Jobs in Serbia: Expats Wanted

/ 11.05.2008. u 15:50

Komentari: 34
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Over the past nine months, since I've begun blogging, no fewer than five Western businesses have approached me wondering if I'd like to work for them in their new Serbian office. None of them knew anything about my skills, education, experience, or had even met me in person. They only knew I was an American businesswoman who now lives part of the year in Serbia. They've ranged from bio-tech companies to Internet firms.

Although Western companies do, on occasion, aggressively headhunt top qualified candidates for key positions, pinging random bloggers to see if they want jobs is not remotely normal. So, why is it happening to me? Desperation I suppose.

Companies want Western-educated or at least Western-experienced execs on their teams in Serbia, just simply because they share a common understanding of how business "should" work, plus a common background makes communication far easier. I know from personal experience. In the past, I've hired and managed native Serbs located in Serbia for a US company. It was a highly stressful and even miserable experience for both sides much of the time, due to cultural differences, working style differences , and communication misunderstandings (not to mention typical Serb paranoia and jealousies versus American naïveté.)

I am, luckily, no longer in charge of hiring for any company, nor do I ever wish to be again. But, if fate forced me into that role again, I would avoid hiring in Serbia unless I had a Serb-born leader with significant Western business experience as my manager. You need managers who bridge both worlds to be able to be successful.

Western companies, especially those which do business in many nations, understand this. So as they step into Serbia, they're looking like crazy for those cross-cultural managers. The problem seems to be, those people are not at all easy to find. Hence, human resources managers start pinging random bloggers like me.

Let me make it clear, I am not a connection for any jobs in or outside of Serbia, nor am I seeking a job myself. However, I can give this advice: if you are an expatriot looking to move back to Serbia, start a profile for yourself at LinkedIn.com and include the keywords Serbia, Belgrade, even Yugoslavia in your profile so potential employers will find you when they do searches. It's free. It's also a great place to search for connections to your old friends who are now in the West as well, who might be able to help you with your search.

Anybody else got advice for Serbs seeking jobs with Western companies coming to Serbia? Please add your advice to the comments below. I'm not the best expert - you are!

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Brooklyn 16:09 11.05.2008

*

what were the main problems you had with serbian hires?

Vasa S Tajcic 17:34 11.05.2008

Re: *

I would like to know the same. What were the problems? Maybe it is you? Can you expand on that. Thanks

Brooklyn 22:21 11.05.2008

Re: *

hi rosemary,

i'm not trying to be confrontational or anything, i would just like to hear your experiences, so as to know what i can expect in case i try and do business in serbia.

thanks,

JJ.press 09:56 29.05.2008

Re: *

yep, well luckily you are not in charged for hiring, and I wonder how did you managed to skip all those expat trainings for doing cross-cultural business worldwide?
Go to Singapore.

Brooklyn 17:13 29.05.2008

Re: *

who, me?

Srki 16:13 11.05.2008

Prvi!

What to say on this, and not to violate "election silence"! ;-))))))

Good luck to you Rose! And ex-pats who are eagerly planing to move back and manage bunch of Serbs who honestly belive, that they are by definition smarter, better educated and more skillful then their americanized boss.

Srki

Srki 16:14 11.05.2008

Re: Prvi!

Ok, Drugi!

vladimir petrovic 19:11 11.05.2008

Like it or not, we are in transition!

I think I understand your point. And I mostly agree with your views. Thanks for your courage. Of course, some of us (Serbs) will get a bit offended in our over-pride, but it will make us (or some of us) think. Personaly, I have already heard a foreign businessman with similar remarks - that he had many troubles in finding the properly qualified people for jobs in his company in Belgrade.
On the other hand, I think in question is the Balkanese syndrom - you couldn't say situation in some neighbouring countries is more favorable (say in Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary etc.). We (Serbs) are smart "by definition", but we have a lot to learn in doing business the way it is done in the real market economies... don't forget, we are "a country in transition". Let's hope things will get better in a not to remote future.
Once again, thank you for your interesting blog post.

mali_dragan 22:27 11.05.2008

Expat expirience in "third country"

I worked for Chinese joint-venture IT company. Half of company is owned by very casual Swedish investor. I met him in supermarket, while he was convincing a Chinese girl to work for him. I started to work for him. PM was comp-wiz, man-of-trust, also from Sweden. PM and I was 3 times more effective than rest of company (about 10 Chinese guys and gals).
They were slow, sloppy, hard to communicate...

