What are the topics of tours?
We focus on tours that are different from the classic historical ”umbrella” tours you might see in the city. We aim to be unique and take our clients off the beaten track. We try to combine history with captivating legends and stories that create an atmosphere of mystery and unease. We conduct two evening tours – Ghosts & Legends of Old Town, which focuses on providing entertainment through stories from Prague’s darker past, and Alchemy & Mysteries of Prague Castle, which mainly tells the story of alchemists and astrologers during the reign of Rudolf II. Our only day tour is Psychiatric Hospital & Abandoned Cemetery tour which gives customers an insight into the history of psychiatry.
Do I need to have previous experience as a tour guide?
We do not require any previous experience, however, individuals who are used to public speaking or have experience in performing in front of an audience are very welcome. We need someone confident and outgoing enough, who is willing to engage with people and can engagingly deliver stories. We will teach you everything else during a free training session. Over the course of three weeks in the city center, 3 hours per week, you will learn the script in the form of approximately 30 pages of standard A4 paper, along with some useful techniques such as entertaining the audience, answering their questions, and presenting your speech concisely and stylishly.
How will my language skills be assessed?
Although in many workplaces it is an advantage to have a certificate proving your language skills, it is not a requirement to have a document proving your language level when applying for a job with us. If you are not a native speaker, we will assess your language skills during the interview and training.
Can I make a living as a tour guide?
Yes, but it’s a bit of a long process. You’ll start by guiding just one tour. Over time, as you gain experience, you may decide to learn and guide more tours. The contracts we offer are not full-time. It is, however, a nice extra income on top of your job or shift work as we have day and evening tours to choose from. There are two types of contracts we can offer – ŽP for the self-employed or those wanting to start their own business, or DPP for students and full-time workers. You start with a beginner’s rate and can work your way up to a higher salary of up to 600 Kč (24 EUR) / hour. The job also comes with bonuses for positive customer reviews and a photo of you and your guests on the tour. For many of our guides, tips from satisfied customers are also an important part of their income.
What are my career options?
You will start as a Junior Guide. Once you have mastered one tour and gained enough experience and ten 5-star reviews, you can learn another tour and guide both to become a Senior Guide. This comes with a higher salary of up to 600 Kč (24 EUR) / hour. It all depends on your enthusiasm and passion, as well as how much time you want to devote to it.
Who is on the tour guide team?
We have a very diverse, international team. For many, the job is ideal as the tours take place at different times of the day, allowing them to fit in other commitments such as school, university or hobbies. For some of them, guiding is an extra income on top of their full-time jobs. For others, it is one of their main forms of freelance work, alongside translation or language teaching. What they all have in common is a love for Prague, an interest in tourism, and the joy of meeting new people.
How does the scheduling work?
Each month we will post a link to the schedule where you can indicate your availability – either you would like to take the tour that day, or it is not convenient for you but you are available if no one else is, or you are unable to guide that day at all. You must be available for a minimum of 8 tours per month. It is also important to note that we are looking for a long-term commitment, so the expectation on your part is that you will be available for a minimum of 6 months. On the 25th of each month, the full schedule will be approved and published so that you can familiarize yourself with it and plan your time accordingly.
What times do the tours take place?
Times and duration vary from tour to tour. Some start at different times depending on whether it is summer or winter. The days of the week we run each tour also vary. However, the variety of tour schedules is just what our busy guides need, as they can choose a tour that does not conflict with their other commitments. If you are interested in guiding a specific tour, you can find information about the times on the product page of that particular experience.
How many people will be in my group?
This varies based on the tour and the current tourist season. The maximum capacity of our tours is 30 people. For Ghosts & Legends of Old Town, this capacity usually fills up, while for others it is typically a group of up to 15 people.
Do I have to speak Czech?
Not at all – our guides come from all over the world and speak many different languages. As our tours are conducted in English or German, we do not require any other language skills.
Where do I sign up if I’m interested?
We may be looking just for you! Please contact us at “employment@mcgeesghosttours.com”.