Employment

Legal residence

To be able to get a job, you need to have one of the forms of legal residence in Slovakia:

• Temporary refuge
• Temporary residence for work
• Permanent residence
• Asylum

You can read more in the article Legal residence in Slovakia.

These forms of residence are necessary for your employment contract with the employer to be valid. Subsequently, you will be protected by the Labour Code of the Slovak Republic, which guarantees your rights to an agreed wage, health protection at work, days off and more.

How do I find a job?

Employers and employment agencies often advertise in internet job portals. Job portals publish advertisements according to the type of job position, location, language and other criteria.

• Služby zamestnanosti (official website of the Labour Office of SR)
• Profesia.sk
• Kariera.zoznam.sk
• ISTP.sk
• Workania.sk

What information can you find in a job advertisement?

A job advertisement contains information about the position, job description, place of work, requirements for applicants, expected gross salary and contact information for the company or person who published the advertisement.

Each published job offer must contain either accurate salary information or an estimate based on performance and hours worked.

Find your way around job offers

You can regularly receive an e-mail with a list of current job offers according to your chosen criteria. However, for this purpose you will need to register in one of the job portals.

If you are interested in one of the offers, you can respond to it using the forms in the job portals or directly on the web page by sending your CV and covering letter to the employer.

Monitor changes in the labour market

Some large companies have a questionnaire on their web page under the “career” tab where you can register. If you are a good fit for any of their currently wanted positions, they will contact you directly.

The process of getting a new job from finding an advertisement for the position you are looking for through the selection process can take several weeks.

Do not leave looking for a job until the last moment, especially if you are looking for a seasonal job or a student summer job in July and August. Good offers are published already at the beginning of May and are snatched up quickly.

Net and gross wage. What is the difference?

Gross wage

A gross wage is your wage before tax and health and payment of social security contributions. Job offers always state a gross wage. Likewise, at the interview, the employer will ask you about your expectation of a gross monthly wage.

Net wage

A net wage is your actual wage that you will receive in your account. It is the amount that will be paid to you after deduction of taxes and levies from the gross wage. The amount of taxes and levies depends on your family situation, number of children, marital status, disability, etc.

For example, a childless man or woman who was offered a gross monthly wage of EUR 1400 will receive a net wage of approximately EUR 980. A man or woman with two children who was offered the same wage of EUR 1400 will receive a net wage of approximately EUR 1260.

Minimum monthly wage in Slovakia

In 2023, the minimum gross monthly wage set by law is EUR 700. The minimum gross hourly wage is EUR 4.023.

The most common types of employment contracts

Full-time job

The employee’s working hours are a maximum of 40 hours per week (young people under the age of 16 a maximum of 30 hours per week). The employer pays taxes, health insurance and all social contributions for you.

Part-time job

The employee’s working hours are less than 40 hours per week (often 20 hour per week). The employer pays taxes, health insurance and all social contributions for you.

Agreement to perform work

This type of employment contract applies to seasonal work, for example during the summer. According to the law, the working hours of an employee may not exceed 10 hours per week. The employer pays taxes, health insurance and some social contributions for you.

Agreement on temporary student work

Only full-time students may perform this type of work. The agreement must contain a job description, remuneration, scope of working hours and the period for which the agreement is concluded. The agreement must also include a confirmation of the study, which you can get at the study department of your school.

Special documents required for some jobs

In some professions, special documents are required, such as a health certificate, hygiene minimum, driver’s card.

The employer will inform you if these documents are required.

In the case of highly qualified or regulated professions (for example in the field of healthcare), you will also need a certified document of your education, which you obtained outside Slovakia. Contact the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic, which performs nostrification – recognition of education documents.

If the job position requires proof of integrity with an extract from the criminal record, this can be temporarily replaced by an affidavit of integrity in the case of citizens of Ukraine.

Teaching jobs

If you are interested in a teaching job, you will have to undergo an examination by a psychologist of your choice and get an opinion on the psychological competence of the teaching staff. The opinion must not be older than one year. The price for this service is approximately EUR 80.

Due to the lack of clinical psychologists, the waiting time for an examination appointment is quite long, in some cases even several weeks.

You can apply for a teaching job via a form on the webpage of the Ministry of Education of SR – Ukraine.

Work on public holidays

Employees in Slovakia are entitled to rest on non-working days and public holidays. A large number of employees do not have to go to work on these days.

You can find the list of non-working days and public holidays in the Calendar.

The employer can order you to work on these days only in exceptional cases and only in accordance with the Labour Code. Only necessary jobs that cannot be postponed to other days can be carried out, e.g.:

• Public transport (driver, dispatcher, technician, …)
• Maintenance (roads, electricity, sewage, …)
• Health care
• Restaurants
• Services (petrol stations, entertainment centres, press, …)
• Agriculture (animal feeding, processing, …)
• Protection (gate house, security service, …)
• Continuous operations (factories, power plants, …)

Public holiday surcharge

The employer is obliged to pay you a surcharge of at least 100 percent of your average hourly wage for hours worked during public holidays. Learn more at Podnikajte.sk.

Rights of employees

You have the same rights as EU citizens, including a maximum 40-hour working week, statutory minimum wage or higher, holiday entitlement, meal allowance, night and weekend pay, health and social insurance. Learn more at Podnikajte.sk.

The employer must pay you extra for every hour of work that exceeds 40 hours per week. However, the average weekly working hours, including overtime, must not exceed 48 hours.

Be careful when choosing a job and make sure that the conditions in the employment contract are in accordance with the Labour Code, that you understand them and that you have enough information about the employer. The employment contract must be concluded in writing.

Learn more about your rights at Legal work, legal employment.

If you feel that your employer is not complying with the obligations arising from your employment contract or labour legislation, you can file a complaint with the National Labor Inspectorate.

Your obligations towards authorities

As an emigrant from Ukraine with the status of temporary refuge according to the law, you are not entitled to unemployment allowance and you have no rights and obligations towards the Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family. However, you can use free counselling services and educational activities of the Office.

Read more – The Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family assists people from Ukraine.

Consult the experts

If you have any doubts about the job offer, or suspect that the employer is not treating you according to the law, do not hesitate to consult experts from the non-governmental organisation International Organization for Migration (IOM) or the Human Rights League (HRL).

You will find contact details at Services – legal advice.

External links

• https://www.slov-lex.sk/pravne-predpisy/SK/ZZ/2001/311/20230601 ^{[zakonnik-prace]}
• https://www.minedu.sk/recognition-of-foreign-diplomas/ ^{[uznavanie-dokladov]}
• https://ukrajina.minedu.sk/praca-v-skolstve/ ^[minedu-uk]
• https://www.podnikajte.sk/pracovne-pravo-bozp/priplatky-za-pracu-cez-vikend-v-noci-vo-sviatok-od-1-6-2023 ^[priplatky]
• https://www.ip.gov.sk/mimoriadna-situacia-na-ukrajine/?ip=nip ^{[legalna-praca]}
• https://www.safework.gov.sk/home/  ^{[inspektorat]}

Do not let go of your documents

When starting a job, the employer will request your personal data, such as your residential address, ID number, or passport number.

The employer can inspect your personal documents and make a copy of them to verify your identity and add your details to the employment contract. However, he/she may not take your identity document.

Never hand over your passport or ID card to the employer or employment agency.

Employment contract is essential

An employment contract is a necessity. It contains basic information concerning the scope of work, job position and amount of remuneration for your work. Illegal work is never ok. Not only are you not covered by a contract, you also do not pay any contributions and thus, in case of illness, you are not entitled to any sickness benefits.

Never accept a job offer that does not clearly state the salary. A job position for which you are promised only accommodation and food is suspicious.

Do not sign an employment contract that you do not understand or that is written in a language that you do not understand.

If there is anything in an employment contract that you do not understand, talk to the employer or an authorized person about it before signing.

Any matters just said between you and the employer have no legal value and are usually quickly forgotten. Therefore, you had better not rely on what is just said.

The terms of employment must always be clearly described in the contract. The content of the contract is very important and must be subject to the Labour Code.

How to identify a dishonest employer?

It is quite difficult to recognize a dishonest employer at the first meeting. However, there are some warning signs. If you have any doubt, it is better to reject the job offer right away than to deal with unpleasant consequences later.

