in Austria
Introduction
Austria is located in Central Europe. It is an predominantly mountainous country with an area of 83,855 km2. Eight countries namely Italy, Switzerland, the Principality of Liechtenstein, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia form the Austrian border.
Austria's population has just topped eight million. 20% of the total population are living in Vienna. 93% of Austrians are German-speaking. The country has a diverse ethnic mix that includes six officially recognized ethnic groups: Croats, Czechs, Hungarians, Roma/Sinti, Slovaks and Slovenes. About 73% of the population is Roman Catholic; there are 11 other officially recognized religions in Austria.
Currency
The unit of currency in Austria is the Euro.
The Employment Service in Austria
As an EEA national you have free access to the services of the Austrian Employment Service ‘Arbeitsmarktservice-Geschäftsstelle’. UK citizens may register with the ‘Arbeitsmarktservice-Geschäftsstelle’ and use the services it has to offer. Samsomat is a user-friendly, self-service computer that holds information on local job opportunities. Public access to it is readily available in Austrian jobcentres.
To find the address of the nearest ‘Arbeitsmarktservice-Geschäftsstelle’ either look in the local telephone directory or get in touch with the Head Office of the Austrian Employment Service at the following address:
Bundesgeschaftsstelle
Arbeitsmarktservice Osterreich
Treustrasse 35-43
1200 Wien
Austria
Tel: 00 43 133 1780
Website: www.ams.or.at
The Press in Austria
Try the main daily newspapers. They all advertise job vacancies. The following Austrian newspapers have websites:
* Kurier: www.kurier.at
* Der Standard: www.derstandard.at
* Die Presse: www.diepresse.at
* Kleine Zeitung: www.kleinezeitung.at
Chambers of Commerce
Chambers of Commerce in Austria are a useful source of company information. For further information contact the Austrian Chamber of Commerce:
Wirtschaftskammer Osterreich
Wieder Haupstrasse, 63
1045 WIEN
Austria
Tel: 00 43 501505
Fax: 00 43 50105250
Website: www.wko.at
Residence permits
Types of permits and the application procedure
Depending on what you plan to do and how long you want to stay in Austria, you have to apply for different kinds of permits.
Like visas, applications for all residence permits have to be processed before coming to Austria. It is highly recommended to hand personally in the application documents at the Austrian embassy or consulate in your home country. If you are already in Austria, for example using a class C Tourist visa, you will NOT be able to get any other permits, so start the application paperwork early and from your home country.
There are three types of residence permits:
* Visa (for short stays or visits)
* stay permit ( Aufenthaltserlaubnis: for working or studying but not settling in Austria)
* residence permit ( Niederlassungsnachweis: for settling in Austria)
Remember to apply for your permit before entering Austria. There are some exceptions to this rule for US citizens and highly qualified individuals. If you are lucky and belong to this group, you are also able to make your application in Austria.
The costs for obtaining permits range from €75-130. Your real costs might be significantly higher, as you may need a lawyer’s advice and assistance for special cases.
Which papers do you need to come to Austria?
If you plan to come to Austria, you might need a visa, a residence permit or work permit. This article will help you to find out what you need and how to apply for the required documents.
Austria joined the EU (European Union) in 1995 – therefore it is very easy for all EU-citizens to live and work in Austria. If you are not an EU-citizen, be prepared for a lot of paperwork and some bureaucratic hurdles during the process of getting a working and residence permit. The situation differs from country to country – but in general the rules and requirements have become stricter and the quota for foreigners coming to Austria has been lowered every year.
If you are EU-citizen, you can just come to Austria and live and work here. Within three days of arrival you have to register at your local police station – a quick and easy process. This applies also for people from non-EU-countries. Be careful – if you are not an EU-citizen, all formalities have to be processed BEFORE you register with the police! This means, you will have to start and finish the process from your home country - there is no other way to do it.
