A job interview in Polish for physical work does not require fluent language. Questions cover four topics: availability, experience, documents and commute. The thirty phrases below let you answer each of them and ask about conditions.

What the recruiter asks at a warehouse and production interview

Questions repeat. You will most often hear:

  • availability ("When can you start?"),
  • schedule ("Can you work shifts, including nights and weekends?"),
  • experience ("Where did you work before and what did you do?"),
  • residence basis, right to work ("What documents do you have to work in Poland?"),
  • qualifications ("Do you have any qualifications, for example a forklift license?"),
  • commute ("Where do you live and how will you get to work?").

Prepare two sentences on each topic and practice them out loud. The same information should be in your CV: how to arrange it is described in CV in Polish for a foreigner.

Phrases for a job interview in Polish

About yourself and your experience

  1. My name is … I am from Ukraine. ("Nazywam się … Jestem z Ukrainy.")
  2. I have lived in Poland for … months. ("Mieszkam w Polsce od … miesięcy.")
  3. I worked in a warehouse as … ("Pracowałem/pracowałam w magazynie jako …")
  4. I have … years of experience in production. ("Mam … lat doświadczenia na produkcji.")
  5. I know how to work with a scanner. ("Znam pracę na skanerze.")
  6. I have a forklift license. ("Mam uprawnienia na wózek widłowy.")
  7. I have no experience, but I learn fast. ("Nie mam doświadczenia, ale szybko się uczę.")
  8. I speak Polish at a basic level and keep learning. ("Mówię po polsku na poziomie podstawowym i uczę się dalej.")

Availability and documents

  1. I can start right away. / I can start on Monday. ("Mogę zacząć od zaraz." or "Mogę zacząć od poniedziałku.")
  2. I can work three shifts. ("Mogę pracować na trzy zmiany.")
  3. I can work weekends. ("Mogę pracować w weekendy.")
  4. I cannot work nights, because … ("Nie mogę pracować w nocy, bo …")
  5. I have a residence card. / I have a visa with the right to work. / I have a PESEL number with UKR status. ("Mam kartę pobytu." / "Mam wizę z prawem do pracy." or "Mam numer PESEL ze statusem UKR.")
  6. When and where do I need to have the medical check? ("Kiedy i gdzie mam zrobić badania lekarskie?")
  7. I commute by bus. / I have a car. ("Dojeżdżam autobusem." or "Mam samochód.")

When you do not understand something

  1. Sorry, I do not understand. Could you repeat that more slowly? ("Przepraszam, nie rozumiem. Czy może Pan/Pani powtórzyć wolniej?")
  2. Could you write that down? ("Czy może Pan/Pani to napisać?")
  3. Do I understand correctly that …? ("Czy dobrze rozumiem, że …?")
  4. How do you say that in Polish? ("Jak to się mówi po polsku?")
  5. Can we switch to English for a moment? / … to Ukrainian? ("Czy możemy na chwilę przejść na angielski?" or "…na ukraiński?")

This part is the most important on the whole list. Use these phrases from the start of the conversation instead of pretending you understand. A misunderstanding about the schedule or the rate will surface later, when it is harder to fix.

Questions about work conditions

  1. What is the gross hourly rate? ("Jaka jest stawka brutto za godzinę?")
  2. What type of contract is it: employment contract or contract of mandate? ("Jaka to umowa: umowa o pracę czy umowa zlecenie?")
  3. Who will be my employer: the agency or the company? ("Kto będzie moim pracodawcą: agencja czy firma?")
  4. What does the monthly schedule look like? ("Jak wygląda grafik w miesiącu?")
  5. How many hours does one shift last? ("Ile godzin trwa jedna zmiana?")
  6. When is payday? ("Kiedy jest wypłata?")
  7. What clothing and footwear are needed for this position? ("Jaka odzież i obuwie są potrzebne na tym stanowisku?")
  8. Where and when should I come on the first day? ("Gdzie i kiedy mam przyjść pierwszego dnia?")

Ending the conversation

  1. Thank you for the interview. When can I expect a reply? ("Dziękuję za rozmowę. Kiedy mogę spodziewać się odpowiedzi?")
  2. Can I call if I have questions? ("Czy mogę zadzwonić, jeśli będę miał/miała pytania?")

What to ask the recruiter yourself

Be sure to use phrases 21-24. In temporary work the employer is the agency, while you perform the work at its client's site. When the agency only recruits for a permanent position, you sign the contract with the company. Compare the answers with the contract afterward: six fields to check before signing are described in how to read an employment contract.

When you may answer in English or Ukrainian

Type of positionPolish at the interviewWhat to do
Warehouse, production, packingBasic usually suffices, part of the conversation can be in English or UkrainianAsk when scheduling what language the interview will be in
Machine operator, forklift operatorBasic plus position-specific vocabularyLearn the names of the equipment and tasks
Team leader, shift coordinatorConversational, because you give instructionsPrepare longer answers in Polish
Catering, shop, customer serviceGood, the conversation is usually entirely in PolishAnswer in Polish, without switching to another language

Some agencies working with foreigners also hold interviews in Ukrainian, Russian or English. If the conversation starts in Polish, phrase 20 lets you politely ask to switch language for a more difficult part.

How to prepare for a phone interview

A phone conversation is harder than an in-person one, because you cannot see gestures or facial expressions. Three things help:

  1. Answer in a quiet place and keep a card with phrases 9-15 in front of you.
  2. If you cannot talk, say: I cannot talk right now. Can I call back in an hour? ("Teraz nie mogę rozmawiać. Czy mogę oddzwonić za godzinę?")
  3. Write down the address, time and contact person's name and read them out loud so the recruiter can confirm.

A missed call from a recruiter can be the end of the process, so call back the same day.

For more on what to expect and how to answer in substance, see how to prepare for a job interview. If you want to learn systematically, check where to look for courses in learning the Polish language. Current job offers for foreigners are described in simple language, also with people learning Polish in mind.

Frequently asked questions

Can I go to a job interview if my Polish is weak?

Yes, for warehouse and production work basic Polish usually suffices. Say directly what level you speak. An honest answer builds more trust than an exaggerated one.

How do I say in Polish that I do not understand the question?

Sorry, I do not understand. Could you repeat that more slowly? ("Przepraszam, nie rozumiem. Czy może Pan/Pani powtórzyć wolniej?") If that does not help, ask: Could you write that down? ("Czy może Pan/Pani to napisać?")

Will the employment agency translate my interview for me?

It depends on the agency and on who is running the recruitment at the time. Ask about the interview language when scheduling the appointment, not only at the meeting itself.

How do I address a recruiter: formally or informally?

Start with the formal "Pan/Pani" form. Switch to the informal "ty" only once the recruiter suggests it themselves.

This text describes the general rules. What you are entitled to depends on your type of contract: an employment contract (umowa o pracę) or a contract of mandate (umowa zlecenie). Your own contract and payslip are what count.