Austria
Despite the recession of 2008/9, Austria is faring reasonably well as compared to other European countries. As a result, there are still areas of growth and job opportunities. The sectors employing the most people are manufacturing, the wholesale and retail trade, healthcare, social work and construction. More detailed information about the labour market is available from EURES - European Job Mobility Portal .
A brief, concise CV, together with a covering letter, is the usual way of applying for work. Electronic applications are increasingly popular in Austria and typically the first contact will be by sending a covering letter and CV by email. However, once companies are interested in getting to know you better, you may find yourself more often than not required to send in a small hardcopy application folder. This is common procedure in Austria, so be aware that applying for jobs in Austria will be more ‘resource intensive’ than in the UK.
A complete application folder typically includes:
The CV should be precise and to the point, and include only the most relevant information. Unless you use a cover sheet for your application pack, attach a photograph on the top right hand corner of your CV. The photograph should have your name and address written on the back as it may be detached and stored separately.
Your CV should be strictly in reverse chronological order (most recent appointments first) and all gaps between employments or studies should be explained. Make sure to date and sign your CV at the end.
As in the UK, it is good practice to write covering letters to a specific person, so contact the company to ask the name of the appropriate individual. The letter should be one page in length and should state why you are applying for the job, what attracts you to working for the organisation. You should highlight your key qualifications. End the letter by expressing your interest in attending an interview. See Eurograduate - The European Graduate Career Guide for more information on applications in Austria and an example CV.
Interviews tend to be formal occasions and interviewees should be aware of the business titles of interviewers. Dress code is formal and a strong emphasis is placed on punctuality.
A UK graduate with additional Austrian qualifications may be more valued by employers. There are few opportunities for 'any discipline' graduates, and a qualification relevant to the area of work is usually required.
Visit ENIC-NARIC for information on comparability of your academic qualifications. You may also wish to check with the UK National Europass Centre (UK NEC) for information on how to make your skills and qualifications easily understood in Austria, although only a minority of Austrian employers are familiar with Europass .
UK nationals working in Austria pay their taxes to the Austrian tax authorities. There is a taxation agreement between Austria and the UK, to avoid double taxation and prevent tax evasion. If you are planning to live and work in Austria, check your UK tax and National Insurance position with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to ensure that you are not losing any UK pension rights.
Graduate recruitment takes place throughout the year, with a peak at the end of the academic year. Jobseekers in Austria need to be aware of newspapers, recruitment agencies and the importance of networking.
Check with EURES - European Job Mobility Portal for information about job vacancies, living and working conditions, and labour markets in Austria, as well as a CV-posting service for jobseekers.
Some UK-based employment agencies deal with international vacancies or have branches in Austria. The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has contact details of approved UK agencies.
Euro-CIETT is the European organisation of the International Confederation of Private Employment Agencies (CIETT). Popular recruitment agencies include Manpower Austria and Adecco Austria .
The press is a very important source of vacancies. In Vienna, Der Standard and Die Presse carry vacancies on Friday and Saturday. You will find Der Kurier and Krone useful to browse.
Most of the major regional papers carry vacancies in their Saturday editions, including:
Wirtschaftsblatt is less useful for finding vacancies, but is an invaluable source of business news if you want to sound well informed at a job interview. It also features a dedicated career section (click on 'service' and then 'karriere').
Access to Austrian newspapers is available via Kidon Media-Link .
AIESEC (Association Internationale des Etudiants en Sciences Economiques et Commerciales) recruitment fairs take place throughout Austria. The Austrian Employment Service (Arbeitsmarktservice) - the English pages on the website give general employment information and on the German pages you can search for jobs by region.
You need to be aware of the importance of networking in Austria. Austrian students often develop their business contacts by linking their dissertations or project work to specific employers or industries. Family connections are also important, particularly to find a place in the public sector. You may need to think creatively to develop your own network of contacts. For example, find out whether your university has an Austrian alumni group and contact them for suggestions.
As in the UK, there are a number of ways of gaining work experience in Austria. No distinction is made between placements and internships. They are common and flexible, ranging from just a few weeks to a year, and are available throughout the year. Opportunities are advertised through job websites or the Austrian Employment Service (Arbeitsmarktservice) .
In addition, there are some work placement opportunities for those studying vocational subjects. IAESTE (The International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience) offers paid course-related work placements abroad for degree-level students in science, engineering, technology and related fields. The placements usually take place in the summer for up to 12 weeks. Students pay for their own travel, but employers pay a salary to cover living costs. AIESEC (Association Internationale des Etudiants en Sciences Economiques et Commerciales) also offers students and graduates the opportunity to work abroad.
Your institution may be involved in the Leonardo da Vinci Programme , through which vocational training exchanges and work placements are arranged with partner organisations in other countries. Contact your institution’s international office or careers service for more information.
The market for teaching English is mainly for business purposes, but there are summer opportunities for teaching English to children and young people. Search the usual TEFL websites for openings (for a list of these, see the English as a foreign language teacher).
Useful information about teaching English in Austria is available from Virtual Vienna - Career .
Longer-term teaching posts in other subjects may be available in the English-language schools in Austria. A list of these is available from the UK in Austria - Living and Working in Austria .
Voluntary job opportunities in Austria include caring for the elderly or disabled, and conservation work. Voluntary opportunities are available through various organisations including International Voluntary Service (IVS) in Britain .
Graduates are most likely to find seasonal or holiday employment in ski resorts and hotels. You can also work picking grapes in the autumn. Information on seasonal and casual vacancies in tourism can be found in special brochures available in all the Austrian jobcentres or look for advertisements at Anywork Anywhere . Another useful resource is Working in Ski Resorts - Europe and North America.
