Starting a career at an Austrian company

This article is directed towards international students enrolled in an Austrian Institute who wish to apply to an Austrian company. I study at a University of Applied Sciences (FH) but believe that this article could also help those of us at a Technical University (TU).

As a student you can gain experience through a Working student or Internship arrangement. The former refers to an agreement up to a maximum of 20 hours/week during your studies. The latter is like a full-time job with a focus on a future project or thesis. So, let us explore some things to keep in mind while applying to an Austrian company 🙂

(a) Realize your infinite potential

Moving abroad can be a wonderful but also overwhelming experience. But this should not stop us from believing in ourselves. Remember that there is only one of you to show what you can do. This means that the potential is already there! Having this mindset before starting your search will help you stay positive in the difficult times. How to do this? Take some time to get to know yourself and what you expect from a company. When we do this we are effectively expanding our awareness and that awareness in turn will build self-belief.

(b) Where do we begin with the search?

You might have already been given the traditional job search advice to sign up on a job board and apply. But this can be very exhausting as so many others also do it!

I would instead like to propose an additional approach. I am referring to an initiative application (Initiativbewerbung in German) where you send your credentials even though there is no open position on the company website. Sounds strange? Well actually not as this is how I got my job! In such an application you are free to express yourself in your application documents. Also, you are being pro-active in this case.

Now you may ask, how does one find such companies? I would many times type out “energy companies in Austria” on google and get a nice list. Attending career fairs/conferences is also very helpful for a face-to face learning.

(c) But what about my German skills?

Ah! We come to a question that is ever-present in the minds of international students. While knowing German will certainly help you integrate with the culture, do not let it stress you out. I understand that some of us may have just started our journey (A1/A2) but does it help to be very worried? NO. Instead have an idea about what you would like to do and keep that planted in your mind. This is how the most famous technologies were invented! Along the way you will continue strengthening your language skills.

Therefore, focus on what you can truly control and the rest will take care of itself. As an example, I took a year’s break in India to learn German and had my first video interview with a German company despite being in the A1 level 🙂 I did not get the job but it was a valuable learning experience.

(d) CV (Lebenslauf)

Be direct and to the point when describing your experiences. Try to highlight your main tasks in each previous position that you may have held. If you have not gathered work experience yet, that is okay as you can describe a few current and previous projects.

If possible try to write your CV in German. It is acceptable to ask a native Austrian for help as this is not your first language and good companies will understand that. Did you know that you can write a CV based on your language level? Yes it is possible and you can speak to your Austrian friend about using simple sentences. Nevertheless, if you do go ahead with English keep the sentences concise for recruiters and managers to understand.

Does the specific structure matter? In my opinion this plays a minor role because we all have unique experiences. However it is important to include a professional photo and not make the CV unnecessarily long (>2 pages)

(e) Cover Letter (Anschreiben/Motivationsschreiben)

While the CV is more of a fact based document, the Cover Letter is more all-rounded. Showcase your unique personality over here by touching up on some personal learnings. For example, did you solve a difficult problem in a team once? Briefly describe the challenges you overcame and I am sure we all have faced them. It is also vital to mention why you would like to work for this particular company. It helps a lot to read aspects about their accomplishments, innovative projects, work culture etc. which appeal to you. Do not limit yourself to just mentioning why your skills are a match for the position. Be free!

(f) Do I need to send any other documents?

Yes. In addition to the CV and Cover Letter, companies like to get an overall picture. Therefore they request you for certificates and these include things like previous references, relevant certification courses, your Master’s diploma etc. When sending documents through E-Mail, try making a single pdf file which contains these documents. On online portals you will usually see separate sections for each document type.

(g) How long till I hear back? What should I do in the meantime? Tips for dealing with not being selected?

Breathe! Selection processes can take time over here. I got called for my first interview a month after applying and finally started working 2 1/2 months after. What you can do is to send a gentle follow-up to inquire about the status of your application (about 3 weeks after not hearing anything). I recommend sending it only once. There will be other companies who will appreciate you so do not invest so much time in one company.

In the meantime become aware of the process with the AMS (Arbeitsmarktservice) as they must approve your job before you start! Sometimes the company may not know about this so be prepared to guide them a little bit. As for not being selected, do not take it personally. When you get an E-Mail, just step back from the screen, close your eyes for a few seconds and breathe for a few seconds. You will feel better 🙂 I do not like the word rejection as a non-selection means that you are instead being redirected towards something that will make you happier.

I now come to the end of this article. Hope the tips were useful and I look forward to your feedback. Good luck!!