Kateřina Hanáková, Senior Recruiter at Deutsche Telekom Services Europe Czech Republic, spoke to Brno Daily recently to explain some of the challenges of recruiting in the Czech Republic. Photo: Kateřina Hanáková and Daniela Hůdová. // Photo credit: Daniela Letanovská.
What are the main activities of Deutsche Telekom Services Europe Czech Republic?
We are the internal services provider of Deutsche Telekom. Here in Brno, we focus mainly on financial services like accounting and procurement. Our customers are the subsidiaries of Deutsche Telekom, mostly telecommunication companies across Europe. We are also responsible for working out how to process financial services differently, such as using modern technology and looking for possibilities of digitization. We have a lot of job opportunities available, like accounts payables, general ledger, procurement data analytics and many others, like IT, HR, and positions related to business development. All our job opportunities are listed on our website at www.dtse.cz.
What challenges do you see in the Czech labour market?
The current unemployment rate is very low, which means that there are currently more jobs than candidates in big cities like Brno. This is a great advantage for graduates, people looking to make a career change, or even people who want to relocate to the Czech Republic. On the other hand, from a recruiter’s perspective, it is becoming a challenge to get well-qualified and motivated people at the time the company needs them, and also to retain them. Some job offers nowadays may promise too much and not be realistic. It is also a part of the job to educate people that they should get to know their prospective employers as well as possible before making a decision. Overall, I think that this is a positive situation because companies are pushed to treat their good employees as their biggest asset.
What are the biggest obstacles for foreigners moving to Brno?
Not every employer is willing to assist with the visa process, which takes a long time and requires a lot of administration. Also, public offices have a lack of English-speaking staff. That’s why we have a relocation support service in our company. It is important to inform candidates and newcomers about living in Brno, such as costs, the healthcare system, public transport and so on, and to offer them support with regards to administration and accommodation. What I definitely recommend to everyone who wants to move to Brno is to visit the city, visit the company, get to know people, get all the info, and think twice before taking a final decision. Companies may worry about investing in people from abroad who are not going to stay at the company long because they may figure out they don’t like it here.
How does the recruiting process work in DTSE CZ?
Usually one of our recruiters calls the candidate to give them more information about us and the position they are interested in, and also to find out more about the candidate. Then, the hiring team evaluates the candidate’s CV together with the information from the recruiter. The successful candidate is invited for a personal interview, initially for an online one with a possible personal meeting later on. The personal meeting is not just about the interview, but also about the candidate getting to know their future manager, the team and our office environment, plus tasting our delicious coffee. Of course, at every step of the process, the candidate receives feedback via phone or email.
Which skills are most appreciated in your company?
We have different departments where different skills are valued, but in general, when talking about our culture, I believe we appreciate open-minded people who want to bring new ideas and suggestions for improvements. We are people who work with a keen sensitivity to responsibility and strive for high-quality results. We don’t worry about being different when we know we are on the right track. We are also big fans of new tools and technologies that make our working life easier, and we are always up for having a chat or a party, that makes our working life happier.
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