Warning signs:

• Unprofessional interview – too personal questions, inquiring about your family situation, your medical condition (which is not related to the job offer), political, racial, religious or sexual comments and jokes or asking your opinion on these topics, gossiping about current employees.
• Unclear job description – it is not clear from the interview what the scope of your job will be, what you will be responsible for, at what times and at where you will work.
• Entry fee for starting a job – the employer asks you to pay a fee to start employment.
• Vaguely determined salary/wage – instead of a fixed remuneration, the employer offers you a share in the future profit of the company.
• Negative evaluations of the employer – the company has negative evaluations on the Internet or in the circle of your acquaintances. You can find a list of employers who have violated the law on illegal employment at National Labour Inspectorate. You can find a list of employers who owe taxes, health and social security contributions at Debtor.

Consult the experts

If you have any doubts about the job offer or suspect that the employer is not treating you according to the law, do not hesitate to consult the experts from the non-governmental organization International Organisation for Migration (IOM) or Human Rights League (HRL).

You can find contacts at Services – Legal Counselling.

Permanent employment brings obligations but also benefits. In addition to the wage/salary, you will receive social security and possible benefits, which should take into account your life situation and contribute to overall well-being at work.

The employer should inform you about them. However, it is good if you know your rights in advance.

All employment contracts in Slovakia must be in accordance with Labour Code.

Probationary period

It is common practice for the employer to provide a probationary period for permanent employment positions. This can be for a maximum period of 3 months (up to 6 months in case of senior staff positions).

The probationary period is the time during which you test whether the job and the employer suit you. Likewise, the employer has time to train you in work procedures and find out if you are a suitable employee.

During the probationary period, your employer, as well as you, may terminate the employment at any time without giving a reason.

During the probationary period, you are not legally entitled to any leave of absence. It is up to your employer whether or not it approves it during this period.

The probationary period is not a mandatory part of employment contracts by law. If your employer provides it, it will be listed in your employment contract.

Working hours

Working hours are 40 hours per week in permanent employment, 20 hours per week in part-time employment. Details will be specified by the employer (e.g. for performance contracts).

Break

If you work longer than 6 hours during the day, you are entitled to a break of 30 minutes. This may or may not count towards your hours worked.

Driving time and breaks for transport workers

Bus and truck drivers have the same rules for driving time and breaks throughout the European Union. These rules are intended to protect your health and increase road safety.

After a maximum of 4.5 hours of driving, drivers must take at least a 45-minute continuous break. Alternatively, this break can be divided into two parts – the first lasting at least 15 minutes and the second lasting at least 30 minutes. The total driving time in one day must not exceed 9 hours.

You can find more at Employing transport workers.

Shift work

When working shifts, the so-called “continuous work rest”, i.e. the time between the end of one shift and the beginning of another one. The employer is obliged to provide you with a break of at least 12 hours between two shifts.

Rights during public holidays

During holidays and rest days, most employees do not have to go to work. However, there are situations when the employer can order you to work on these days, but always in accordance with Labour Code.

These are mainly professions in the field of healthcare, catering, services (gas stations, news, entertainment centres), security (SBS, continuous operations…), maintenance or public transport. You are entitled to an additional payment from your employer for working on public holidays.

Two consecutive days off

These days usually fall on Saturdays and Sundays. However, in a job that requires work even during the weekend, two consecutive days off can also fall on other days of the week.

Leave of absence

The basic amount of leave of absence is 20 days per year.

If you are 33 years old and older or you look after a child permanently, you are entitled to 25 days off per year.

In order to be entitled to take a leave of absence, you must work for the same employer for at least 60 days. If you leave one job and get another job immediately after the termination of the employment, it is considered continuous employment and therefore the entitlement to a leave of absence does not change.

Incapacity for work

If the doctor diagnoses you with an illness that requires temporary incapacity for work, you are entitled to income compensation provided by your employer for the first 10 days.

From the 11th day, you are entitled to a sickness benefit, which is paid by the social insurance company. The assessment of the incapacity for work must be carried out by a doctor, who recognizes you as incapable of work and fills out the form – Confirmation of temporary incapacity for work. Incapacity for work may be recognized up to three calendar days back.

During the entire incapacity for work, you are required to stay at the address you indicated on the confirmation of temporary incapacity for work. If there is an inspection and you are not there, you may lose your sickness benefits and you may also be fined.

Bonuses

For each hour worked during the time specified by law, the employer is obliged to pay you a benefit in the specified amount in addition to the regular wage.

