Finding a job in Czechia means first knowing where to look and how to filter listings by city and field, and only then dealing with the details. Go through the ad before your first phone call: verify the company name, ID number, working hours, and whether anyone asks you for money upfront. Job searching is free; you only pay for premium services like language courses or retraining.
Most people in Czechia today combine three paths. Job portals offer a wide selection and company profiles, while ads on classified sites offer speed and direct contact with the owner of a business or a family looking for help. The third path is approaching a company directly, which works mainly for trades and in cities where the local market is well known. Prague, Brno, Ostrava, and Pilsen each have their own rhythm: Prague is dominated by administration, IT, and services; Ostrava by technical professions and manufacturing; Brno by development and research; Pilsen by engineering and logistics. This guide is for readers who want to go through listings on their phone and have a checklist handy. We'll cover filters, warning signs, the structure of an honest ad, communication with the advertiser, and what paperwork you need in Czechia.
- Filter by city, district, and field. In your ad, write specifically what you can do and when you can start.
- Never pay upfront for job placement. There is no legal fee for finding work.
- An honest ad states the company, job description, working hours, salary or its range, and place of work.
- Before starting, ask for an employment contract or agreement and check the salary, working hours, and notice period.
Where to find a job: comparing paths to listings
The fastest way to find work is where the offer is as close as possible to your home and field. Job portals have the most ads and company profiles, but competition among applicants is higher there. Classified sites and ads from private advertisers tend to get faster replies because the owner is often behind the ad directly. Approaching a company nearby directly is the slowest, but for trades and in smaller towns it often has the best results.
In practice, it pays to combine. In the morning, go through portals using filters; in the afternoon, write to two companies in your district; in the evening, check new ads in the app. For each listing, note when you responded and to whom. Whoever gets back to you within two working days usually has a real interest.
| Where to look | Advantages | Disadvantages | When it's useful |
|---|---|---|---|
| Job portals | Wide selection, filters by field and city, company profiles | High competition, sometimes outdated ads | When you're looking in a field with many positions |
| Classified sites | Fast contact, less formality, often a direct advertiser | Ad quality varies, you need to check yourself | When you want a part-time job, help, or work nearby |
| Approaching a company directly | Little competition, personal impression, quick decision | They rarely advertise, you have to look yourself | When you know local businesses and trades |
With paid services, be careful to distinguish what is a normal commercial service and what is job placement. Advertising is usually free for candidates, while language courses, retraining, or professional courses are paid. Prices in Czechia range from hundreds of crowns for a one-off course to tens of thousands for a longer retraining program. Before you pay for anything, go through job listings, where you'll find the rules for posting ads and contact for support.
How to filter job listings by city and district
Filtering by city isn't enough when you commute across the whole of Prague. It helps to set a radius around your home, a specific district or catchment area, and only then the field. In Prague, it pays to also watch the outskirts, where there are fewer applicants and the same salary. In Brno, it pays to search by public transport lines, because a trip from Královo Pole to Slatina takes a different amount of time than crossing between districts in Ostrava.
Besides location, filter by working hours. Part-time, weekend shifts, and part-time jobs have their own section and often include offers you won't find elsewhere. For shift work, ask for the specific schedule, not just the number of hours. For home office, ask how many days you must be at the workplace.
What to set up in your phone app
Save a filter by city, district, and field and turn on notifications for new listings. Go through ads once a day, not once a week, because good positions disappear within a few days. A short message with your name, field, and availability works better than a generic "I'm interested".
How to spot a scam ad and what no one should ask you for
The most reliable sign of a scam is a request for payment upfront. You don't pay for job placement in Czechia, and if someone asks you for a registration fee, a deposit for equipment, or money to "reserve a place", that's a warning sign. The second sign is a missing company name and missing ID number. The third is an offer that promises high earnings for few hours without a job description.
Before you reply, look up the company's ID number in the register and compare the name and address with the ad. If they don't match, or the company isn't in the register at all, don't respond to the ad.
It's also suspicious when communication happens only through a foreign app and no one wants a phone call. For offers of part-time work abroad, ask for a written description of the work, accommodation, and transport. If someone sends you a link to a payment or to verify your bank account, never click on it. You can also check the advertising terms on job listings in Prague.
What an honest ad contains and what can be negotiated
A quality ad answers five questions: who is looking, whom they are looking for, what the job will involve, where you will work, and under what conditions. For salary, the gross salary or range is stated; for shifts, the specific schedule. If the ad doesn't have these details, it's not automatically a scam, but it's a reason for caution and follow-up questions.
Check whether the offer is still current. An ad without a date or with a date several months old often means the position has been filled. For offers that only say "good pay", ask for a specific range. Salaries in Prague, Brno, Ostrava, and Pilsen differ for the same profession, and the difference can be several thousand crowns a month.
