jobs cV VS. RÉSumÉ If you’re from the US, it’s likely you’re familiar with a résumé, but you may not be so familiar with a CV (curriculum vitae); the two mainly differ in length, content and purpose. In the US a CV is used mainly for academic or research positions. In Europe, the Middle East and Asia, employers will expect to see a CV. This will typically run two or more pages. The CV’s goal is to give prospective employers a brief sample of your education, skills, and professional experience. Your CV should include the same basic details as a résumé (your name, contact information, etc.,) plus information on your education, any academic experience or publishing credits, awards, honors, and professional organizations you are a member of. You’ll also want to give a more detailed summary when listing your professional qualifications and job history. There are a couple different styles of CV that may help you focus on designing yours. The functional CV covers your career history, skills, abilities, and expertise. This is a good CV if you are looking to change careers and want to highlight transferable skills. A chronological CV (most common) also details your career history (in chronological order) as well as your educational background. You would choose this CV if you are staying in the same field and want to show career progression. The look of the CV is important. If in doubt, keep it simple. Choose a clear typeface, don’t be tempted to use anything but black text, avoid any other gimmicks and make 100% sure that there are no spelling or grammatical mistakes. If you are providing a hard copy of your CV, use good quality paper and always print off a clean copy with no handwritten alterations/updates. RecRuitment AGencieS The recruitment market in the Czech Republic is competitive, and there are many local and large international recruitment firms operating. Job hunters can receive help in finding a job from a temporary position to executive levels, from a large number of recruitment firms. Service levels differ greatly; if job hunters are expats, use an internationally renowned agency as they have access to the expat and senior-level roles. Local agencies generally provide a local service for local people. IT recruitment is a strong sector, and the number of shared service centers is increasing. Companies are now looking for more creative marketeers, PR professionals, and designers. IT and language jobs require very little Czech; finance and sales generally require it. International firms with English as the business language would not require staff to speak Czech unless they are in a client facing role. Most placements last for three years, which is the international standard for the duration of an international secondment, and the situation is not very much different in the Czech Republic. Average salary for placements: Executive: 150,000+ CZK/month IT: 80,000 CZK/month Finance: 70,000 CZK/month Sales: 60,000 CZK/month Language: 30,000 CZK/month eXpAtS And WoRk pRActiceS One of the many impacts of globalization is the greater homogenization of working practices around the world. However, local traditions still prevail, in the Czech Republic and elsewhere. It would therefore be a mistake to assume that expats, even those working for multinational companies, can expect the work environment to be completely the same as that at home. What can expats expect? Are there major differences in working practices? We asked some foreign employees in the Czech Republic about their opinions on a number of common work practice issues. Formality and relationships with superiors Like other European languages, Czech distinguishes between formal and informal ways of addressing people. This can lend Czech work culture a slightly formal aspect absent in Anglo-Saxon countries where it’s usual for coworkers to use first names. In the Czech Republic however, employees, particularly those of the older generation, often keep their distance and refer to each other formally, even with those they have worked with for years. It’s useful to bear this fact in mind, although working relationships between expats and Czechs are usually slightly different. Expats may worry about being too familiar (or too formal), but their Czech colleagues are usually aware of this issue and are understanding. In addition, many firms, both international and Czech-owned, are introducing an informality policy; as a result all employees, regardless of rank, can be on first-name terms. Disputes and conflict resolution Most people noted that problems between superiors and subordinates or between workers of the same rank were dealt with immediately and amicably. However, a minority of respondents observed that conflicts were dealt with via a supervisor or line manager first. Many of those asked agreed that the approach to timekeeping is more relaxed in the Czech Republic, if the delay is due to family commitments. Employers make allowances, for example if workers have to leave early to pick up their children. Interestingly, flexitime, where employees have to be at work between 10:00 and 16:00 but can arrive earlier or later outside the core hours, is not common in the Czech Republic. Others noted no differences in attitudes to timekeeping between the Czech Republic and elsewhere, but said that their coworkers took a more relaxed approach to attending meetings. Workloads and the work/life balance An interestingly even divide emerged in this area. On the one hand, respondents stated that colleagues did their work and then left more or less on the dot at 17:00 or 18:00, regardless of their workloads. Others described cases of coworkers spending longer time at the office and (frequently unpaid) overtime. Employees on fixed rates watch the clock and run when it hits 17:00. Employees motivated with flexible pay and bonuses seemingly work long and hard to meet and exceed their targets. Dress codes Respondents noted that when it came to multinational firms, dress codes were the same as elsewhere, although non-client facing staff at large multinationals were able to dress more casually; for example, IT staff sometimes wore jeans at work. However, dress codes are becoming more informal generally. For example, many global companies in the Czech Republic have a casual Friday policy, and during the rest of the week men are not obliged to wear ties unless they are dealing with clients. Inappropriate language When it comes to language used between employees, jokes, etc., Czech work culture is regarded as less “inclusive” than in the United States or Western Europe. However, global firms generally take the same approach as in other countries, and employees can be disciplined for making inappropriate comments, sending offensive emails, etc. 154 | expats.cz survival guide www.expats.cz
www.expats.cz Reedglobal CZ & SK 5 Years - 7 Specialisms Since 2008 Reedglobal CZ & SK has grown into a formidable local recruitment company covering both the Czech Republic and Slovakia from two offices and across 7 specialisms. We have support from our global business that has a track record of assisting jobseekers and employers since 1960, and today operate in Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific. Reed Specialist Recruitment is a family-owned and operated business, with more than 3,000 permanent employees working out of 350 offices and across 30 specialisms. INTERESTED IN HEARING WHAT OUR EXPERIENCED AND SPECIALISED CONSULTANTS THINK ABOUT PARTICULAR EMPLOYERS WITHIN THE CZ & SK REGIONS? GIVE US A CALL OR SEND US AN EMAIL! MULTILINGUAL SHARED SERVICES AS OUR BUSINESS CONTINUES TO EXPAND, REED NOW OFFERS NOT ONLY EXECUTIVE SEARCH AND RECRUITMENT SERVICES BUT ALSO THE FOLLOWING: HR Consultancy Managed Vendor Outplacement FINANCE & BANKING SALES & MARKETING ENGINEERING & SCIENTIFIC IT & TECHNOLOGY HR HR & OFFICE & LEGAL Pre-Selection services Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) Temporary worker Recruitment Third party Agency Management Market Leading Job Portal (www.reedglobal.cz) náměstí Republiky 1078/1 110 00 Praha 1 | T.: (+420) 225 985 111 | E.: info.czech@reedglobal.com www.reedglobal.cz expats.cz survival guide | 155 jobs
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