Career Counselor to Foreigners: “Job Searching Doesn’t End with Job Portals”

What does career counseling involve?

A career counselor acts as an anchor, helping to structure the job search process and providing a sense of security. Career counseling is not just about preparing a CV—it also helps clients recognize their skills and abilities and present them effectively in job interviews. It is important to encourage proactivity and show them ways to continue their education, develop professionally, and adapt to the rapidly changing labor market.

How does career counseling at ICP work, and what services are available to clients?

Career counselling at ICP is primarily based on individual consultations. The most common topics include diploma recognition, CV adjustments, and job searching. Clients often need help navigating the job market, understanding where to find job offers, knowing their rights and responsibilities, and learning about employment contracts and agreements.

English-speaking clients frequently focus on LinkedIn, where they can find positions in corporations more easily. Many are unaware that, in addition to job portals, they can also use professional chambers, Facebook groups, or companies’ career pages. In January and February, we often help students choose a high school. Another major topic is retraining, and we also support clients who need guidance in their future career paths. For these cases, we use various professional assessments and creative techniques, such as career coaching with image-based career cards.

In addition to one-on-one consultations, we offer in-person and online seminars on the job market, labor law, and even LinkedIn strategies. A third key pillar includes practical job interview training and workshops designed to help clients identify their strengths and competencies in the labor market.

Who can access ICP’s career counseling services?

Most of our career counseling services are primarily intended for Ukrainians with temporary protection, but we also assist foreigners with other types of residence permits. Generally, we work with foreigners who have a residence permit for longer than 90 days. We support both those with unrestricted access to the labor market and those with employment restrictions.

This service is available to anyone at any stage of their career—whether unemployed or employed, highly skilled or in low-skilled roles, students or those nearing retirement looking for a career change. We provide services in Czech, Ukrainian, and English, and with interpreters, we can accommodate additional languages. This means that almost any foreigner can benefit from our services, regardless of language barriers.

What types of jobs are most sought after by foreigners?

English-speaking job seekers are often highly educated professionals, most commonly IT specialists, data analysts, or senior managers. They typically look for jobs in international corporations where English is the primary language and Czech proficiency is not required.

Ukrainian job seekers also tend to have at least secondary or higher education. Despite their qualifications and work experience, many have to accept lower-skilled positions or jobs in different fields due to the language barrier. Recently, we have seen an increase in accountants, as well as teachers, psychologists, nurses, pharmacists, and professionals with economics backgrounds.

You mentioned retraining. What retraining programs do clients use?

The most popular retraining courses among our clients are accounting and Czech language courses, which align with labor market demands. Employers often require retraining for accountants because accounting systems vary by country. Other common options include digital skills courses such as Excel, Word, Photoshop, or AI-related training.

Clients can receive up to 50,000 CZK for retraining over three years. For digital courses, participants must cover 18% of the cost themselves, which increases the likelihood of their application being approved. For professional retraining (e.g., accounting, cosmetology), the employment office covers the full cost. At ICP, we help clients apply for funding and advise them on how to justify the need for retraining. We also collaborate with labor office specialists who can recommend high-quality courses and the best available options.

What barriers do foreigners face in the Czech job market?

The main obstacles are language barriers and a lack of system knowledge—foreigners often don’t know where to look for information, aren’t well-networked, and don’t know the relevant resources. Some also mistrust employment offices and government agencies due to past negative experiences.

Another significant issue is the shortage of kindergartens, which makes it harder for parents to work. Qualification recognition is also a major challenge—without a nostrified diploma, many professionals cannot work in their fields.

For Ukrainian refugees, uncertainty about their future and the possibility of returning home complicates long-term career planning. Many clients also have unrealistically high expectations, assuming they will immediately integrate and find a job in their field. We help them set realistic steps to gradually achieve their career goals.

Do you encounter cases of workplace discrimination?

We often deal with cases where clients believe they are experiencing discrimination or labor exploitation, but in reality, it’s often a misunderstanding of employment contracts or payroll statements. For example, some clients don’t understand deductions on their payslips and assume their employer is cheating them.

Genuine workplace discrimination most commonly relates to age or nationality. We frequently see job postings requiring native-level Czech, even when it’s unnecessary for the role.

If we identify cases of discrimination or exploitation, we refer clients to organizations like La Strada or the labor inspectorate. We also advise them that their CV does not have to include sensitive information such as age, marital status, or nationality, which could lead to discrimination. However, many clients fear reporting discrimination, especially if their housing depends on their job, as they risk losing both.

What could the government or employers do to better support foreigners in the job market?

Employers could help by lowering Czech language requirements and providing opportunities for language learning at work.

Recruitment through employment agencies is also a concern, as it can lead to exploitation and poor working conditions.

A major issue is the lack of centralized information. When foreigners search for job-related information online, they often land on intermediary websites rather than official sources. The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs is currently working on improving this. Having one comprehensive website with all key information in one place would benefit both foreigners and professionals working with them.

Could you share some key job search tips for foreigners?

• Understand your residence permit type, as it determines your employment options and which institutions can support you.
• Identify your strengths and skills—know what you can offer employers.
• Set clear priorities—do you need a job quickly, regardless of the field, or are you looking for a job specifically in your profession, even if it takes longer?
• Use career counseling services—we can guide you through the process. Job searching can feel overwhelming, but we help break it down into manageable steps to make it less stressful. The hardest part is getting started!
• Stay flexible and maintain a positive mindset—with the right approach, you can overcome any challenge.
• Look beyond job portals—consider job fairs and networking events as well. For example, on April 1, 2025, Integration Center Prague is co-organizing the Jobspin Job and Relocation Fair, for Czech- and English-speaking foreigners. My colleague Martina and I will be leading a workshop on how to find fulfilling work and identify your strengths—a great introduction to our career counseling services. We warmly invite everyone to join us!