Not all Chinese developers are bad. Our problem was to find good ones. That is problem of all western companies doing IT business in China (even Japan). Western companies are forced to import professionals for creative jobs.

All companies investing in foreign companies have same problems. To find good stuff. They have bias toward foreign management and foreign professionals due their experiences in other countries.

What foreign investor can do? He (or she) can seek for people in supermarket, believing in their instinct. Others can try with newspaper ads. Safest options is to send professional-with-trust. But there's no managers that will go in country represented by "Serb-gram".

So, investor, actually very lazy, will go on net, trying to find someone of trust. Investors are also chauvinists. They'll rather trust to countrymen than some guy from Serbia.

In Beijing I also met a head-hunter for IBM. He was looking for Chinese to work for IBM. His job was to go here-and-there, to met people, talk to them and making fun. Very rich guy.

mkostic 03:36 12.05.2008

get employed

Very nice. Thanks for directions. So, you are surprised how thinks work over here. Well, this is an Eastern world and what is cool with you it is not with us. Bottom line: a gap is huge and a democracy never took place in this world. Instead, it used to be a list of dictators taking care of social politic. So, no wonder that people are not so flexible and ready to change. In fact, there is a burden to be a Serb, meaning no one else does better. Patriotism yes, but with stress on wrong syllables. So, if you want to work over here you better make on your own than to work for somebody else, so called manager. Thanks for instructions and observations, though you are just one more to come with the same think.
Misa Kostic

Bojan Zdravic 05:24 12.05.2008

Sure

If they want to pay me 200 K salary, I will come back to Serbia tomorrow

Rosemary Bailey Brown 15:02 13.05.2008

Reply to comments thus far...

I hope my advice helped someone, otherwise what's the point of posting it? It would be wonderful if others could post advice here too about finding jobs in Serbia. The more advice the better.

A few quick clarifications about topics other commenters have brought up: I've found it's tough in *any* country to find the best workers -- that fantastic top 5-20% of the working population. It's certainly a lot harder if you have no local connections to help you. However, I do believe and have found Serb workers are not worse and in many ways a lot better than workers in other countries. Their education, intelligence, and enthusiasm are fine. Plus, they cost less than workers from some other countries. Those attributes, among others, are what make Western companies want to expand, outsource and hire in Serbia.

The problems that I've personally noted as a Westerner hiring and managing Serbs came from communication styles, and culturally-based misunderstandings. These are inevitable whenever a company based in one country and culture hires workers from a second. It doesn't matter which countries are involved. However, if the Western company has a leader on staff who can bridge both Serb and Western cultures -- being born into one but with education and/or working experience in the second -- that is the critical bridge that makes doing business possible, profitable and even enjoyable.

Which is why Westerners are looking for Serb expats to hire in Serbia now.

Anyhow, got advice, please do share it :)

mkostic 17:54 13.05.2008

Re: Reply to comments thus far...

Your enthusiasm is impressive. I can see that your expectations are so high. Also, the numbers you bring are interesting. I guess that you point on very young population because once they get involved in social life, ties to tradition get very strong. So I’ll try to follow the patter and think hard to come with at least one good idea: thinking… very hard…kidding. I like your attitude, please keep us posted.
Misa Kostic

bozzwell 23:52 14.05.2008

Re: Reply to comments thus far...

Every year, usually in summer, I start thinking about moving back to Serbia. Usually my wife will look at properties for our family and I start scouring the net for job postings by English and American companies with vacancies in Serbia. We usually end up pretty disheartened by 2nd or 3rd week of search. Don't get me wrong, my wife usually finds plenty of attractive houses to rent or buy, and we love the country (even though my wife is not Serbian) but if there truly are plenty of good jobs for Serbian ex-pats back home, they are well hidden.

So, basically, my advice to the Western companies seeking Serbian ex-pats in the West is this: Do everything exactly the same as if you were offering jobs to the Westerners in the West! It's that simple. When I look for a job, I want to be able to go to a site such as Monster.com or Dice.com and through a quick search identify suitable positions, apply online with my up to date resume attached and wait for call/email. Alternatively, I'll visit company sites of companies with offices in Belgrade and look up their "Careers" page. The only job-seeker resources that I've identified so far are Serbian and with job posting by Serbian companies who are usually looking for juniors and do not offer relocation assistance of any kind.

I mean how hard is it for these companies to setup a web page with careers postings in a form that can be indexed by Google or to post them on job sites in USA or UK for example? Maybe some of the people who contacted you should go back home and learn that whole hiring thing from scratch.

Oh, and by the way, when "they" are done with properly posting their vacancies they should send you a link to post in your blog. I know this great IT guy with 16 years of experience gained in UK and US just waiting for it.

Kum Djole 00:31 15.05.2008

Re: Reply to comments thus far...

Rosemary Bailey Brown
However, if the Western company has a leader on staff who can bridge both Serb and Western cultures -- being born into one but with education and/or working experience in the second -- that is the critical bridge that makes doing business possible, profitable and even enjoyable.

Which is why Westerners are looking for Serb expats to hire in Serbia now.

Well, who is actually hiring, if you don't mind me asking? I came back to Serbia last December after 7 years in Canada, and just as many in the private sector precisely doing what you mentioned, bridging the gap between middle management and employees, while on the side I upped myself with a PoliSci / IR degree... and ever since then, with over 50 emails sent all around the job market, I got two PFO letters and hell of a lot of silence. On the other hand, fellow Serbs are so vastly talented to offer some of the most controversial and opportune analysis of my CV - 'too much bragging, almost self-indulged', 'too good to be true for a Serb', 'you must have done something wrong in Canada so you had to come back'... etc.

Still jobless, doing petty cash translating, and I'm not even a philologist.

Which is why I can't even be a Translator in Serbia.

Bosanski Medjed 01:16 15.05.2008

Re: Reply to comments thus far...

Anyhow, got advice, please do share it :)

Yeah, how about you tell those western companies to match their salary offers for their "execs" and other "top qualified professionals" to the type of tasks they are asking and/or expecting people to do.

You can't realistically expect to run an American style workplace in Serbia, when your management are paid the third-world kind of wages. You can't pay someone 700 euros per month, and expect him/her to bend over for you in "bridging your cultural gap", when he/she can "bridge the reverse cultural gap" across the big pond for $6,000+ USD per month.

It's as simple as that.

Unless you tell me that these westerners are indeed offering six figure salaries, or anywhere near that?

Srki 06:17 15.05.2008

Re: Reply to comments thus far...

bozzwell
Don't get me wrong, my wife usually finds plenty of attractive houses to rent or buy, and we love the country (even though my wife is not Serbian) but if there truly are plenty of good jobs for Serbian ex-pats back home, they are well hidden.

There are no "plenty of jobs" in Serbia, don't worry, they are not hidden. In particular some real jobs, where you create some value, so to speak. Some of the last of my "hard-core" friends are now seeking jobs out of Serbia, especially after these elections. In my opinion, going to Serbia for working and living is waste of time and health. Come as a tourist, you may enjoy. But to live, no. That is just my honest opinon...don't get tricked by Rose's sweet talking on this blog ;-). It sucks. Really.

bozzwell
When I look for a job, I want to be able to go to a site such as Monster.com or Dice.com and through a quick search identify suitable positions, apply online with my up to date resume attached and wait for call/email. Alternatively, I'll visit company sites of companies with offices in Belgrade and look up their "Careers" page. The only job-seeker resources that I've identified so far are Serbian and with job posting by Serbian companies who are usually looking for juniors and do not offer relocation assistance of any kind.

.

That is not the way you get a job even in US. At least not a decent, well payed job, unless you are very lucky. I was involved couple of times in interviewing people (company in US, electrical engineering) - resumes sent over internet without direct request from HR are thrown straight to thrash - I don't have even chance to see them. No one ever goes to Monster.com to look for candidates. As far as I could see, the best way is to get in touch with HR person directly, or with a manager that is involved in job posting, and then to attack it with calls, if possible direct visit, covered with bunch of recommendations from important people. The other way is through recruiters. Needless to say - neither of that works in Serbia, at all. That is why almost everyone with some education wants to leave Serbia. I could talk more about the ways to get a job in US if you are a Serb in Serbia, but that is not subject of this blog, right?

bozzwell 17:30 15.05.2008

Re: Reply to comments thus far...

