 Born in Satu Mare, Silaghi graduated in Mechanical engineering from the Transylvania University of Braşov (1987), and later (2004) took a master's degree in Public administration from the Vasile Goldiş University in Arad.From the time of his graduation to 1990 (after the Romanian Revolution), he worked as an engineer in his native city, and soon after opened his own private enterprise.In 1999-2004, he was president of the Satu Mare Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture.