Spirits and Side Hustles: Part-time Jobs for Students in Prague
so yeah, prague. been here for a semester now, trying to make ends meet while hunting spirits and studying quantum physics (don't ask). part-time jobs here are... interesting. let's just say the supernatural community is surprisingly good to students with flexible hours.
first off, rent ain't cheap. shared apartments outside the center go for about 15,000 CZK a month if you're lucky. that's roughly $700, which sounds like a lot until you realize the city center is basically a ghost town for affordable housing. no seriously, the old town square at 2am? less tourists, more actual ghosts. weird.
weather's been giving us the old one-two punch lately. one day it's all sunshine and beer gardens, next day you're dodging hailstones that sound like tiny angry spirits. thank god brno's just a 2-hour train ride away if you need to escape the weather or just want some non-touristy vibes. or maybe you could just pop over to vienna for a weekend. spirit hunting in austria's surprisingly lucrative.
now let's get to the jobs. here's what i've picked up over the past few months:
> "dude, i heard this guy makes like 2000 CZK a night just standing in the dungeons below the old town square with an emf detector. says he's 'sensing disturbances' but mostly just naps. security's cool with it if you slip 'em a few hundred." - overheard at a pub near charles university
spooky tour guide is probably the most obvious one. companies like Prague Ghost Tours are always hiring english speakers who can spin a good yarn. pay's about 300-500 CZK an hour, plus tips if you're good at making people jump.
then there's paranormal investigator for hire. families with "haunted" houses (usually just old pipes) will pay decent money for someone to confirm their suspicions. i've made 1500 CZK in a night just by telling an old lady her creaky floorboards weren't actually possessed by her dead husband. pro tip: bring a cheap thermal camera and watch how quickly people believe you.
> "watch out for the castle though. those security guys don't play around. caught one kid 'investigating' the royal chambers at 3am. next thing you know, he's got a night in jail and a hefty fine. something about 'national heritage disturbance'." - local bartender's drunken advice
if you're not into the supernatural side, there's always regular jobs. the restaurant scene is always hiring, especially Lokal which is perfect if you want to practice czech while serving beer. pay's minimum wage but tips are decent if you're not too awkward about asking.
student ambassador work at Charles University is another solid option. they pay about 250 CZK an hour to show prospective students around, which is basically getting paid to talk about how great your university is while complaining about the cafeteria food.
> "my roommate makes more money selling 'authentic czech vampire repellent' on the old town square than i do at my proper job. it's basically holy water in a fancy bottle. tourists eat that stuff up." - overheard on tram line 22
the key is finding something that works with your class schedule. prague's got this weird vibe where the weirdest jobs often pay the best. just remember to bring a warm coat and maybe an umbrella. the weather here changes faster than a ghost can appear and disappear.
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