" posting.
Marketing is always important. It might not work in Bulgaria exactly the way I have done it here. I would probably have to market my skills not as a general labourer, or even a plumber, but perhaps it would be better suited to my skills as an English tutor. A local to the area would probably have to market themselves in other ways.
Trust me, there's no such culture here either. Nepotism is a fact of life everywhere, although granted it's probably not nearly as ingrained in the culture. I, like everyone, would much rather hire my down-on-his-luck cousin then some complete stranger off the street (or Craigslist). But that's not always something that's available or appropriate.
I mean it depends on how you market yourself or your company. Right now our company is advertised as available immediately 24/7/365. So when that pipe bursts at 2am and there's no way of shutting it off, you can call in that favour wait for your cousin to show up tomorrow, or you can call an advertisement like mine in the paper and have it fixed pronto, even if it's a complete stranger. I'm pretty sure this is true here as it is in Bulgaria. But it all depends on the marketing.
If it were not true, there would never be any new foreign labour or business services/products anywhere. My google lists 7 Chinese restaurants in Sofia alone, which is ample evidence that there is some fluidity even in a mostly closed culture of "tit for tat".
You yourself have unintentionally marketed your land to me in some small way. Although I've never found Bulgarian Rakia, I've eager to try it.
Personally, if I was ever travelling to/through Bulgaria, I would certainly ask for your recommendations on where to stay, what to do, etc. rather then rely solely on Fodor's recommendations. Not because I don't trust Fodor's either. It's just that we all trust familiarity most of all.
Unfortunately, it's not in my sights just yet. First up Lake Geneva (Wisconsin, USA) this June. Then in March 2013 it's China, Nepal and India.
Eventually we want to do Italy and Slovakia by Vespa. I have friends who went to the Tomos factory in Koper and highly recommend it. And I know several people who have been to Pontedera and raved. This is all in your neck of the woods. I wouldn't mind a little jaunt to Bulgaria too.
Marketing is always important. It might not work in Bulgaria exactly the way I have done it here. I would probably have to market my skills not as a general labourer, or even a plumber, but perhaps it would be better suited to my skills as an English tutor. A local to the area would probably have to market themselves in other ways.
Trust me, there's no such culture here either. Nepotism is a fact of life everywhere, although granted it's probably not nearly as ingrained in the culture. I, like everyone, would much rather hire my down-on-his-luck cousin then some complete stranger off the street (or Craigslist). But that's not always something that's available or appropriate.
I mean it depends on how you market yourself or your company. Right now our company is advertised as available immediately 24/7/365. So when that pipe bursts at 2am and there's no way of shutting it off, you can call in that favour wait for your cousin to show up tomorrow, or you can call an advertisement like mine in the paper and have it fixed pronto, even if it's a complete stranger. I'm pretty sure this is true here as it is in Bulgaria. But it all depends on the marketing.
If it were not true, there would never be any new foreign labour or business services/products anywhere. My google lists 7 Chinese restaurants in Sofia alone, which is ample evidence that there is some fluidity even in a mostly closed culture of "tit for tat".
You yourself have unintentionally marketed your land to me in some small way. Although I've never found Bulgarian Rakia, I've eager to try it.
Personally, if I was ever travelling to/through Bulgaria, I would certainly ask for your recommendations on where to stay, what to do, etc. rather then rely solely on Fodor's recommendations. Not because I don't trust Fodor's either. It's just that we all trust familiarity most of all.
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First up Lake Geneva (Wisconsin, USA) this June.
Then in March 2013 it's China, Nepal and India.
Eventually we want to do Italy and Slovakia by Vespa.
I have friends who went to the Tomos factory in Koper and highly recommend it.
And I know several people who have been to Pontedera and raved.
This is all in your neck of the woods. I wouldn't mind a little jaunt to Bulgaria too.
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