Example:
Jana’s employment contract stipulates a wage of 5 euros per hour. During the 8-hour night shift, in addition to her regular wage, she is also entitled to an additional bonus of 40% of her average hourly wage. The total bonus for the night shift is (5 euros x 8 hours x 40%) = 16 euros.

Compensation for difficult work performance

+20% of your average hourly wage

This applies to risky work involving chemical factors, carcinogenic and mutagenic factors, biological factors, excessive dust, noise, vibrations, ionizing radiation. When performing this work, you are required to use personal protective equipment.

Work at night

+40% of your average hourly wage
+50% of your average hourly wage in case of risky work

Night work is work performed from 22:00 to 6:00.

Work on Saturday

+50% of your average hourly wage

Work on Sunday

+100% of your average hourly wage

Work on public holidays

+100% (or more) of your average hourly wage

You can find a list of public holidays in Calendar of public holidays in Slovakia.

Overtime work

+25% of your average hourly wage
+35% of your average hourly wage in case of risky work

The employer is obliged to pay you the bonus for the hours you work in addition to the agreed working hours.

Meal allowance

If your work shift is longer than 4 hours, the employer is obliged to provide you with one hot meal. This can be done in various ways:

• the employer provides meals in its own facility, or
• the employer provides meals in a restaurant or a canteen, or
• the employer provides you with a meal voucher, or
• the employer pays you the allowance together with your wage.

The amount of the allowance in form of a meal voucher is from 5.10 euros to 6.40 euros (the employer pays at least 55% of the price of the meal voucher, you pay the rest). In case of a financial allowance, you are entitled to an amount from 2.64 euros to 3.52 euros for each day you work.

In case of a performance contract, you are not entitled to a provision of a meal.

Notice period

The notice period starts after you decide to terminate the employment. It may last one to three months, depending on the period you have worked and the reason for the termination of the employment.

Severance pay

If your employment has lasted for more than 2 years and you are given a notice by the employer based on reasons specified by law (e.g. organizational changes, cancellation of a job position, entitlement to retirement), you are entitled to a severance pay. The amount of the severance pay is as follows:

• severance pay in the amount of one average monthly salary, if your employment lasted for at least 2 years,
• severance pay in the amount of twice your average monthly salary, if your employment lasted for at least 5 years,
• severance pay in the amount of three times your average monthly salary, if your employment lasted for at least 10 years,
• severance pay in the amount of four times your average monthly salary, if your employment lasted for at least 20 years.

External sources

• https://www.slov-lex.sk/pravne-predpisy/SK/ZZ/2001/311/vyhlasene_znenie.html ^{[zakonnik-prace]}
• https://www.employment.gov.sk/sk/praca-zamestnanost/vztah-zamestnanca-zamestnavatela/odmenovanie/ ^{[ministerstvo-prace]}
• https://europa.eu/youreurope/business/human-resources/transport-sector-workers/road-transportation-workers/index_en.htm ^{[transport-workers]}

I am applying for a job

When applying for a job, it is advisable to attach your CV together with your personal information. The CV is an integral part of the application for your chosen position and if it is well written, it can help you progress to the next stages of the selection process.

Do not use one universal CV. If necessary, adapt it so that it best meets the requirements of a job offer.

Before you start writing

Your CV reveals a lot about you, so be careful. It contains a brief overview of your knowledge, skills and experience.

If you are not sure how to proceed when writing your CV, choose simple templates that are organized and make writing easier or create one online on various job portals. A good CV should include the following sections.

Your personal information

First of all, write your first name, surname, address, date of birth, telephone and e-mail. If you have a profile on the professional social network Linkedin, you can also add a link to it.

Photograph

A current photograph of your face is also necessary in a good CV. The photograph should be formal, with a white background, similar to that on your ID card or passport.

Example:

Passport-photo-software.com

Knowledge

The employer is interested in whether you are a suitable candidate for the offered job position. In this section of the CV, list the knowledge that can increase your chances of getting a job. These can be certificates, courses and experience. Be specific and avoid vague general phrases such as “I can work with a computer”, “I can work with the Internet”.

