How to find an internship in the Czech Republic
Formerly known for its turbulent political history, the Czech Republic has since become one of the most industrialised countries in Eastern Europe. Located in the centre of Europe, the country offers not only stunning natural landscapes and a chance to get to know a different culture but also serves as the perfect gateway to discover other countries in Europe. Add to that a low cost of living and a wide range of career opportunities to explore, and you've got yourself the perfect destination for an internship.
Conditions
In general, internships are part of higher study programs and are often obligatory for getting a degree. Their duration may vary between 3 weeks to 4 months, or even more, depending on the terms defined by your higher education institution in the internship agreement.
According to the Czech labour laws, however, an internship is considered as a standard job. It, therefore, involves an employment contract including a minimum wage. Note that an internship cannot exceed a maximum of 300 hours a year with the same employer.
Find an internship
Internships in the Czech Republic are available in a variety of fields. With that, some of the most popular areas for internships include technology and IT, medicine, marketing, banking, and education.
As an internship is considered a job, you would typically proceed with your search in the same way as you would if you were looking for a job. You can start by browsing specialised job websites and forum boards and scanning entry-level job listings.
Alternatively, you can get in touch with potential employers directly including your CV, cover letter as well as a few references (for good measure). This way, you can target the enterprises and fields you are most interested in ' you can find the list of the country's top 100 countries in the Useful Links section at the bottom of this article.
You can also seek the help of international organisations that are specially intended for trainees or interns. The National Training Fund, for instance, takes care of all international exchange programs in the Czech Republic.
In all cases, you will need to prepare your cover letter and CV in English, specify that you are a foreign student looking for internship opportunities and how long you will be available for work.
Procedures
As a trainee, you will be part of an agreement between your higher education institution and the company that has agreed to take you on board. You will, thus, need the following:
- a copy of the internship agreement between your school and your employer
- a document specifying your obligations during the internship
- a document specifying the company's obligations towards you.
Useful links:
National Training Fund
Jobs
Dobra Prace
Profesia
National Employment Portal
Czech Top 100 Companies
