A job agency interview in Poland is practical: since when you can start, whether you work shifts, what qualifications you hold, and what pay you expect. Prepare answers to these four questions and your own list of questions about the contract, and the recruiter will match you to an offer more easily.

How an agency interview differs from an employer interview

An agency recruiter rarely asks about your strengths and weaknesses. They match you to specific offers, so they need data: availability, place of residence, readiness for shift work, and experience that is not on your CV.

The second difference concerns who becomes your employer. In temporary work (praca tymczasowa) you sign the contract with the agency but work at another company's plant, the user employer (pracodawca użytkownika). In direct placement, the agency only introduces you to the company that hires you directly. Ask about this at the start, since it determines who you later deal with on pay and leave.

Do not overstate or understate your abilities. Overstated experience shows up on the first day on the shop floor, and understated availability closes the door to some offers, for example ones with night shifts.

What to prepare before the interview

Keep at hand:

  • your ID document and the document confirming your right to stay in Poland,
  • job titles and approximate dates of previous jobs,
  • a list of qualifications with expiry dates: forklift license, welding, driving license, SEP electrical qualifications,
  • your address and whether you are looking for an offer with accommodation.

If you are only starting out in Poland, check beforehand which documents you need for a first job in Poland. Missing a document confirming your right to work delays employment until you obtain it, so ask the recruiter about this at the start.

What questions an agency recruiter asks

  1. Since when can you start?
  2. Have you worked in Poland before, and in what role?
  3. Can you work shifts, including nights?
  4. How far do you live from the plant, and how will you commute?
  5. What qualifications do you have, and are they current?

When asked about experience, describe exactly what you did: machine operation, order picking, quality control, work on the line. The name of a company tells the recruiter less than a description of tasks.

How to answer the question about pay expectations

Give a gross range, ideally as an hourly rate (PLN), since it is easy to compare between offers. The "net" amount depends on the type of contract, age, and tax reliefs, so two people with the same gross rate receive different transfers. The lower limit is set by law: for a civil contract (umowa zlecenie) the minimum hourly rate, for an employment contract (umowa o pracę) the minimum wage. We cover the details in the text on the minimum hourly rate.

What to ask the recruiter before signing the contract

The interview works both ways. Before you sign anything, establish:

  • the type of contract and who will be your employer,
  • the gross rate, how overtime and the night-work bonus are calculated,
  • the payment date and method,
  • the shift system, and whether shifts are fixed or rotating,
  • whether the offer includes accommodation.
You will find the arrangements from the interview in the contract afterward. If something is missing from it, ask the coordinator before signing.

The night-work bonus and overtime follow from the Labour Code (Kodeks pracy) for an employment contract, while for a civil contract (umowa zlecenie) they depend on the contract's own terms. We cover the differences in the text on civil contract versus employment contract.

Phone or video interview

Most first agency interviews happen by phone and are a full interview: the recruiter makes an offer based on it. Answer in a quiet place with your notes from the list above in front of you. If you cannot talk, say so and give a time when you will call back. For a video interview, check your camera, microphone, and connection beforehand.

Have your answers ready? Send an application and describe your availability and qualifications in it.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to bring a CV to an agency interview?

Not always. For physical work, the recruiter often fills in the details during the interview, but a short CV in Polish with job dates and qualifications shortens the interview and reduces the risk of mistakes.

How long does a temporary work agency interview take?

The interview is short if you have the data from the list above ready. It takes longer when the recruiter needs to check qualifications, language skills, or discuss several offers.

Does the job agency ask about previous work experience?

Yes, but it is more interested in the type of work you did than the company name. No experience in Poland does not rule out an offer, since some positions do not require experience.

Can I speak with the recruiter in a language other than Polish?

Absolutely, but it often depends on the agency and the position: where instructions on the shift are given in Polish, the recruiter will check basic language skills. We collected useful phrases in the text on a job interview in Polish.

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.