Registration procedures
When seeking employment, EU citizens are not subject to any requirements that are different than those that apply to Czech citizens and they do not require any special permit in order to take up work in the Czech Republic. The same applies to family members of EU citizens, who can also work without a work permit.
The only requirement that relates to the employment of EU citizens rests with the employer. The employer must report such an employee to the local labour office no later than on the starting date of employment. Such reporting is done for record tracking purposes. The same reporting duty applies also to employers to whom such a foreign employee is posted either from his or her foreign or Czech employer.
How to Find Work in the CR
European job mobility portal EURES offers jobseekers not only the possibility to search for vacancies retrieved from the database of Czech labour offices, but users of the European portal can also create their own account “My EURES”. Jobseekers may also visit the Czech website of EURES network on the portal of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, where you will find a link “Looking for work in the CR?” (available also in English). Certainly, you can also visit one of the 15 EURES advisers working in labour offices in all regional cities in the Czech Republic and in the city of Vsetin.
Labour Offices
Labour offices offer jobseekers a number of options to help to improve their position when looking for new employment. The basic option is to search through a current database of vacancies (possible with assistance of the job placement officer), which employers are required under the law to report to their local labour office. In addition to their basic services, labour offices provide for example vocational counselling or advice on retraining.
Employment Agencies
When looking for work through an employment agency, it is important to make sure that the agency is holding a licence to tender recruitment services. Most employment agencies have their own websites where you will be able to find all the necessary information. The best place to start looking for employment agencies in your region is the local telephone directory. Services of employment agencies should be provided at no cost to the jobseeker. Media and the Internet
Nationwide press in the Czech Republic often have a supplement published on a regular basis (MF DNES — Tuesdays and Thursdays; Hospodarske Noviny — Mondays; Lidove Noviny — Wednesdays) that attends to the employment issues and lists job offers. Additional printed resources of employment classifieds are for example periodicals Jobmaster, Avizo and Annonce.
Great sources of job offers are various internet portals. These sites can be used not only to search for vacancies offered by employers and employment agencies but, in addition, they often allow you to post your CV online and make it available to employers looking for employees.
The minimum wage is the lowest possible compensation that can be paid to an employee with an employment contract. This wage is regulated by the Labour Code. The current minimum wage for a 40-hour working week is CZK 8,000 per month or CZK 48.10 per hour
Applying for a Job
The most frequent way to apply for a job is to submit a CV (curriculum vitae) with a cover letter. However, this may not always be the best approach. If looking for a manual labour job, it is often best to visit the potential employer in person. The majority of employers require their employees to be fluent in the Czech language, which is something to be considered when applying for a job. You can always inquire in advance about the specific language requirements related to a particular job.
Cover Letter
The text of the cover letter should be brief and to the point, with the objective of motivating the employer to want to hire you. The content should focus on what you would like to do and how you could make a positive contribution through your work for this employer. In other words, you should indicate why you are interested in that particular job and what you can offer to that employer. Larger companies often have a printed job application questionnaire which replaces the cover letter and it often lists the information that you need to provide to that specific employer.
Curriculum vitae (CV)
Curriculum vitae (CV) is usually required in the form of a structured CV and it should contain the following information:
- Personal Data — your first and last name, address, telephone number, email, date of birth and nationality
- Education — information about your schooling and academic accomplishments (secondary school and later)
- Work Experience — this is the most important part and it should contain a list of all previously held jobs, containing a brief job description and the period of employment (new graduates can list any previous seasonal or part-time work or relevant professional experience)
- Other Skills or Qualifications — language skills, computer skills, driving-licence and certificates or training accomplishments
- Special Interests — a brief description of your personal interests
- References — name and contact information of previous employers
Job Interview
If you are called in by the potential employer for a further selection process or for a personal interview, you should bring your CV and copies of any certificates or licences that you obtained in the past. In some situations, the interview may be accompanied by a psychological test.
Employment Contracts and the Labour Code
Before signing an employment contract, the employer is required to inform the prospective employee about their rights and obligations.
Essential information that must be included in an employment contract is: type of employment, location of employment and employment starting date.The contract must be written and one copy must be handed over to the employee. If the contract does not include the rights and obligations of the parties, the employee must be provided with such information in writing within one month after the starting date of the employment.
For legal purposes, the employment relationship starts on the date indicated as the employment starting date in the employment contract.The concluded contents of the employment contract may only be changed if both the employer and employee agree to such a change. The employment may be terminated through one of the following means: mutual agreement, notice, immediate termination or termination during the trial period. Should the employer violate any of the terms and conditions contained in the employment contract, you can contact your local labour inspection authority as the aggrieved party and your case will be investigated.
One of the new services that are available on the intemet portal of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (portalrnpsvcz) is the option to post a jobseeker’s offer on the site. You may also create your own account and post your Cl/ online and request that any job offers be forwarded to your email address.