Example:

• Communication with clients and work with the cash register at the store
• Marketing assistant license, European Marketing Association
• Work with Google Documents
• Basics of working with Google Sheets

Languages

If you can speak foreign languages, list them in this part of the CV. Use the standard language levels CEFR as follows:

A1 = beginner
A2 = elementary
B1 = intermediate
B2 = upper-intermediate
C1 = advanced
C2 = proficiency

Example:

• English language – advanced (C1)
• Russian language – elementary (A2)

Driving licence

It has become standard to mention in your resume whether you have a driver’s license and what vehicles you are authorized to drive. In this section, it is enough to indicate the type of driving license. If you do not have a driver’s license, skip this section.

Example:

• A, B

Work experience

Start with your most recent work experience. Include the years you worked, the title of the position, the name of the employer, a time period and a brief job description. It is also appropriate to mention part-time jobs, internships and volunteering.

Example:

Welcome team member
Mareena, Bratislava
March 2022 – Until now
Providing information and taking care of refugees from Ukraine at the border crossing in Vyšné Nemecké.

Marketing specialist
SunPower, Bratislava
January 2020 – February 2022
Graphic and text design of printed materials and PowerPoint presentations of company products and services.

Education

Start with the highest completed level of education. Include the years during which you studied at the school, the name of the school or, if applicable, the field of study. If you have a university or secondary education, do not mention your primary school.

Example:

Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Structural Engineering
Technical University in Košice
2017 – 2022

Secondary Grammar School Ševčenkova, Bratislava
2013 – 2017

Interests and personal characteristics

If you want to say something more about yourself and create a more intimate impression of your resume, you can add a section about your interests and characteristics. In this way, you will help the employer to decide whether you would be a suitable member of the team, not only from a professional point of view but also from a human point of view.

Example:

I like hiking, cycling and swimming. I am a singer in a pop-rock group. I am punctual and focus on details at work.

Samples CVs

Finally, get inspired by sample CVs.

• Profesia – Slovensky / English
• Europass CV – Slovensky / English / Український

What is cover letter?

Cover letter is an additional document that you can attach to your CV in your job application.

The purpose of this letter is to show why you are the right candidate. Nowadays, the selection of a suitable candidate depends on a cover letter. Don’t forget that it will be read by your future direct superior.

Basic rules of writing

Cover letter has a specific form. It is addressed to the contact person or directly to the employer. It is usually one page (A4 format) long.

Do not write the text as one long block. A cover letter is not a novel. Therefore, divide it into shorter and easy-to-read paragraphs.

Please check the text carefully before sending. Ideally, have another person read it. They may notice what you missed. The most common mistakes are:

• Typing errors – omitted letters, missing diacritics (long and soft vowels and consonants).
• Grammar mistakes – misplaced i-y in words, wrong word order, incorrect inflection and tenses.
• Phrases – incorrectly worded phrases or, in case of a text in a foreign language, an incorrect literal translation from your mother tongue.

Adapt the content to the job offer

Your professional and personal qualities should be clearly described in the text.

Customize a cover letter to each offer to meet the employer’s requirements and make yourself one of the favourites. If you are applying for multiple job, make sure that each cover letter is tailored to the specific offer. Never send the same cover letter to all employers.

Describe only what the employer may be really interested in regarding the job offered.

For example, if you are applying for a receptionist job, your future employer may be more interested in your experience in similar work positions than in growing plants or construction works.

You can also show that you are familiar with the company. Apply your knowledge directly to the position and thus increase your chances. Be self-confident and don’t be afraid to sell yourself.

Text structure

When writing a cover letter, it may help you if you make an outline in advance. Each cover letter should contain the following parts:

• Header – Provide your contact details here (name, surname, address, phone number, email).
• Addressing the recipient – If the name of the contact person is specified in the ad, you can address your cover letter directly to him/her, otherwise address the recipient as “Dear Sir or Madam”.
• Reasons why you want to work for the company – Express your motivation to work for the specific employer. It may be useful to study the information on the company’s website or follow their social networks.
• Prior work achievements – Do not be afraid to praise yourself and summarize your career achievements that are relevant to the job offered.
• Skills and abilities – These will make you a more attractive candidate for the job offered.
• Thank you
• Place, date and your signature

Cover letter templates

If you are not sure how to write a cover letter, you can find templates online that you can download and adapt to your needs. For example here:

• Profesia – Slovensky / English
• Ako písať – Slovensky

Who can work based on a student job agreement?

An agreement on a student job allows young people from the age of 16 to work (provided that they have completed compulsory school attendance) up to the age of 26 if study at a secondary school or at a university as a full-time student.