The process for EU-citizens
You can come to Austria without visa or stay permit. You also don’t need a work permit. If you stay longer than three months, you have to apply for a special ID-card (EWR-Lichtbildausweis), which includes a residence permit. If you do not have a job at this time, you will be granted a 6-month residence permit; with a job, you get a 5-year permit. Your only initial obligation is to register at a local police station or the district’s registration office within three days of arrival.
The process for non EU-citizens
The process for receiving full rights to stay and work in Austria includes several steps and depends on what you plan to do there. Please keep in mind, all visa applications have to be issued from outside Austria, before you travel.
There are several visa options for coming to Austria:
Class C visa - the Tourist Visa
This is the most common visa for visitors; it is issued for a three month stay and allows you to travel through all EU-countries that are part of the Schengen Area. The required documents for the class C visa are:
* 1 passport - size photo
* Valid passport (minimum 6 months)
* Travel ticket or booking confirmation
* Confirmation of hotel booking or invitation
* Proof of sufficient funds
* Proof of health insurance for the duration of your stay
It is recommended to present a ‘visa support letter’ from an institution or company you know in Austria. Please note that you are not allowed to work in Austria with a class C or class D visa!
Class D visa
This is a visa especially for Austria. It is issued for a maximum 6-month stay. With the class D visa you can travel through other Schengen countries – but only for 5 days in order to reach Austria. You have to contact the Austrian consulate in your country of residence to acquire the visa.
Job market
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.
Job application
How to correctly apply for a job in Austria
Your job application is of crucial importance in the process of getting a job. A professional application will eventually lead to a personal interview, which is the next step in the process.
A complete job application includes:
* Written job application
* CV (curriculum vitae)
* Passport photo
* Certifications from previous activities or/ and employers
* Certifications from further trainings or seminars
* The letter of application
If you apply for a job in Austria or for an Austrian firm, your application should be written in German. In your application you should convey why you are the best suited candidate for this job. However don’t get dragged away, stay to the facts and list your experiences and abilities.
Your application should not be longer than one A4 page. Be clear and focus.
Try to relate to the firm or even position you apply for. Use for example these words: „Ich würde gerne in einem Unternehmen arbeiten, in dem ich meine Kenntnisse einsetzen kann und…“ You should try to gather all available information on the web about the company.
Curriculum Vitae
First of all start with your personal details (persönlichen Daten), if you have a good photo printer print your passport photo next to your personal details on the right side.
The form of your CV (Lebenslauf) should be tabular, list your education and career path in chronological order. Name your experiences and abilities.
Next is the special skills section (besondere Kenntnisse) like driving license, knowledge of languages, knowledge of data processing etc.
At the end of your application letter put the date and your handwrittensignature.
There are special folders for the application papers, they look very professional and might give you an advantage when sending your application by mail. Still many firms prefer paper documents instead of pure email applications.
The interview
When the firm gets interested in you, you will get invited to an interview.
Expect an interview in German language – so if you do not feel comfortable with your language abilities practive beforehand.
Very important for the interview is punctuality, don’t be too late. Austrians appreciate punctuality.
Be self confident and polite. There is an informal dresscode: Men should wear suits! Jeans are not suitable. You should appear properly dressed in accordance with the position you apply for.
Mental preperation will help you to master the interview. Try to guess as many questions as you can and prepare your answers so that you can convey a good image of yourself. However – stay to the facts and represent yourself.
Speculative Applications
Speculative applications are common in Austria and worth trying. Before sending an application, make a telephone call to the human resources manager or to someone else in middle-level to senior management. The objective is to make yourself known, demonstrate your initiative, and to find out what kind of person the company might be interested in. When you telephone, be sure to raise specific points or questions and likewise, when you write, to send your CV typed in German if possible, with a handwritten covering letter.
Austria Employment Service
http://www.ams.or.atBackKontakt: info@pointofcareer.com - Tel. 0251/375543 http://www.pointofcareer.de
