How can I get a job in Vienna Austria?

Voted most livable city in the world an amazing seven times in a row, Vienna is a popular place with locals and foreigners alike. Here you can find a cosmopolitan atmosphere, vibrant culture and all the history you could wish for in a country where salaries - and the standard of living - are typically well above the average for Europe. Who wouldn’t like a chance to try out Vienna life?

If you’re thinking of moving to Vienna, chances are you’ll need to find a job in Vienna to pay your way when you’re there. Vienna has a healthy economy, with a focus on the service sector as well as specialist areas of research and IT, along with a thriving tourism industry.

There’s sure to be a job for you. Check out this quick guide on getting a job in Vienna, and discover how to find it.

1. Make sure you’re eligible to work in Vienna
Before you start to look for a job in Vienna, you’ll need to check if there are any steps you need to take to work legally there. Luckily, everything you need to know about immigration into Austria is detailed on the government’s migration portal.

As Vienna is in an EU country, citizens of other EU and EEA countries are free to live and work there without needing any special visa or permit. However, if you’re an American or from somewhere outside the EU, you’ll probably need to have a permit to work in Austria.

You can check out all the details about living and working in EU countries, at the EU immigration portal or from a guide to getting a work visa for Austria. You’ll likely need what is known as the Red-White-Red Card, granted using a system designed to match the skills of potential incoming workers and the shortages in the Austrian labour market.

Depending on the type of work you’re planning on doing, it might be possible to apply for an EU Blue Card which gives you the right to work across most EU member states. To be eligible, you must be from a country outside the EU, be highly skilled (typically meaning you’ve completed a bachelor's level university degree or have five years of senior professional experience) and have a job already lined up.

2. Consider the types of available jobs
Vienna is the fifth richest place in Europe, with a GDP per capita of around USD 63,000 (or GBP 50,500), well above the EU average. Lots of major international companies have bases in Vienna because of its strategic location bridging the east and west of Europe.

If your German isn’t so strong, you might find a job for non-German speakers by working in English in Vienna with a global company or within an international team of a smaller business. Some of the largest international companies operating in Vienna include Siemens and Hewlett Packard.

Vienna is also a major hub for research, with some 35% of all researchers in Austria based there, and over EUR 2.8 billion invested there in research activities annually.

Startups are more your scene? Vienna has those, too. Among Europe’s top ten startup hotspots, you’ll find the support you need to kickstart your own business or join like-minded entrepreneurs in theirs.

If you’re a student, many of the large companies in Vienna also offer internship opportunities if you’re still studying but want to experience life in Austria. Try Graduateland as a great portal for an ever changing selection of live intern opportunities.

Of course, you’ll want to know a bit about how the salaries and costs of living in Vienna can work out. If you have a specific company or role in mind, Glassdoor is a great way of getting insight into likely salary ranges and company culture. And for cost of living information, compared to your current home, try Numbeo, where you can compare costs of rent, groceries, utilities and so on.

3. Look online
When it comes to job hunting, the internet is your friend. Aside from the most popular job sites like LinkedIn, Indeed and Monster which cover more or less the entire globe, there are lots of local sites to choose from, too. Try these Vienna-specific job sites as a starting point:

Jobs in Vienna is a site aimed at professionals looking to work using their English language

The job board at Virtual Vienna is another good place to try if you want an English speaking job

If your German is up to it, try the job board at news site der Standard

Or access job adverts and helpful hints at tips over at Karriere

As larger employers in Vienna are used to welcoming foreigners, they'll mostly be understanding of your situation if you explain that you're relocating. Just make sure you're clear about your visa status from the start, and explain if you have your paperwork already sorted out or will need sponsorship.

4. Find a recruite
Some of the larger and more popular agents in Vienna include: