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Austria’s largest career fair opens on Thursday

We know how daunting it can be when you're first looking for a job in Austria. Especially intended for students, recent graduates and young people in Vienna, the annual career fair kicks off on Thursday.

Published: 18 November 2014 10:38 CET
Austria's largest career fair opens on Thursday
Photo: Messe Wien

Organized by the Business University (WU), Technical University (TU) and the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), the fair brings together employers from all over Austria, to meet potential recruits and to offer career advice.  The fair is organized by Career Calling, a cooperation between the three universities.

The fair will take place at the Messe Wien (transport via U2 station at Krieau), from 10am until 6pm on Thursday, November 20th.

Q: How should I dress for the fair?
A: Choose an outfit you would wear to a job interview. The first impression sticks: Clothing, choice of words and posture should form a harmonious unit and be appropriate for the respective situation. It is at this point that the first decisions are formed as to whether you should be considered an interesting candidate. 

What you can't go wrong with: Suit and shirt, skirt and blouse, proper hairstyle, shoes!!

Q: What is the best way to prepare? 
A: Get an overview of the Fair exhibitors and choose those companies you are interested in and/or those which have advertised jobs that match your qualifications. Please bear in mind that a day at the Fair goes by fast – taking into account waiting periods, breaks, etc, you can realistically expect to have 5 extended interviews.

Targeted preparation is essential: The companies' websites generally offer comprehensive information. Prepare questions specific to the companies to show that you have engaged in careful preparation. 

Q: What documents should I bring to the Fair? 
A: It should basically be sufficient to come equipped with several copies of your CV. Should any reports or other certificates be required for a decision, you will have the opportunity to hand them in later at night or mail them to the companies in the days following the Fair. 

If you would like to apply for specifically advertised positions, we would advise you to draw up an individual letter of motivation in advance and hand this in together with your CV. 

Q: How do I stay in touch with the Companies after the Fair? 
A: One of the biggest advantages of job or recruiting fairs is that your interview will put you in touch with a specific person who you can contact later.  Important: Make sure you get your interview partner's business card.

Take down the basic points of your conversation, i.e. important details which set apart that company from others. In the next few days following the Fair, you can send a thank you mail for the opportunity to talk to the person and, in case you didn't do so at the Fair already, send your CV and letter of motivation to your contact.

Give the companies time to go over your documents and make a decision. Should you not have received any feedback after two weeks, it is perfectly ok to check back by phone.

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WORKING IN AUSTRIA

First steps: What to do when searching for a new job in Austria

Whether you have just arrived in Austria or have worked here before but are now unemployed, this is how you should start your job search.

Published: 17 January 2024 16:05 CET
Updated: 4 April 2024 14:11 CEST
First steps: What to do when searching for a new job in Austria

Austria is known for its welfare or social system, and even people who do not have a job can receive assistance – but the full entitlement depends on factors such as previous work in the country, for example. 

If you are moving to Austria or have lost your job, there are tools you can use to help you get into the labour market again – especially with the help of the Austrian Public Employment Service (AMS). Here’s what you need to know.

Registering as unemployed

The first step is registering as an unemployed job seeker with the AMS. It’s not a mandatory step, but the AMS can give you professional counselling from a personal advisor. You can also be recommended courses and get job adverts that fit your profile. 

A person can register as an unemployed job seeker with the AMS regardless of any entitlement to a benefit from the unemployment insurance scheme, so even if you have just arrived in Austria. Here’s a list of the regional offices of the AMS.

READ ALSO: Unemployment benefits in Austria: Who is eligible and how much can you get?

If you are entitled to unemployment benefits (for that, you need to have contributed to the social system in Austria), then you must register with the AMS by the first day of unemployment. If you register online before the start of unemployment, you have ten days after the start of unemployment to confirm the registration at an AMS office in person. 

Even if you are not at first entitled to benefits from the unemployment insurance scheme, some circumstances may entitle you to several forms of help from the agency. 

This is why it is recommended that you reach out to the AMS regardless of your situation.

AMS’s chatbot

Austria’s AMS also recently launched a new AI bot that usesChatGPT technology – and information from AMS – to help people looking for jobs and training in Austria, as The Local reported.

The bot uses ChatGTP knowledge and AMS’s sources to help users. It can also ask further questions to get specifics on each case, creating a dialogue and exchange of information.

The bot can give answers on training, salary, careers, visas, and more to anyone asking questions. It also provides links to the pages with the source information – all in whichever language you choose to interact with it. 

READ ALSO: How useful is Austria’s new AI tool for foreign job-seekers?

Looking for jobs

Besides the assistance of your advisor at the AMS, you can also use the agency’s job search tool to find employment. Several positions are advertised there, especially for service and trade jobs. It’s possible to narrow down the search based on work hours, place of work and state, among others.

READ ALSO: Six official websites to know if you’re planning to work in Austria

Besides the official site, people in Austria also use other ways of finding jobs online, including websites like LinkedIn and even posts on FB Groups (though be careful with false advertisements if you are in doubt when it comes to employment and work contracts, you can always reach out to your local Chamber of Labour).

In Austria, two sites are also popular among job seekers: Karriere.at and Xing.com. You can also use sites with classified ads such as Der Standard or Willhaben, for example. The Local has a page with English-language jobs in Austria as well.

It’s often common to find jobs through personal contacts in Austria, where the “friendship culture” is prevalent. 

READ ALSO: What is the ‘friendship economy’ in Austria and how does it work?

Even the official government website says, “Personal contacts should also not be ignored when it comes to successful job placement. It can be very helpful to ask around among family, friends and acquaintances for vacancies.

“The more people who know about the job search, the greater the chance of success”, it added.

You will also need to prepare a CV and, depending on the job, even a motivational letter – your AMS advisor can typically help adapt and write both documents. 

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