Maybe because I am in IT everyone I know and myself got at least one job through Monster/Dice. Of course, it is agents and not employers per se who advertise the majority of positions on those web sites and by the time you apply the vacancy could be filled via other source/agent. Still, I found it very easy, and I found jobs (contract or permanent, in UK or US) in record time utilizing just one or two different web sites. In fact, 2 years ago when a software company I was working for closed down Chicago lab, about 30 of us took severance rather then relocation to California and all of us found jobs via dice.com. I still get calls from recruiters based on my resume submission more then 2 years ago.

Granted, this may be the case due to my location (Chicago) and field I am in (Software Engineering/Consulting). I also get a lot of unsolicited email through linkedin.com. Nothing from Serbia though, even though Belgrade and Serbia are prominent in my linkedin profile.

All of this just reinforces my original point - Rosemary clearly knows how to headhunt and hire people (hence the original blog posting) but I have to question hiring abilities or practices of the recruiters who approached her in the first place. We're really not that hard to find.

In any case I am really happy that Rosemary started the ball rolling on this subject so we can all have good discussion and exchange our experiences on the subject. Great job.

Out of Beirut 18:05 15.05.2008

Re: Reply to comments thus far...

The problems that I've personally noted as a Westerner hiring and managing Serbs came from communication styles, and culturally-based misunderstandings.

I know it may be difficult to you, but can you provide an example or two?

Brooklyn 22:39 15.05.2008

Re: Reply to comments thus far...

I know it may be difficult to you, but can you provide an example or two?

yes, i'm wondering about that as well. i mean, when serbs go abroad to work, they don't have problems or cultural misunderstandings working with / for americans. why should it be different if they work with / for americans in serbia?

bozzwell 23:11 15.05.2008

Re: Reply to comments thus far...

Brooklyn
I know it may be difficult to you, but can you provide an example or two?

yes, i'm wondering about that as well. i mean, when serbs go abroad to work, they don't have problems or cultural misunderstandings working with / for americans. why should it be different if they work with / for americans in serbia?

Isn't that obvious? Pretty much every Serbian under age of 50, maybe even 60 grew up in a World dominated by American pop-culture. Even if you didn't study English you were exposed to it and it became familiar, easier to learn (not to mention that English - at least when compared to other W. European languages, is much easier to learn). I can imagine that it would be much easier for an English speaker in Serbia today just to slip back into English rather then immerse themselves fully in Serbian, and in the workplace it may be a necessity.

Opposite is the true of Serbians in USA - unless we fully commit ourselves to the culture here, we're doomed to a very limited job market of Serbian owned businesses (i.e. truck/cab driving, construction or working in Serbian shops and restaurants), limited opportunities and possibilities wherever we turn.

Secondly, it seems to me that Serbs in US (and UK) at least, check-in at the customs the very attitude that may be "cultural challenge" for foreigners in Serbia. Or at least supress it everywhere except when amongst the Serbian-only company or when posting on Serbiancafe.com. You know the old saying "When in Rome...". I observed that same is the true with my workmates and friends from Asia and Europe (other then Serbia) - they'll conform 7/24/365 then gripe about it when there are no Americans around to hear them.

So, yes, I can see how American (or Western in general) employers would have difficulties in Serbia - they won't or can't adapt to Serbia because they are there to bring their business and practices in the first place, not the other way around and at the same time Serbian employees may be more reluctant to fully embrace foreign practices and customs on their own soil. Something has to give, and it looks to me as a good compromise to use Serbian expats to bridge that gap.

Brooklyn 23:19 15.05.2008

Re: Reply to comments thus far...

ok, but i would still like to hear about concrete examples. i would go about the problem by contracting the work out. if we can agree on deliverables and deadlines and enforce the contract, i don't care how people will manage themselves, cultural differences or not. my only question really is: Rosemary, from your experience is it hard to agree with serbian workers on deliverables / deadlines? is this where your problems lie?

Participator 20:02 15.05.2008

How to...

A purely technical question about profiles/resumes:

We, the expats, also have a problem of bridging the experiences in the old country with our new careers (at least in my mind). Even if we stay in the same field, there's often a gap of several years filled with odd, survival-type jobs, or no jobs at all. That goes both for time spent in Serbia before we left (a reason for leaving in the first place) and for the first few years in the new country. Any advice on putting a positive spin to our "weathering the storms" periods?

Rosemary Bailey Brown 03:53 16.05.2008

Re: How to...

