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Summary for: How ‘learnability’ could help you land your next job in CzechiaTechnological advances are transforming jobs across industries in Czechia, changing what employers expect from workers. As a result, “Tell us about your AI skills?” is now yet another typical question to add to your mental job interview checklist.
Companies increasingly need people with technical knowledge, yet a ManpowerGroup survey found that 61 percent of Czech employers are unable to find applicants with the right skills. Even specific technical skills can quickly become outdated, so employers are looking for something broader: a willingness to keep learning.
Instead of sacrificing your free time (and your bank account) on expensive, soon-to-be obsolete qualifications, here’s how shifting your mindset can give you a powerful edge.
IQ? So twentieth-century. Think about ‘LQ’ instead
According to ManpowerGroup, a key attribute that recruiters now look for is “learnability,” which equates to your “LQ” (Learnability Quotient). IQ is about logic or problem-solving, but LQ is about your natural curiosity and willingness to learn.
“Curiosity is one of the best qualities you can have,” says Jiří Halbrštát, Marketing and Communication Director at ManpowerGroup. “Foreigners in Czechia already have an edge, because moving to another country demonstrates intellectual curiosity and enterprise.”
“There’s no shame in saying ‘I don’t know how to do this,’ but there is in insisting ‘this is how I’ve always done it and I won’t change,'" he adds. "Curiosity is what drives you to grow and adapt in a fast-changing world.”
These qualities are great talking points for any job interview, providing an advantage for international residents in an increasingly competitive job market. For jobseekers in Prague and beyond, the challenge is turning that willingness to learn into evidence employers can recognize.
‘Rapid relearning’ and ‘Unlearning’ become new jobs hacks
A study by Deloitte and the Czech Association of Artificial Intelligence found that 78 percent of large enterprises now have specialized AI roles. This suggests that many multinational employers concentrated in Prague and Brno increasingly need people who can adapt as new technologies reshape their work.
Workers don’t need to start their careers from scratch however. Small, regular updates to their skills, which ManpowerGroup calls “rapid relearning,” can demonstrate the kind of adaptability employers want.
Manpower’s ‘rapid relearning’ tips
- Quick skills audit: look at three people you admire in your field. What skills do they have that you should improve?
- Start small: “Rapid relearning” can mean as little as reading one article or listening to one podcast while drinking your morning coffee or commuting to work.
- Get your boss’s buy-in: Ask directly what skills you should focus on to become more useful to your company; this gets them on board with your career growth.
A related skill is “unlearning,” which is the ability to let go of outdated processes and ways of working. Instead of committing to lengthy courses that may quickly become obsolete, ManpowerGroup suggests that workers pursue micro-certifications and short courses in areas such as AI, data analysis, software, and communication.
Retaining employees which seek out opportunities to grow their skills is beneficial to companies as well. “In an overheated labor market, it’s so much easier for them to ‘upskill’ loyal employees than to find new skilled workers,” Halbrštát explains.
Skills that can give foreign workers an edge in Czechia
Need some inspiration? If you are part of the foreign workforce in Czechia, these skills could give your career an edge.
- AI workshops. If your company is willing to arrange corporate training, English-language courses are available from providers such as AI Institute. Individually, you can sign up for free for the online Elements of AI course (used in Charles University training modules).
- Basics of data analysis. Options are available for in-person data analysis training in Prague through The Knowledge Academy.
- Courses in commonly used software applications. Sharpening your skills with commonly used apps such as Word, Excel or PowerPoint is a great way to demonstrate technical aptitude. Try individual learning courses on Coursera as the most straightforward way to brush up your skills.
- Coding or programming. You won’t become a tech wizard overnight, but this will demonstrate your eagerness to grasp the technologies of the future. Free, peer-to-peer educational tuition in English can be found at 42 Prague.
- Public speaking. This isn’t about making big speeches; it’s about being able to talk confidently and clearly in day-to-day working environments. Counselors specializing in foreigner workplace integration can help, as can Czech-based career coaches and online self-guided tutorials.
- Czech language basics. Indisputably one of the most useful things you can do to grow in a Czech workplace. Private courses of varying lengths are available through Charles University or private language schools. The Prague Integration Center (Integrační centrum Praha) has a dedicated “Czech Course for Work.” Your company may also arrange courses with schools providing corporate teaching deals.
- Understand Czech workplace norms. Ask colleagues and friends about local workplace habits to show your curiosity. You can also seek professional advice from services such as Integration Centers located throughout the Czech regions as well as counseling services specializing in workplace mental health.
As Czech companies continue employing people from abroad, international workers will continue to remain a major part of the labor market. Promoting your LQ, relearning an existing skillset, or moving beyond outdated routines can help you stand out further.
