Working in Prague

With its central position in Europe and relatively stable economy, the Czech Republic is increasingly attracting both expats and foreign companies to its shores. The high standard of living for a relatively low cost doesn’t hurt either.

EU citizens can live and work in Prague easily as they don’t require a work permit, whereas non-EU citizens do need a work permit to gain employment in the city.

Job market in Prague

Some main industries in Prague are manufacturing, specifically automobiles and aircraft and diesel engines, IT, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, tourism and food manufacturing. Although Prague’s industrial sector is thriving, new arrivals will have to compete with the highly educated local labour force for jobs. 

Expats often find jobs in the financial services, education, information technology, trade and hospitality sectors. Teaching English and customer service roles are among the biggest expat employers in the city. For those lacking skills in these areas, it may be worth looking into one of the foreign companies that have set up shop in Prague. The Czech Republic is becoming more popular for foreign business investment, and expats therefore may be able to find a job in one of these companies.

Useful links

• EU expats can access the European Job Mobility Portal to learn more about working in Prague and the industries that are currently hiring.

Finding a job in Prague

With a highly educated and skilled workforce, competition for top jobs in Prague may be fierce. Nevertheless, expats with the right credentials and experience will find opportunities in the country. We recommend that expats secure employment before moving to Prague.

Job opportunities can be found through online job portals or by directly contacting a local recruitment agency. Otherwise, employment opportunities may be found by looking for postings on the websites of specific multinational companies. Expat social media groups are also a fantastic option for finding expat-specific jobs. 

Czech is the main language of business, and potential employers might expect resumes and applications to be in Czech. 

Useful links

• Jobspin.cz hosts English-friendly job opportunities for expats. 
• Jobs Prague is a social media group hosting bilingual job opportunities. 

Work culture in Prague

How individuals conduct themselves during business proceedings in Prague can have a great impact on how fellow business associates perceive them. Expats should take some time to understand common business practices and etiquette in Prague to become familiar with their corporate culture.

Expats may initially perceive the reserved Czech manner as cold and impersonal, but Czechs are actually warm and hospitable people. They are generally private people until one gets to know them on a more personal level, although it could take many meetings to reach this stage.

Although the group's opinion may be heeded, business structures in Prague are hierarchical, and decisions are made from the top down. Expats from more egalitarian societies may initially have a difficult time with this aspect of working in Prague. 

Networking is highly important in Prague, and it is vital to build and maintain relationships. Business may be conducted slowly, with initial meetings scheduled to get to know each other and ascertain the trustworthiness of associates before a deal can be made. Expats must therefore exercise patience.

Family is valued highly in Czech culture. Family ties are deeply rooted, and family time is important. As such, it is unlikely that work commitments will extend over weekends or public holidays.