If you don't mind writing, (I know some people hate it) this is exactly where an industry-specific blog would fit into your resume-plan. You start a blog about your career niche, and comment on relevant news, info, etc. and begin to build a body of posts laden with keywords around it. Even if you don't get a lot of readers, you do get serious career credibility as in "I've been busy making a major life adjustment, but in the meantime, I've been very involved tracking the industry. It's been great to get perspective and a type of education you don't get when your nose is to the grindstone."

Just don't put much personal stuff in the blog - this is not for you, it;s for your career. It's amazing to me how few people outside of the marketing profession, blog about their niche industry, or keep a blog up for longer than 3 months.

DejanOz 05:22 16.05.2008

Re: How to...

It's actually a lot of work if it's to be done well, and unfortunately sometimes the blog doesn't get much notice within the right field. (Your last sentence could be paraphrased to say "it's amazing how few people outside of the marketing profession bother to look at any blogs at all"

Participator 17:51 16.05.2008

Re: How to...

DejanOz
It's actually a lot of work if it's to be done well, and unfortunately sometimes the blog doesn't get much notice within the right field. (Your last sentence could be paraphrased to say "it's amazing how few people outside of the marketing profession bother to look at any blogs at all".

All you need is one (reader) :) You're right, blogging requires a lot of work and it's hard to keep it current/relevant while maintaining the quality. It's certainly easier than going door to door or making cold calls to prospective employers. Today, we have to market ourselves, be our own HR department and, the Internet is the most accessible and the cheapest way to do it. Plus, you get a chance to present your best qualities in a controlled manner and "invent" a job for yourself.

DejanOz 10:57 17.05.2008

Re: How to...

Thanks, Participator, for what might be the words of encouragement. :)

BTW. I can see that you practice what you preach.

Constrictoria 09:14 21.05.2008

Problem...

I think that main problem in Serbia is following:

- many Western's companies have managers from Serbia
- many mentioned managers have faculty degree, but no work experiance
- many of them treat employees as slaves
- mobing is, also, problem...

I had luck to work for a Western company couple of years ago. But, then I had no problem to find appropriate job, because HR agencies in Serbia were not popular then and mentioned companies had not many Serbian managers. Regarding HR agencies in Serbia I can tell that they are led by people who does not know how to recognize potential in applier for a job; usually they are very unpleasant & they think that they are very smart...
Now, I have my own small firm, because I could not find appropriate job. Each comany I applied for work told me that:

- I am too qualified for applied position
- most of them did not answer me at all

The truth is that you need to have really strong connection nowdays if you want to work in some company (no matter if we are talking about Western or Serbian comapnies)....

robertbrucerussell 13:20 21.05.2008

Comments from a foreigner with experience

I agree with most of what has been said already. Having worked partly for a UK company hiring both ex-pats and locals in Serbia, here are some pointers:

1. Leave the pride at home. Don't tell people how they should run things, particularly during interviews (this did happen to us more than once), and make positive suggestions rather than complaints. Remember that you don't know everything and that it isn't a sign of weakness if you admit that you need to learn something. Eagerness is much, much better than Arrogance and much more appreciated.

2. Try not to have typical socialist expectations. Ideas that you will progress in terms of salary, holidays, etc. regardless of a lack of hard-work, ambition or dedication won't fly in an Anglo-saxon company where making money is the bottom line. Probably asking your parents or their generation for advice won't always help, particularly if their only experience is for socialist organisations. Get advice from people working in other companies (in Serbia or elsewhere) and drop preconceptions.

3. Be dedicated. Think career instead of job - try to think of what you are working at as a way of progressing in life rather than just a way of paying for the car or the flat.

4. Don't make excuses unless they are really justified. For a great and pretty funny view on this see this BBC Article. Ask for clarification, ask for help, but don't just ignore a request with the intention of making a lame excuse up when asked.

4. Above all, do what you are asked to do and possibly more. If there is a chance to get extra points for doing something extra, consider taking the extra time to do this. This always impresses the managers, and will mark you as an outstanding employee and will lead to promotions, greater responsibilities, etc.

A great insight into Western business is a little book called The unwritten laws of business. Actually, I would recommend this to anybody wanting to work and progress up the ladder in any line of work in any country.

Participator 18:09 21.05.2008

Re: Comments from a foreigner with experience

robertbrucerussell
great insight into Western business is a little book called The unwritten laws of business. Actually, I would recommend this to anybody wanting to work and progress up the ladder in any line of work in any country.

