Looking for a job in the Czech Republic? This article can come in handy. You will learn how Czech work culture looks like as well as some useful vocabulary.
The Czech people always appreciate when a foreigner makes an attempt communicate in the Czech language (“komunikovat v češtině“). However, the Czech people, as well as their language, tend to be very formal (“formální“) with strangers.
The plural pronoun “Vy“ (declinations: dative “Vám“; accusative and genitive “Vás“) serves also as a polite (“slušný“, “zdvořilý“) means of addressing someone that you do not know (even in a bar, or a shop) and showing respect to someone you do not have a personal relationship (“osobní vztah“) with. Therefore you can often hear people of the same age, or even at a very young age using the formal plural (“vykání“; informal addressing “tykání“) when speaking.
Many of the people in management positions and in the international companies (“mezinárodní společnosti“) in the Czech Republic are multilingual. Most speaks English, Russian and German. In general, people in their fifties speak some German, Russian and English whereas the new generation prefers English; although German, French, Russian and Spanish are also quite popular.
Maintaining the eye contact (“udržení očního kontaktu“) is an important part of communicating your intentions in a business meeting (“obchodní jednání“); it gives away your level of interest in the discussion and that you are (not) an attentive listener (“pozorný posluchač“). Avoiding the eye contact could be interpreted as a lack of interest (“nezájem“) or bad intentions (“špatné úmysly“). Never forget to maintain the eye contact when making a toast (while saying: “Na zdraví!“). We know, it’s hard to do two things at the same time, however, there’s plenty opportunities to practice in the Czech Republic. The non-verbal communication (“nonverbální komunikace“) reflects the reserved social attitude. Speaking with hands is rather remote to the Czech speakers.
What is better to be avoided during the conversation at work (“v práci“)? For sure, asking questions about the intimate personal subjects, such as age, health, housing (“bydlení“), or finances. On the other hand, the topics as politics and economy usually recommended to stay away of are no big taboo (“tabu“) in the Czech conversations. However, you’d better get ready for lots of irony and sarcastic remarks before bringing them up – that’s the typical way the Czech people criticize or express disagreement with something.
If you are looking for a job in the Czech Republic and you are not 100% sure that you can perform in Czech yet, visit www.jobspin.cz: the Czech job portal for foreigners and multilingual people in the Czech Republic. The web is designed specifically for foreigners and multilingual Czech people looking for a job or internship in the Czech Republic! All the job openings are posted in English (or in the actual languages of the job – Dutch, German, Polish, etc.). You can browse the job openings using the criteria of languages you speak or their combinations. At Jobspin.cz, we want to make your job hunt in the Czech Republic easier!
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