I want to tell you about my first job in Europe, warehouse worker in Wroclaw, Poland. Many people from Egypt ask me "Is work in Europe hard? How much salary? Can I live?" I will tell you truth, not fake stories from TikTok.
I got job through agency in Egypt. Agency said salary 1000 euro, easy work, free housing. Truth was different. But not bad, I still saved money and learned.
I arrived in Wroclaw in January. It was cold, minus 8 degrees. Company bus picked me from hostel to warehouse. Warehouse was big, like 10 football fields. Inside, temperature was 10 degrees, cold. I worked as order picker. My job was to pick boxes from shelves with scanner.
My shift was 8 hours, but with overtime I worked 10 hours. Morning shift 6 AM to 2 PM, afternoon 2 PM to 10 PM, night 10 PM to 6 AM. We changed shifts every week. Night shift was hardest. I slept during day in hostel room with 3 other workers from Ukraine and India. Room was small, but free, so I didn't complain.
Salary: Contract said 23 PLN per hour net, around 5.3 euro per hour. If you work 168 hours per month, salary is around 890 euro. With overtime, I worked 210 hours, salary became 1100 euro. Agency cut 200 PLN for housing? Actually first month they said free housing, but they cut 400 PLN for transport. So real salary first month was 950 euro. Second month 1100 euro because I did many overtime.
Is work hard? Yes, physically hard. You walk 15-20 km per day inside warehouse. You lift boxes 5-15 kg. Back pain first 2 weeks. I bought back support belt for 50 PLN. After one month, body gets used to it. But you must be healthy. If you have back problem, don't take warehouse job, take factory with less walking.
What about contract? I had Umowa Zlecenie, not Umowa o Pracę. Difference is important. Umowa Zlecenie is like temporary contract, less taxes but no paid holiday. Umowa o Pracę is full job contract with paid holiday and health insurance better. Many agencies give Zlecenie for new workers. After 3 months, they can change to o Pracę if you are good worker. I got o Pracę after 4 months, salary increased to 26 PLN per hour.
Housing and job together: My housing was in Wroclaw, 12 km from warehouse. Company bus was free, so I saved transport. But room was 4 people in one room, 2 bunk beds. Not comfortable, but cheap. After 3 months, I found my own room near job for 350 euro, as I told in previous article. I moved out from company housing. Now I have private room, more comfortable, but I pay from my salary.
Work culture: In Poland, boss is strict about time. If you are late 5 minutes, you get warning. 3 warnings, you lose job. So always be on time. Also they check scanner efficiency. You must pick 100 items per hour. If you pick less, boss talks to you. I learned to be fast. In Egypt, work is more relaxed, but here time is money.
Food at work: Canteen has cheap food, 15 PLN for lunch (soup + main + drink). I ate there every day because cheap. If you bring food from home, you save more.
Language: At warehouse, most workers speak Ukrainian, some English. Boss speaks Polish and little English. I learned basic Polish words: "Dzień dobry" hello, "Gdzie jest paleta?" where is pallet, "Koniec zmiany" end of shift. Learning 20 words helps a lot.
After 8 months in warehouse, I applied for better job in logistics office, because I learned system. Now I work as team leader, salary 1600 euro, no heavy lifting, only computer and scanner. So warehouse job is good start, but you can grow if you learn.
For people coming from Egypt or Africa, warehouse job is easiest to get without language. You don't need German or Polish high level, just basic English. Agencies recruit for Amazon, DHL, InPost, Zalando, all need warehouse workers in Poland and Germany.
My advice if you want warehouse job in Europe in 2026:
1. Check contract type. Try to get Umowa o Pracę if in Poland, or full contract in Germany. Avoid agencies that take big fees. Good agency takes no fee from worker, company pays them.
2. Ask about housing. Is it free or how much? How many people per room? Is transport free? Write questions and ask before you travel.
3. Bring warm clothes. Warehouse is cold in winter. Bring thermal underwear, good shoes. Company gives vest and shoes but not enough for winter.
4. Prepare for hard physical work first month. Do exercise before you come. Walk every day, do some lifting.
5. Save money. First 3 months, don't send all money home. Save 300 euro per month for deposit for your own apartment. After you have own apartment, life is much better.
6. Learn language while working. I learned Polish on phone app Duolingo during bus time. After 6 months, I could speak basic Polish, and I got promotion.
Real salary after all costs for warehouse worker in Poland in 2026:
Salary 1100 euro (with overtime)
Rent if own room: -350 euro
Food: -200 euro
Transport if not free: -21 euro
Internet/phone: -15 euro
Left: around 514 euro saving per month. If you live in company housing 4 people room free, you save 864 euro. So many workers stay in company housing 6 months to save, then move.
In Germany, warehouse salary is higher, around 1800-2200 euro net, but rent is higher, 600-800 euro. So saving similar, but life quality better.
My first job was hard but it taught me discipline and gave me start in Europe. Now I have better job because I started with warehouse. Don't expect easy office job from day one if you don't speak language. Start with warehouse, learn, then grow.
If you have job offer for Europe, take it, but ask many questions about housing, transport, contract. And remember, job and housing are together. Choose job near cheap housing.
I hope my story helps you understand real work life in Europe, not just Instagram pictures.