Job interviews in Czechia: formal hello, direct questions, salary talk

You arrive eight minutes early, the receptionist asks you to wait and a manager in a smart-casual jacket shakes your hand and says dobrý den. Twenty minutes later you are asked what monthly salary you want, gross, and you realise you have not decided. A Czech interview is rarely hostile, but it has its own habits, and knowing them helps.

The interview is called pohovor or výběrové řízení (selection procedure), and the process usually has one to three stages. Multinational firms in Prague often follow an international pattern, with a recruiter call, a hiring-manager interview and sometimes a task or a panel. Smaller Czech employers tend to be shorter and more personal.

Before you arrive

Arrive five to ten minutes early. Czech workplaces take punctuality seriously, and being late without a message is a poor start. If you are delayed, phone or message as soon as you know.

Dress for the sector. In offices, banks and corporate roles, smart clothes are the norm. In technology and creative firms, smart-casual is fine. When in doubt, dress one notch above what the employees wear.

Greet with dobrý den and a handshake, and wait for the interviewer to suggest first names. In the Czech language there is a formal and an informal "you" (vy and ty). In an interview, the formal vy is the default, even when the company uses first names later. Our guide to formal and informal address in Czech explains it. For English interviews, the interviewer will usually move to first names quickly.

How it flows

Expect an opening about you: walk me through your CV, why this role, why Prague or Czechia. Then come the questions about your experience, usually practical and specific. Czech interviewers tend to ask for concrete examples rather than abstract answers. After that, the interviewer describes the job and the company, and you ask your questions.

The tone is direct. Silence after your answer is not a sign of disapproval, and a short, factual answer is better than a long, polished one. Modesty is valued, but you still need to show what you can do. Avoid exaggeration; claims are easy to check.

If you have a CV problem to fix first, see our guide on writing a CV for Czech employers.

The questions you will probably get

Salary expectations (platové představy) come up in almost every interview. Always answer in gross monthly terms, because that is how Czech contracts and job advertisements quote pay. If you are unsure about the market, check advertisements for similar roles and ask a recruiter for a range. Our guide to gross and net salary explains the difference.

Notice period (výpovědní doba) is another standard question. Under the Labour Code the notice period is at least two months, and a contract can set a longer one (as of 2026; check the official source). If you are leaving another job, say how soon you can start. Probation (zkušební doba) is a trial period at the start of a contract. For contracts agreed since 1 June 2025 the legal maximum is four months, or eight for managerial staff (as of 2026; check the Labour Code), so ask what applies to the role. Notice also changed then: it now runs from the day it is delivered, not from the first day of the following month.

Be ready for questions about your right to work and your Czech level. If you need a work permit or an employee card, say so honestly and ask whether the employer has experience with sponsoring. Our guide to working in Prague as a foreigner covers the basics.

What employers may not ask

Czech law prohibits discrimination in recruitment on grounds such as sex, age, religion, ethnicity and disability. Employers should not ask about pregnancy, family plans or marital status as a condition of hiring, and you are not obliged to answer. If you are asked, you can decline politely or answer in general terms. For details, the State Labour Inspection Office is the official body that oversees workplace rules.

Employers can ask about qualifications, experience and your ability to do the job. A background check or references may be part of the process, and you should be told if so.

Your questions

Prepare three or four. Ask what a typical week looks like, how the team is organised, what the first three months will involve and what the next stage of the process is. Questions about the contract type (hlavní pracovní poměr, full employment contract, or a freelance arrangement) are reasonable. Our guide to employment contracts explains what the different forms mean for you.

Do not open with questions about holidays and sick pay. They are legitimate, but later in the process they land better.

After the interview

Send a short thank-you email the same day or the next morning. Czech employers do not expect long letters, but a polite line is a good habit. If you hear nothing within the time they gave, follow up once after a week.

If you get an offer, check the contract type, the gross salary, the working hours, the notice period, the probation and any benefits in writing before you sign. If something is unclear, ask for clarification, and consider professional help for anything that affects your residence status.

Frequently asked questions

Should I use first names with Czech interviewers?

Wait for them to suggest it. Use the formal vy in Czech until invited to switch.

Do I have to say what I earn now?

You can give an expectation instead. Quote it as a gross monthly figure.

How long is probation?

Up to four months, or up to eight for managerial staff, for contracts agreed since 1 June 2025 (as of 2026; check the Labour Code). Ask what applies to the role.

Can employers ask about pregnancy?

No. Czech law prohibits discrimination, and you are not obliged to answer.

Write down your gross monthly salary range, your notice period and your earliest start date on one sheet of paper. If you can say them without hesitation, you have done the main preparation.

This is a general explainer, not legal or tax advice.