What to ask before an interview
Ask about the exact working hours, the length of the contract, and the trial period. Find out who will be your supervisor and whom to contact if there's a problem. For shift work, ask about weekend and night shift bonuses. For commuting, ask whether the company contributes to transport.
If it's a job under an agreement, check how many hours a month you can work and whether it will cover your expenses. For a main employment relationship, ask about the notice period and how many days of vacation you get. These details belong in the contract, not just in a verbal agreement.
How to reply to an ad and what to bring to an interview
Reply briefly and specifically. Write what position you're looking for, what experience you have, when you can start, and how you're available. Include your phone and email. If it's a trade or a field with experience, give examples of your work, not generic phrases.
Bring your ID, CV, documents proving education and experience, and a list of questions to the interview. For foreigners from non-EU countries, a work permit or employee card is required; for EU citizens, an ID and proof of health insurance are enough. Before signing, read the whole contract, not just the salary.
Paperwork you need in Czechia
The employer will sign an employment contract or an agreement on work activity, or possibly an agreement on work performance. Before starting, provide an entry medical examination if the company requires it, and your bank account number for payment. Some professions require a criminal record extract or a valid professional license. You can find details on rights and obligations on the websites of the Ministry for Regional Development and the Czech Trade Inspection Authority.
If an agreement falls apart, handle it in writing. Keep a copy of the contract, pay slips, and communication with the company. A complaint about working conditions or unfair treatment is filed with the relevant labor inspectorate; for consumer disputes, contact the Czech Trade Inspection Authority. On the EX & GO marketplace, you can view the advertiser's history and ratings from other users for job offers, which helps you estimate who you're dealing with. We see that the most common questions about job ads are whether the offer is still valid and whether you pay for placement.
How much to pay for advertising and job-related services
For candidates, job searching is free. You only pay for additional services such as language courses, retraining, professional certifications, or qualification verification. Prices vary by scope and city. A short course can cost a few hundred crowns; a longer retraining program tens of thousands. Always ask for a price breakdown and what's included beforehand.
Advertisers pay for making their offer more visible, not candidates. If someone offers you a job and at the same time asks you to pay for "inclusion in a database", that's a fee for a service, not a condition for starting. The difference is important: you only pay for a service if you really want to use it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a job ad is fake?
The most common signs are a request for payment upfront, a missing company name and ID number, communication only through an unfamiliar app, and an offer of high earnings without a job description. Verify the ID number in the register and compare the name and address with the ad. If the details don't match or the company isn't in the register, don't respond to the offer and don't send any money or copies of documents.
Should I pay for job placement?
You don't pay for job placement in Czechia. A legal employment agency must not charge a candidate a fee for finding them a job. You can only pay for additional services you want yourself, such as a language course, retraining, or professional certification. If someone asks you for a registration fee or a deposit before you start, that's a warning sign and it's better to turn the offer down.
What should an honest job ad include?
It should state the company name, job description, place of work, working hours, required qualifications, and the salary or its range. For shift work, the ad should include the shift schedule; for commuting, information about transport. If any of these details are missing, it's not automatically a scam, but it's a reason to ask follow-up questions before the interview and verify the company in the register.
What documents do I need to start a job in Czechia?
EU citizens need an ID and proof of health insurance. Non-EU foreigners need a work permit or an employee card. The employer will sign an employment contract or agreement with you. Before starting, provide an entry medical examination if the company requires it, your bank account number, and for some professions a criminal record extract or a professional license.
Where can I find work in Prague, Brno, Ostrava, or Pilsen?
Prague has a lot of administration, IT, and services; Brno has development and research; Ostrava has technical professions and manufacturing; Pilsen has engineering and logistics. Filter listings by city, district, and field, and set up alerts for new ads. Besides job portals, also check classified sites and approach companies in your area directly, where there's usually less competition.
How much does it cost to post a job ad?
Job searching is free for candidates; you only pay for additional services like courses and retraining. For advertisers, sites charge fees for making the ad more visible or for a longer listing period; the price depends on the length and placement. Always ask for a price breakdown and a list of what's included so you don't pay for something you won't use.
What to do today
Finding a job is a process made up of small steps. Set up a filter by city and district, save alerts for new listings, and write to two companies in your area. For each reply, note the date and contact so you have an overview of whom to get back to. Before an interview, go through the checklist: company, ID number, job description, working hours, salary, location, and contract.
If you come across an offer that asks for money upfront or doesn't have a company name, don't pay and don't send documents. Check the advertising terms and, in case of a dispute, contact the relevant authorities. Look for work continuously, not just once. Even a small part-time job or short-term help can turn into a permanent position if you prove yourself.