Work-study programs are helping young people break into Prague’s job market

Breaking into Czechia’s job market is difficult for many foreigners, but young professionals face an added barrier. Beyond finding an English-speaking role, many employers still expect experience recent graduates do not yet have.

Young workers need to stand out from the crowd, but global companies also need to work hard to support new talent. Some of them, like Commerzbank, have developed work-study programs to close the experience gap. Through their Student Pool initiative, they create roles that give students from around the world a head start in a competitive jobs market. 

Participants work part-time at the company, while continuing to study at university. “It’s a long-term talent pipeline,” explains Eliška Pituchová, the program’s coordinator. “We’re proud to see many of our students continue their careers at Commerzbank.”

Expats.cz spoke with Eliška and expat students in the program to see how this model works in practice and what it offers those trying to enter the Czech job market.

Many young foreigners looking for a first job in Czechia have faced the “vicious circle” that keeps inexperienced workers jobless: You can’t get experience without working, but employers demand experience even for so-called “entry-level” roles.

The headache is compounded by a reduction in junior roles, often linked to the rise of artificial intelligence. Almost half of Czech companies anticipate workforce reductions by 2030 as AI systems increasingly take over repetitive human tasks, according to a survey by Asseco Solutions.

The Student Pool alleviates some of these issues by placing students directly into working teams. Like any career opportunity, participants must apply for a specific role, but the program makes it clear they won’t be stuck in it the whole time. The opportunity to work in different departments helps them build crucial skills and bolster CVs while they are still undergraduates.

The Student Pool currently consists of around 40 students from 13 countries and provides a springboard into a successful career. These participants gain valuable experience as developers, testers, scrum masters, business analysts and more at Commerzbank’s Digital Technology Center, contributing to real projects at the bank’s Prague-based tech hub.

A large part of the initiative is to give opportunities to talented students from different backgrounds and create an inclusive environment. “We look for candidates who have something to offer, who are open to learning new things, and who will be a good fit for the team,” explains Eliška. 

Polina, a Student Pool member from Ukraine, is studying at the Czech University of Economics. She knows that finding work as a qualified graduate will be no walk in the park.

“Most positions are senior or mid-level, which is an obstacle for students without experience,” she explains. “But student positions are constantly opening in different departments [at Commerzbank].” 

Participants gain career-boosting skills by rotating through new areas within the company.

Opportunities are facilitated by the company's flexible, welcoming and international culture. Managers are eager to mentor students, and Student Pool members are given room to grow through flexible hours that accommodate their existing study schedules.

This environment has helped Polina explore different jobs before committing to a long-term career path. “It has helped me find out what I don’t want to do and what interests me the most,” she adds. “Now I know which way to look for my future career.”

Igor, from Russia, discovered the Student Pool program during a wider job search. Since joining, he has worked as a data scientist, machine learning developer, and data engineer.

Igor feels that the “bottleneck” faced by those looking to get their foot on the career ladder can be solved with “clarity about the future and our potential.” The Student Pool provides the kind of support young professionals need in order to rise within their industries.

“My managers are my mentors,” Polina explains. “They help me, they answer my questions, and involve me in corporate life.

Among Student Pool members, social activities provided by the program reinforce a togetherness fostered through work, study, and in many cases, shared experiences of expat life. Eliška describes students as “not just colleagues, but friends.” 

“We are connecting in our daily life because we are all students,” adds Igor. “Some of us are at the same universities, in the same programs. There are people your own age who share the same issues that you might have,” he adds.

Igor says the program also builds a strong peer network beyond work, where he can interact with his peers more naturally.

By combining work and study, Commerzbank’s Student Pool gives young expats community, mentorship, and the ideal first step into a competitive jobs market. As Igor puts it: “This is a place where I can shine.”