Apart from casual work, opportunities exist for au pairs. You will probably need some childcare experience but you may not necessarily need to know German. Try New Au Pair for openings.
The concept of ‘gap year’ is relatively unknown in Austria. Specific, gap year-related work opportunities are therefore rare.
For detailed information on study, courses and scholarships visit Austrian Academic Exchange Service . The Austrian Academic Portal is also a useful starting point.
There are three different types of higher educational institutions: federal universities (Universitäten), private universities (Privatuniversitäten) and universities of applied science (Fachhochschulen).
Austria has 13 private universities and over 20 federal or stated universities. Each university has its own specialist area, such as business, arts, engineering or medicine.
For a comprehensive list of available courses and academic institutions, visit the Austrian Federal Ministry of Science and Research .
Postgraduate education is offered by universities and the university-level institutions of music, drama and art. A full list of institutions is available from the Austrian Academic Portal and at Universities Worldwide , where universities are also given international rankings.
There are several institutions specialising in postgraduate education, including Danube University Krems , the Institute for Advanced Studies Vienna and the Diplomatic Academy Vienna .
Austrian first degrees usually take longer to complete than the three to four year UK first degrees, which may not be accepted as equivalent to Austrian degrees for the purposes of postgraduate study. A UK Masters degree or even an Austrian qualification may be required for entry to a Doctoral programme. However, a first degree from the UK or Ireland may be viewed as equivalent to a diploma, which does give entry to a number of postgraduate courses. You should seek advice from the institutions to which you wish to apply.
Application deadlines vary from institution to institution, so you are advised to enquire with each potential host organisation well in advance. Many of the websites of the institutions have information on the admission deadlines.
Procedures vary between institutions. Check the websites of the institutions you are interested in applying to for more information.
While undergraduate study costs relatively little for Austrian and EU nationals, postgraduate study costs can vary and depend on the institution at which you are studying. Fees will differ from course to course so it is best to check the website and course description at the institution’s website.
Living costs vary, and while part-time work may assist with funding some expenses, it is unlikely to cover all costs.
Grants may be available from the institution’s own resources. Information on scholarships is available from the OEAD Grants website.
UK students on undergraduate degree programmes or postgraduate Masters and some PhD programmes may be interested in spending time studying in Austria through the Erasmus programme. This programme is open to all subject areas, but check with your institution's Erasmus coordinator first (usually based in the international office) to see which countries they have links with and in what subject areas.
Check with UK NARIC (National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom) that the Austrian qualification you undertake will be recognised on return to Britain.
Holders of European Economic Area (EEA) or Swiss passports do not require a visa for Austria. (The EEA comprises the European Union (EU) plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.) However, they must register with the local Aliens Administration Office within five days of arrival in Austria. They should also obtain an ID document (available from police stations or employment offices) within three months of arrival in order to prove their right of abode in Austria, although this is not obligatory.
With the recent enlargement of the EU, the above policies may not yet be applicable to citizens of some new EU member states. If you are from Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Romania or Bulgaria, and want to work in Austria, some restrictions on work permits may apply. You should contact the Austrian Embassy in your home country for more information, or visit EURES - European Job Mobility Portal to find out which regulations apply (go to 'Living & Working' and select 'Austria').
If you are from a non-EU country, you should check with your nearest Austrian Embassy about visa requirements and regulations for working in Austria. A list of embassies is available from Embassies Worldwide .
Any foreign national to whom labour restrictions apply, and who wishes to work in Austria, will need both a work permit and residence permit. Your work permit must be applied for by your future employer in Austria and must be obtained prior to your departure from your country of residence. Your work permit, along with a residence permit, the form for which can be obtained from any Austrian Embassy, must be presented upon arrival in Austria.
If you intend to stay in Austria for a period exceeding six months you must apply for a residence permit.
EU and EFTA citizens who intend to reside in Austria should file their application after their arrival in Austria.
If you are of a different nationality, you must obtain your residence permit before you travel. Forms are available from any Austrian Embassy.
There are nine state-run provencial employment offices in Austria as well as regional branches in almost all municipalities. Vacancies can be accessed directly through the Austrian Employment Service (Arbeitsmarktservice) , which has a department for graduates (Akademiker) in its offices in university towns.
Jobnet Austria is a network providing jobs and careers news for students. You may also want to visit the BiB Infonet , which provides information and careers advice for foreigners.
Careers information offices called Berufsinformationszentren (BIZ) are located in each of the nine Austrian provinces. There are 60 offices in total, each housing a database of national vacancies that can be searched on your behalf in response to a written enquiry in German. Euro-advisers in British Jobcentres can advise on the process.
You can get contact details for European Employment Services advisers (Euro-advisers) in Austria through EURES - European Job Mobility Portal . Euro-advisers are trained specialists who provide information and guidance to jobseekers interested in working in Austria.
For personal visitors to careers information offices, Samsomat is a user-friendly, self-service computer that holds information on local job opportunities. If you find a suitable job, you print out the details and phone the employer yourself to arrange an interview.
There are few careers guidance services available specifically for graduates, as university careers services are not usual. However, the local university’s 'Studienberatung' often also serves as a career service. Information about the services available can be found at BiB Infonet.
In Vienna, the WU ZBP Career Center is located on the WU´s (Vienna University of Economics and Business) campus.
The latter runs a careers recruitment fair each November, as well as publishing a recruitment guide seven times a year.
Emergency phone numbers are:
Find the latest travel advice and a traveller’s checklist on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website.
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