Agencies say time ripe for those looking for temp work

Photo: Štěpánka Budková

With the summer holidays two months away, personnel agencies say the time is ripe for students and others to being applying for temp work, as firms ready to bolster regular staff numbers. Czech Radio reports that construction, landscaping and receptionist jobs are among those currently on offer. The number of ‘brigády’ (temporary jobs) in construction alone, doubled over the last month.

Photo: Štěpánka Budková
Students who have to dig deep into their pockets to find meagre sums will be encouraged that the number of temporary jobs for the months ahead is growing. In fact, personnel agencies warn, the time to begin applying is now, when options are broad and positions more abundant, not yet snapped up.

One 17-year-old, Anna, told Czech Radio, she already worked in catering at weekends, as a hostess offering dishes various events. Restaurants, too, will be looking for helping hands, according to Czech Radio: offers in gastronomy grew by a quarter over the last month. In short, students wishing to work, still have options.

Andrej Slivka of the ads website annonce.cz told the broadcaster that many eateries needed extra waiters and waitresses over the summer holidays and confirmed that jobs were up in the construction sector. There, however, suitable skills are appreciated and better paid. Generally-speaking, remuneration in the area of temp jobs is up by an average of around 10 percent from last year: in construction, regular workers can earn 80 crowns per hour, masons, 110 crowns.

Students should be aware that, although sought, they are not the only ones on the jobs market in line for temp jobs: seniors seeking to make a little money to add to pensions are, to a degree, competition. Parents on maternity leave also have an interest in making some extra money if they can.

With a little imagination, interesting work can be landed: one 21-year-old student told Czech Radio that she had found work at a dance studio, where she has already worked part time for a year. The nature of the work? Helping with the organization of class schedules, managing social network accounts and other administrative duties; not all temp work needs to be tedious or physically-demanding, if one knows where to look.