General info

Welcome!

Have you come to Brno, because your spouse/partner got a job offer? Or runs a business here?

And now you are wondering what to do with your life here? Would you like to get a job, start your own company or perhaps just spend your free time in a meaningful way, meeting other interesting people? Start here – we’ve created the Brno Expat Spouse Programme for you and joining the programme is free of charge.

We aim to provide spouses of highly qualified expat employees with interesting and fulfilling opportunities that suit their situation in life and enhance their potential.

Overview

We’re launching our spouse programme in 2023. Our areas of activity will eventually include:

Would you like to join us?

Sign up to receive invitations and join us for informal meetings whenever you wish

 We look forward to hearing from you

  • If you’d like to take part in the activities and meet fellow expats to enjoy life in Brno together
  • If you’re interested in using your professional experience to mentor other expats and help them develop their potential
  • If you’re an active person and would like to be involved in putting together the programme together and helping out with the running of it
  • If you have any other interesting ideas or suggestions in this area

Join our next event!

24 March, 28 April, 26 May, 23 June

InSpiration MeetuP

You are welcome at our regular networking events, the core meeting points of our spouse programme. These meetings are open to any spouses of highly skilled employees residing in Brno.

They take place every 4th Friday of the month from 10-12 am and always include a career-focused and cultural input, plus a chance to meet and chat with fellow spouses over a cup of coffee, ask questions and discuss plans for the next events.

The upcoming dates in 2023 are: 28 April, 26 May, 23 June. Details of the programme will always be listed on the specific event page.

Career counselling

Individual career counselling is provided in the form of job mentoring. We are cooperating with Monika Höklová, an experienced advisor in this area.

Job mentoring is an innovative way of holistic counselling, based on a socio-dynamic approach, strengthening career skills and the use of networking. It emphasises the importance of education. It teaches clients to adapt to changing life conditions and strengthens career adaptability. Aims at the use of qualifications, higher employability, a happy life.

In the course of several meetings, the client reflects on his/her current life role together with the counsellor and plans his/her future career path, step by step moving towards the desired goal. The counsellor works with various diagnostic methods and tools (competence cards, decision wheel) and tries to strengthen the client’s employability.

The group activities for the Spouse programme will be implemented in the form of clubs, where part of the programme will be devoted to less formal discussions on topics related to working life in the Czech Republic, such as

  • How to look for a job
  • Where to get inspiration when writing a cv or a motivation letter
  • How to improve and train self-presentation
  • The types of employment we enter into with our employers
  • What does it mean and why is it important to have foreign education recognized in the Czech Republic
  • What are the differences in gross and net wages
  • What is important for deciding on a job with a future employer
  • What are the benefits commonly offered by employers

Topics may also arise from participants’ requests.

Leisure activities

We are very happy that Sylvie Pospíšilová, former Masaryk University welcome office specialist, volunteered to be the curator of the leisure programme for our project!

Here is an overview of her suggestions – feel free to browse and also vote for your favourites by clicking on this link. That way the future trips will be selected.

The plan is to conduct two events per month, one shorter one and one longer one. We will aim for Fridays but there may equally be exceptions due to other circumstances and practical reasons.

a) shorter excursions (2-3 hours)

b) longer trips (half day – whole day):

Feel free to let us know in case you have any other suggestions for either trips or activities.

Language courses

For those of you who wish to stick to their original profession and pursue it here in the Czech Republic, the local language is a crucial issue. While some companies or institutes are open to employing people who do not speak Czech, for others it may prove impossible for now. Thus, learning Czech may be an absolute necessity.

We are on constant search of reliable, quality courses of Czech – you can have a look at our general guide HERE. However, for professional engagement, a leisurely course of 2-4 hours per week is not enough, if a sufficient knowledge is to be reached within reasonable time. Therefore, we’re also searching for intense, high level courses that will enable graduates to speak Czech at B-2 level and start seeking employment locally within a year.

For now, one of the options is a course at Masaryk University – there are still some free  spots, the application deadline is 31 July and the course begins in September. BEC Spouse Programme clients have an option to pay in two installments.