Austria Information
Joined: 11 Oct 2006
Posts: 20
Home Country: austria
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 Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 8:48 am Post subject: WORK IN AUSTRIA / AUSTRIA EMPLOYMENT GUIDE |
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WORK IN AUSTRIA
Job perspectives for foreigners in Austria
Once you have managed to get the required permits, the hardest part is over. The economic situation in Austria is relatively healthy and it is therefore possible to find a good job within a reasonable time.
The official unemployment rate in 2004 was 7.1%, placing Austria among the countries with the lowest unemployment rate in the European Union. As several new Central and Eastern European countries joined the EU in May 2004, a long-term effect on the job market is expected as highly qualified personnel will be able to access the Austrian job market. However, until 2006 several bilateral agreements limit the options for the citizens of the ‘new countries’.
The kind of job you are searching and where you want to work and live in Austria will affect your chances. In general the better your education and work experience the better your chances.
You can find almost any type of job in the Austrian job market. However, certain industries have higher demand so it is easier to find employment there.
Austria is slowly moving to a more service-oriented labour-market as heavy industries and traditional areas like mining and forestry decline. The public sector is cutting spending every year and also the hospitals and other medical institutions face tough times with monetary constraints. Luckily, new jobs in the service industry, in marketing and in the information technology sector compensate for other job losses. Austria is strongly supporting entrepreneurs – it has become very easy to start your own venture.
Tourism
If you want to find a job quickly and only for several months the tourism industry might be the place to search for opportunities. The difference to other job markets is that the jobs are likely to be found outside the big cities on the countryside or in the famous ski-resorts of Austria. Foreigners with good language skills are welcome. The country districts with most tourism in Austria are Carinthia (Kärnten), Tyrol (Tirol), Salzburg, Styria (Steiermark) and last but not least Vienna (Wien). The best way to search for jobs is to do it locally. The employment service (AMS) can also help you as they maintain a list of open positions especially for tourism related jobs. Contracts will always be for a limited time (a couple of months), the demand is high in summer (except for the ski resorts) and low in winter.
Internships
As usual, getting a foot in the door is the hardest. Internships are a good and quite common way in Austria to finally get a permanent contract. The downside of internships is the low payment – sometimes hardly enough to live. Once the people in the company know you and value the quality of your work you can try to switch from internship to a standard job. Internships are offered by many big companies on their websites. Try to apply as early as possible, as closing deadlines are sometimes half a year before the actual internship is about to start.
How to get a job
There are many routes to find out about job opportunities: newspapers, internet, agencies, friends and relatives. A good combined use of the available channels will help you to find a job quickly.
It is highly recommended that you use all available media to begin your job-search. By browsing newspaper and internet classifieds you will quickly get a good overview of the current situation in the job market. If you have them use any personal contacts to find opportunities and support your applications.
The Austrian employment service (AMS)
The AMS (Arbeitsmarktservice) is a government institution dedicated to help unemployed people finding jobs. Companies post their job offers to the AMS and receive lists of candidates to interview. In order to use the AMS services getting your CV and profile into their system, you have to be officially registered as unemployed in Austria. If you are an EU citizen and already registered unemployed in your home country, you are entitled to use the AMS services to find also a job in Austria.
Internet job search
Internet job hunting is fast, easy and cheap. There are many job-sites and you can either browse all offered jobs by categories, or maintain your qualifications and preferences profile and the system will then tell you suitable job offers. Almost all job-sites for the Austrian market are available only in German! So make sure to brush up your German in time or get a friend to help you on browsing the pages.
Classifieds
These are a good way to look for a job – especially in Austria. You don’t even need to buy all the newspapers, just go to one of the traditional Viennese cafes, they have all Austrian newspapers. Then, while you enjoy the typical Apfelstrudel (a special apple pie), take some time to scan the classifieds sections of the most popular newspapers. You should look in: Der Standard, Die Presse, Kleine Zeitung and Kurier. However, also looking at the papers’ websites is highly recommended, as many offers don’t appear in the print versions.
Personal contacts
Last but not least, the most effective ‘tool’ to find a job. Like many places, in Austria personal relationships are important. Austrians trust friends and advisors, and getting a job because you know someone in the company is not regarded badly. So the first thing you should do is sit down and think about all your contacts in Austria – and how to get in touch with them. The time you spend on meeting old friends, and then their friends, during your job-search is certainly well invested. Tell everybody that you are looking for a job and what kind of work you would like to do. Austrians feel obliged to help their friends and they will inform you if a job opportunity is available.
Agencies
There are some agencies who offer jobs for temporary workers. You get employed by the agency and they will ‘rent you out’ to companies requiring temporary staff. This model works fairly well for lower level jobs, for example secretaries, construction and cleaning jobs. For many people this is a good starting point to get a job quickly. If you do a good job, the company which has originally just ‘rented’ you might take you over in a full position.
Working conditions
Austria has a rather traditional working environment with not a lot to complain about from the employee’s perspective. Your job security will depend on the type of contract you have.
Austria has very strict laws for the protection of employees, some dating back to the 1950s. Although changes are being made in order to adapt to the more competitive environment, general working conditions are very favourable.
Working hours
The standard working hours are 8 hours per day, five days per week. Extra hours have to be paid. Austrians tend to go to work early, you can expect workers to be at work at 7am and white collars not later than 8am.
Holidays
Every year you are entitled to 25 days of paid holiday. You can get more paid days off in certain cases (e.g. your child is sick at home, you move into a new apartment and so on).
Sick leave and insurance
If you get sick, the company continues to pay you. Normally you can stay home for the first day without any obligations. From the second day you have to get and provide a doctor’s certificate. In the case of a long illness, you will receive money from your social security insurance. Insurance is obligatory in Austria and normally gets deducted from your salary automatically. Also, as a freelancer you are obliged to pay insurance.
Due to increased competition in the employment market, many companies prefer to employ people on a contract basis. In this case, you have to account for several ‘privileges’ you loose – and therefore get a higher salary. |
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