The specific part of maturita topic 10 (Jobs and occupations), at B2 level: the most common jobs in information technology, what you need to get them, and how to succeed in a job interview – including the questions you are likely to hear.
Jobs in IT
| Job | What the person does |
|---|---|
| software developer / programmer | designs, writes and tests programs and apps; can be front-end (what users see), back-end (servers, databases) or full-stack (both) |
| web developer / web designer | creates websites; a designer is responsible for the look and user experience (UX/UI) |
| tester / QA engineer | looks for bugs and checks that software works as it should |
| system administrator | installs and maintains servers, computers and user accounts, makes backups |
| network administrator / engineer | designs and runs networks – routers, switches, Wi-Fi, firewalls |
| IT support / helpdesk technician | helps users with problems with hardware and software – often the first job after school |
| cybersecurity specialist | protects systems and data from attacks and tests them for weaknesses |
| database administrator | designs and looks after databases |
| data analyst / data scientist | analyses large amounts of data and finds patterns; works with statistics and AI |
| DevOps / cloud engineer | automates the deployment of software and runs it in the cloud |
| project manager | plans projects, leads a team, communicates with the customer and watches the deadline and budget |
| game developer, graphic designer, IT teacher… |
Pros and cons of working in IT
Pros: high demand and good salaries, interesting and creative work, possibility to work remotely or abroad, flexible working hours, many career paths.
Cons: long hours in front of a screen and little movement, stress and deadlines, the need to keep learning all the time because technology changes fast, and pressure from AI tools, which take over some simple tasks.
What employers want
- Hard skills – programming languages, networks, databases, operating systems, certificates (e.g. Cisco, Microsoft, AWS).
- Soft skills – teamwork, communication, problem-solving, time management, the ability to learn.
- English – documentation, forums and communication in international teams are in English.
- A portfolio – your own projects, for example on GitHub, often matter more than grades.
Applying for a job
- Find a job advertisement (on job portals, LinkedIn or company websites).
- Send a CV (BrE) / résumé (AmE) and a cover letter – a short letter explaining why you want the job and why you are the right person.
- A good CV is short (one or two pages), clear and true. It contains personal details, education, work experience (part-time jobs and internships count), skills, languages, certificates and hobbies.
The job interview
Before the interview
- Find out as much as you can about the company.
- Read the job description again and prepare examples of your skills.
- Dress appropriately and arrive on time – or test your camera and microphone for an online interview.
During the interview
- Greet the interviewer, shake hands and keep eye contact.
- Listen carefully, answer honestly and give concrete examples.
- Don’t criticise your previous employer or school.
- At the end, ask one or two questions yourself – it shows interest.
Typical questions
| Question | Tip |
|---|---|
| Tell me about yourself. | Two minutes: education, experience, skills, what you are looking for – not your whole life. |
| Why do you want to work for us? | Show that you know the company and connect it with your interests. |
| What are your strengths and weaknesses? | Give a real weakness and say how you are working on it. |
| Describe a problem you solved. | Use the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, Result. |
| Where do you see yourself in five years? | Show ambition that fits the company. |
| Why should we hire you? | Sum up how your skills match the job. |
| What salary do you expect? | Find out the usual salary for the position beforehand. |
| Do you have any questions for us? | Ask about the team, training or the first tasks – not only about holidays. |
Key vocabulary
| English | Česky |
|---|---|
| developer / programmer | vývojář / programátor |
| to maintain | udržovat, spravovat |
| bug | chyba (v programu) |
| user experience (UX) | uživatelský zážitek |
| helpdesk | technická podpora |
| deployment | nasazení (softwaru) |
| deadline / budget | termín / rozpočet |
| demand | poptávka |
| salary | plat |
| to work remotely | pracovat na dálku |
| career path | kariérní cesta |
| hard skills / soft skills | odborné / měkké dovednosti |
| certificate | certifikát |
| portfolio | portfolio |
| job advertisement | inzerát na práci |
| to apply for a job | ucházet se o práci |
| CV / résumé | životopis |
| cover letter | motivační dopis |
| internship | stáž |
| job interview / interviewer | pracovní pohovor / ten, kdo vede pohovor |
| strengths and weaknesses | silné a slabé stránky |
| to hire / to be hired | zaměstnat / být přijat |
| employer / employee | zaměstnavatel / zaměstnanec |
Useful phrases
- I’m a hard-working and reliable person who…
- I have experience with… / I’m familiar with…
- During my internship at…, I was responsible for…
- One of my strengths is… On the other hand, I sometimes…, so I’m trying to…
- I’d like to work for your company because…
- Could you tell me more about…?
Questions the examiner may ask
Try to answer each question in two or three sentences, then click on the hint to compare.
| Question | Hint |
|---|---|
| What jobs in IT do you know? Describe one of them. | developer, tester, sysadmin, network admin, support, security, data analyst, project manager |
| What are the advantages and disadvantages of working in IT? | salary, demand, remote work vs. stress, screen time, constant learning, AI |
| What skills does an IT specialist need? | hard skills, soft skills, English, portfolio |
| What should a good CV contain? | personal details, education, experience, skills, languages, certificates – short and true |
| How would you prepare for a job interview? | research the company, prepare examples, clothes, punctuality, test the tech for online interviews |
| Answer: “Tell me about yourself.” | own answer – education, skills, experience, what you want |
| What job would you like to do in ten years? | own answer – use future forms and give reasons (link to topic 10) |