This type of agreement allows you to work for a maximum of 20 hours per week on average.

It means that you can work fewer hours one week and more hours another week. However, the total number per year cannot exceed 20 hours per week on average.

In addition, working hours of a student worker cannot exceed 12 hours within a 24-hour period. For young people under 18, working hours cannot exceed 8 hours in a 24-hour period.

An agreement on a student job can be concluded for a maximum of 12 months. After the end of this period, it can be extended.

Confirmation of study

An agreement on a student job must include a confirmation of full-time study at a secondary school or a university.

Student jobs are not possible with part-time study.

You can get a confirmation of study upon request from the study department of your school. Each school or academic year, you have to apply for a confirmation again and attach to the current student job agreement.

Student job nature

An agreement on a student job must include:

• job description,
• working hours,
• remuneration for work performed,
• date on which the wage is paid and
• period for which the agreement is concluded.

Exemption from paying levies

Student jobs are exempted from paying levies for up to EUR 200. If you have several student jobs, this benefit only applies for one employer you specify. The exemption from paying levies cannot be applied for other agreements.

If you earn more than EUR 200 per month, you only pay levies from the difference of the resulting wage and this amount.

Example

Martin earned EUR 346 in March. He will pay levies of 7% only from the amount of EUR 146, because he applied for the exemption from paying levies for the amount of EUR 200.

Where to look for a student job?

When applying for a job, you will need a CV and, in some cases, a cover letter.

You can find more in the following articles How to write a CV or Cover letter.

You will also need a bank account where your wage will be sent. The account must be held in your name. Almost all banks provide student accounts that are usually free of charge.

You can find student job offers at:

• Junglee (job agency)
• Študentský servis (job agency)
• Index Nosluš (job agency)
• Brigáda
• Profesia
• Kariéra

Yes, you definitely do. Especially if you are dealing with questions about work or education. Email is the preferred method of communication when dealing with different organisations.

Many companies, authorities, but also civil associations and commercial companies clearly prefer this way of communication. In Slovakia, banks, doctors, insurance companies, interest associations, schools, organisations providing language courses, employers and colleagues at work communicate with you by e-mail.

Through e-mail you can receive information about activities that interest you, about events that are happening in your area, e-shop information, get prescriptions for medicines, make appointments at the office or at the doctor’s office, apply for university and, last but not least, apply for a job.

Mareena also prefers email communication when organising language courses and various events. When you register for any event or language course, expect a reply or confirmation via email.

Setting up an e-mail box

You can set up an email account for free on various platforms. The most common companies that provide the possibility to set up an e-mail box in Slovakia include: Google (gmail service), Zoznam, Azet, Post.sk, Centrum. You can also set up an e-mail directly on your mobile phone or tablet and always have information from it at hand.

The e-mail address for formal communication should contain your first and last name. It is not advisable to use an email address containing nicknames or diminutives for official communication.

For example, a person with the name Karol Vysoký might consider such email addresses:
[email protected] (or another domain, see above, not necessarily gmail)
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

Each email you want to send contains three parts:

• To: the email address of the person, organization or company you want to contact
• Subject: a few words, but no more than one short sentence, describing what to expect in the email itself – something like the title of an article/post. (e.g. “application for a language course”, or “interest – Warehouseman position”)
• The email body: the space where you write the text with the information you want to send. E.g. if you are looking for a job, write what kind of job you are looking for and what experience you have (shortened cover letter).

Your email can look like this:

Tips for effective use of email communication

If you enter your email somewhere, make sure it is entered correctly. It often happens in practice that when you register for language courses or other events, for example, the address you give is incorrect. Therefore, you will not receive the information you are waiting for.

Please check your email inbox daily or every two days. If you only check it once a week, or even less often, you might not get the latest information – you might miss an important deadline, lose your place on a course, or not get to an event you were looking forward to. Ideally, your email inbox is updated on your mobile phone. If you have notifications set up, you can see immediately on your phone that a new message has arrived.

Don’t forget to sign in. Email is a bit like a letter – you need to sign it, especially if your address doesn’t in any way indicate your name. Some requests can certainly be dealt with without knowing the name of the person writing to you, but there are also cases where this is not possible and your email may go unanswered.

Emails without a salutation, signature and from a random address (e.g. [email protected]) often go unanswered because they are considered unserious in many companies and offices.