An ideal mix of work and location? Ajťák in Prague. But even that has its limits
IT field, Prague location. This has been the most advantageous combination on the labor market for several years. The hunger of companies from Ajťák, the richest offer of positions and the highest average salary attract IT graduates from the rest of the Czech Republic and neighboring countries to Prague. however, they immediately encounter their unrealistic demands.
Have you heard? Ajťák in Prague automatically takes a hundred thousand and digs the bids with pitchforks! This cliché sounds all over the Czech Republic and beyond and attracts IT graduates to the capital. However, the reality is more prosaic and candidates with too “big eyes” can get uncomfortable. Although at first glance there is nothing to solve: According to labor market figures, the entire IT industry is one of the most sought-after, which is also reflected in the earnings of individual IT professions. According to the Platy.cz server, the average salary in the field of information technology nationwide is over 60 thousand crowns, which is almost double the average earnings in the fields of production, transport or the automotive industry, and almost three times as much as in gastronomy and hospitality.
Although the salary range of IT employees is relatively wide, from almost 38,000 to over 90,000, and although salaries vary widely by position, it is still clear that IT is the market leader. For comparison: the second is banking with an average of over 48 thousand, the third pharmaceutical industry with an average of over 45 thousand.
The capital is dominated by the capital: According to an annual survey by the Grafton Recruitment agency, the IT manager in Prague comes to 100 to 150 thousand a month, while his colleague in the Moravian-Silesian region is in the range of 65 to 90 thousand. The junior programmer takes between 45,000 and 64,000 in Prague, while between 35,000 and 50,000 in the Moravian-Silesian Region. These numbers therefore clearly show that it makes sense for Ajťák to move to Prague to work.
Dream Karlin
A typical idea of a beginning IT looks like this: a well-paid job in a dynamic startup in the iconic, vibrant Karlín. Informal approach at work, free working hours and well-stocked cafeteria. Sushi and evening drink at noon. Stylish living and own car. Conflict with reality can then occur when choosing a job. Even in Prague, the Ajťák people do not dig up attractive offers with pitchforks. The offer of financial evaluation goes hand in hand with this, which is usually higher for IT beginners than for other professions, but it certainly does not reach the limit of one hundred thousand.
In addition, graduates should take into account the cost of living, such as housing, food, energy, or car fees. If after moving to Prague most apartments in the center or in some of the more lucrative districts, buy a new car and order food from more expensive restaurants daily, the costs climb up quickly and meet the above-standard income, there is no reserve, savings or opportunity for any appreciation. “We still often encounter the trend that not only the necessary costs but also the desire to spend automatically increase with the amount of earnings. However, few people think of the back door,” explains Martin Macho of the financial consulting company MS Quatro.
It’s not just about money. Ajťák wants to have fun and grow
Although it may sound paradoxical, from a certain level of wages cease to be the only money, or at least the main criterion of job satisfaction. Values such as interpersonal relationships in a team, but also social responsibility or sustainability become more important.
“These are not the financial limits of the starting salary, but above all the stability of the offer, the corporate environment and culture, and more recently the values that the company brings to the company, how it cares about the environment and what meaningful plans it has on the market. no one will go for half salary, just because the company is “sunny.” But the intention to screw up their financial requirements just because someone else is interested in me is no longer a priority from a certain salary level, ”explains headhunter Markéta Šveda from Recruit. CZ. For creative professions, including IT, the main criterion is whether they enjoy the job, bring external challenges and professional growth.
“Growth is a key added value. On the contrary, the prospect of professional stagnation and stunting is usually the biggest scarecrow. On the other hand, it is optimal if the employer is able to install large, demanding projects for juniors, within the network they can constantly shift their skills within a team of senior colleagues, “says Radovan Jelen from FG Forrest, which deals with the creation of large web applications and e-mail. – shops and employs over sixty people.
The company can choose skilled people at school
He also gives examples of involving young employees in large-scale implementations: for example, a web developer worked for the largest energy supplier in the Czech Republic, whom the company had already looked for at a high school with which it has long-term cooperation, and quickly moved from junior activities to greater responsibility. Another newcomer to the position of project manager serviced two large e-shops during the trial period. “Managers in our country are gradually taking on a simpler agenda, associated with the maintenance and small development of projects. This will allow them to look around, understand how we work project, technology, process. explains Radovan Jelen. “That’s why job seekers should monitor and actively identify growth opportunities during initial interviews to avoid the risk of stunting.”