I wish someone translates this book into Serbian! Having the nature of business explained in a plain language, without the current hype and biz lingo, would be very helpful. I fully understand all the difficulties Westerners encounter doing business in Serbia and the list of complaints is long (I can certainly add a few myself!).

Serbia never had an entrepreneurial tradition to begin with, maybe for a short period before the WWII. That's not to say that Serbs are not capable of running and working in businesses by Western standards. Looking back, we see that in Serbian population thriving under the Habsburgs. I'm not sure what would be the best approach in reconciling the differences today but, any meaningful communication goes both ways. Asking for clarifications (and giving them), all the time, even about the smallest details, might be time consuming but well worth it IMHO.

As you said, let us all leave our pride and prejudices at home.

Filip2412 01:21 24.05.2008

Re: Comments from a foreigner with experience

OK, one of my friends just told me that Chipita, or something like that.... they make snacks etc was just sold to PEPSICO for 300 million dolars.

Hey, we are talking about fried potato here here! They are being sold for almost as much as oil industry to Russians :)

You think that's the only example?

I presonaly have experience with Philip Morris;, great company, gives oportunities to Serbian employees to advance into manager level positions and I didn't notice much cultural related problems in communication.

In many other foreign companies that deal with coffee, milk or beer is very similar. Salaries of higher manager level positions are around $4K net per month. Yeah, not many people were that lucky, but I know quite a few and they are Srbs born in Serbia with no previous international experience.

So to sum up, people in Serbia will be good just to finally get over this shitty political issues somehow.

valagon 15:40 21.05.2008

Working experience with serbians

I have worked in Serbia from 1999 to 2005 in both positions : employee and employeur. I set up a few businesses there (married to a serbian).
Although the experience was fascinating by many aspects, the working experience was, let's say, dreadful and financially very costly.

To put it mildly : the best profiles are certainly out of the country or dream to leave serbia. More than 80 % of my friends with graduate degrees want TO GET OUT OF THE COUNTRY.
Non qualified workers are certainly NOT QUALIFIED at all.
So called local managers of big and small companies are simply business croonies with little or simply formal second level education (you pay for your diplomas in serbia) rocketed to the position because of personal or political affiliations (it is how political parties finance themselves).
If you do not know anybody in the MOB forget about it as the MOB controls all profitable markets there and will enevitably get on to you as soon as you get successful or appear to be successful.
Human resources management simply DOES NOT EXIST.
Personnel is treated by employors like slaves.
The ideal of sucess of most serb is to enjoy life to the maximum (coffee, slivo, cigarets, woman and dance), to work as little as possible but to make others sweat.
Mostly applicants will show up their best profile to get a job and strive for 72 hours of good work and then will let you down.
When you negociate a deal or agree with a salary YOU ARE CERTAIN it will be shortly renegociated under the pretext of misunderstanding. You are also certain you will be asked salaries in advance to cover badly needed personal expenses.
You cannot expect a worker to work extra time or understand the logics of economy.
In other words DO NOT VENTURE IN ANY BUSINESS DEALS WITH SERBIAN COMPANIES UNLESS YOU HAVE BIG FINANCIAL ASSETS ARE BACKED BY MAFIA BOSSES OR A STRONG POLITICAL TIES.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT TOMORROW CAN ONLY BE WORSE THEN TODAY.
This is a hard and painful reality.

aleksandar_racic 14:34 15.07.2008

Re Expats Wanted

How about those Serbs that are born and educated outside of Serbia but are interested in working in Serbia for a Western organisation/company? Does anyone have any further advice other than joining networks such as LinkedIn?

jovan73 00:10 17.07.2008

Re: Re Expats Wanted

Aleksandar, I am in the same boat as you and have been researching job opportunities in Serbia for several years now. Some of these are obvious, but this is how I've been finding available jobs:

1) Google search with keywords "Serbia" "jobs" or "Serbia" "careers".
2) Job-specific web sites such as workabroad.monster.com
3) Searching the career pages of specific companies that have a presence in Serbia, i.e. Microsoft, Google, Hewlett-Packard, Deloitte, KPMG, Siemens, etc.
4) Searching the career pages of NGO's/non-profits.

So far I have submitted several applications, but I have not had any success. I tend to understand since the unemployment rate in Serbia is already high and it is more cost-effective for a company to hire locally.

Hope this helps -- if anyone has any other suggestions, please pass them on!