Writing a CV for Czech employers: what to keep, cut and add

A recruiter with a stack of applications gives each CV very little time. If yours is four pages long, written in a layout from another country and missing the one piece of information they need, it lands in the pile it deserves. The good news is that the Czech format is not complicated, and a few changes can make a CV feel local without making it less you.

The Czech word is životopis, or sometimes CV pronounced as the English letters. You will also see profesní životopis, a professional CV. Employers use all of them to mean the same thing.

Language comes first

Look at the job advertisement. If it is in Czech, send a Czech CV. If it is in English, send an English one. Many international companies in Prague, such as shared service centres and tech firms, work in English and prefer it. A Czech employer who posts in Czech expects a reply in Czech, and a CV in another language can signal that you may struggle with the job. If your Czech is not strong enough for a full CV, say so in a line, and consider a short Czech summary at the top.

Our guides to the English-speaking job market and to interviews, published alongside this one, go further.

The standard shape

Most Czech CVs follow a familiar pattern. At the top come your name, contact details and, often, the town you live in. Then a short profile or summary, then work experience in reverse-chronological order, then education, languages and skills. Hobbies are optional and brief.

Work experience entries need the employer, your title, the dates (month and year are fine) and two to four lines on what you did and achieved. Numbers help when they are true: team size, volumes, customers, savings. Education lists school or university and the degree. If your qualification is from abroad, say what it is in plain terms; recognition of foreign qualifications is a separate process for regulated professions.

Keep it to one or two pages. Czech employers value clarity, and a long CV reads as a sign that you cannot prioritise.

What to include and what to skip

Czech CVs often include a few details that may surprise you. A photograph is common, though it is not required, and many international companies prefer none. Date of birth, nationality and marital status appear on older-style CVs, but employers do not need them to judge your ability, and you are free to leave them out. Data-protection rules apply to how employers handle what you send.

Languages matter. State your Czech level honestly, using the standard scale of A1 to C2, and list other languages in the same way. A driving licence category is a normal line for jobs that involve travel. If you have the right to work in the country, say so briefly, because it answers a question the recruiter would otherwise have to ask.

Salary does not belong on the CV. If an advertisement asks for expectations, answer in the cover message or at the interview. Our guide to reading a salary offer explains why you should always compare gross and net.

The cover letter

A cover letter (motivační dopis) is common but not universal. Some employers ask for it, some do not mind, and some ignore it. When it is requested, keep it short: three or four paragraphs, saying why this job, why this company and what you bring. Avoid copying text from the advertisement. Use the same language as the CV.

Formatting and file

Send a PDF unless the employer asks for something else, because it keeps the layout intact. Name the file sensibly, with your name and the word CV. Use a plain font and clear headings. Applicant tracking systems read simple text better than clever graphics.

Common mistakes

The most common one is sending the same CV to every employer. A short tailored profile and a reordered skills list make a visible difference. Another is overstating your Czech. If a job requires fluent Czech and you are at B1, you will be found out at the first phone call, and it is better to be honest and look for roles that suit your level.

Gaps in the CV are a normal question. Explain them briefly and without apology: study, travel, caring, a move to another country. Recruiters see them every day.

A Czech employer may also ask for references (reference). Have two people ready who have agreed to be contacted, and tell them when a call might come.

Where to look and what happens next

Job boards, company websites and the Labour Office's portal are the standard routes, and our guide to job boards and finding work in Prague explains how to use them. The EURES portal helps citizens of the EU and EEA find work across the bloc. If you need a work permit, see our guide to working in Prague as a foreigner first, because the employer may ask about your right to work early on.

After you send an application, expect a reply within a week or two, or none at all. A short, polite follow-up after ten days is acceptable. Then prepare for the interview, which has its own habits.

Frequently asked questions

Should I put a photo on a Czech CV?

It is common but not required. Many international employers prefer none. The choice is yours.

How long should a Czech CV be?

One to two pages is the norm.

What is Europass?

A European standard CV format with a free online editor, recognised by many employers.

Do I need a cover letter?

Only if the employer asks. When you write one, keep it short.

Should I write my CV in Czech or English?

Match the language of the advertisement.

Open a blank document today, write your last three jobs in reverse order with two lines each, and you will have the core of a CV in twenty minutes.