The Employment Booklet for UN and Embassy Spouses

Published by The United Nations Women’s Guild (UNWG)

http://www.iaea.org/lrc/unwg_employ/

 

CHAPTER 1

AN OVERVIEW

 

INTRODUCTION

 

This booklet has been written by members of the UN Women’s Guild Family Status Committee to provide practical information on employment in Vienna for spouses of employees of the Vienna-based UN organizations, permanent missions and embassies.  Every attempt has been made to ensure that the information in the booklet is correct as of the revision date of September, 1999.  However, the reader should bear in mind that details such as telephone numbers, statistics, costs, etc. may change over time.  In writing the booklet, we have used the female pronoun whenever referring to spouses as the Guild is a women’s organization.  We hope that our publication will be equally useful to male spouses.

 

In October 1995, the Family Status Committee distributed a questionnaire to find out about the employment situation of the Guild membership.  The results showed that 88% of respondents had held a job before coming to Austria and 70% wanted to work while they were here.  Only 12% were currently working and only half of the respondents had tried to find work.  There is a perception that finding work in Austria is very difficult and that the language barrier, lack of information and lack of relevant work experience are serious obstacles to finding employment.  Although it is not easy to find employment, with persistence, it is possible to succeed.

 

As most respondents to the Guild questionnaire were fluent in English, we have concentrated on potential employers for which the working language is English.  However, we have included a few entries which are applicable to spouses with fluency in other languages.  Where German is necessary the text is prefaced with the header ‘If you are fluent in German’.

 

A PROFILE OF THE WORK PLACE

 

This booklet will focus on employment opportunities in Vienna, but much of the information will be relevant to the rest of Austria.  Vienna is a cosmopolitan city in a country that is now a full member of the European Union.  It also remains the gateway to Eastern Europe and is home to many international organizations and companies.  The first language is German although more and more work is being undertaken in English.  Many Austrians speak two or three languages and it is a prerequisite of many jobs to be bilingual.  Therefore, the single most important skill you can acquire to help you in the Austrian job market is the ability to speak and write German.

 

Austria has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the European Union at 3.3% (May 2000).  In the age group 25 to 54, unemployment for women is 5.2% whereas males suffer only 4.9% unemployment (1998). Many women work part-time. In the total employment picture, female employees constituted 86.9% of the part-time work force whereas male employees only 11.5%. Employment of individuals who are not from an EU country is restricted and work permits can be difficult to obtain. One may work for some international organisations without a work permit. These organizations include the embassies, the UN organizations, the OSCE and the American and Danube international schools.

 

Terms and conditions for employment are generous to the employee. The Austrian economy is stable and is growing steadily. The main areas of employment are tourism, industrial production and retailing.

 

Women make up 62.5% (1998) of the work force.  Some 75.5% of women between the ages of 25 and 54 hold jobs.  Slightly less than one-fourth of these jobs are part-time.  Wages are 40% lower on average for women than for men. Wages are high in comparison to other European countries and the unofficial minimum wage, which the majority of Austrians earn, is AS 140 per hour. Interested readers may update these figures with Internet searches, for example, see OECD or the ILO.

 

CHAPTER 2
POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS

 

THE UN ORGANIZATIONS

 

The UN organizations in Vienna include the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV).  Although each of the UN organizations has its own recruitment division and policies, the job classifications are the same, as they are based on the International Civil Service Commission system. There are two major categories of interest to UN, embassy and mission spouses: the Professional (P) and the General Service (GS) grades.

 

Candidates seeking employment at the Professional level (P1-P5) in any of the organizations are expected to have a university degree and relevant prior experience in the area of specialization. The required minimum periods of experience are usually specified in the vacancy announcements.

 

General Service staff (G1-G7) provide assistance in administrative, financial and personnel support services. They are usually locally employed from candidates residing in Vienna and its vicinity.

 

UN organization vacancy announcements are posted on the notice boards on the ground floor of the F-Tower in the VIC and on the Internet.  Copies are available at Checkpoint 1 and the respective personnel offices. Vacancy announcements specify application deadlines and qualification requirements.

 

It may be a good idea to indicate the general area in which you would like to work by filling out the Personal History Form (application form) and specifying the job you are applying for in the covering letter. If you are not selected for the first post for which you apply, you can then send additional letters indicating an interest in later vacancies. Personal History Forms are normally kept in the files for two years. It is important to add that the UN organizations encourage applications from qualified female applicants, especially for Professional posts.

 

Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO)

The CTBTO Preparatory Commission arrived at the VIC in March 1997. This growing organization employs Professionals with highly specialized scientific background (seismologists and experts on radionuclide, hydro-acoustic and infrasound monitoring, for example) and General Service staff. If you are interested in applying, send your CV via VIC internal mail to the CTBTO, Personnel Administration.

 

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

The IAEA has the mandate “to promote peaceful applications of atomic energy world-wide for humanity’s benefit while guarding against the spread of its destructive use.” Apart from its safeguards work, monitoring and inspecting nuclear material, it also collaborates with other UN organizations in improving human health, promoting food supplies, controlling pollution, managing waters and boosting energy production through nuclear techniques.

 

IAEA job vacancies are posted on the Internet at as well as on the F-Tower notice board.  Copies are also available at Checkpoint 1. Application forms may be obtained from the Recruitment and Staff Development Section: contact Margaret Robertson for GS positions (A-0524) or Gertrude Kaiser for P positions (A-0517).

 

IAEA positions are either fixed-term or short-term. There are some part-time positions at the GS level with most employees working 50% of a normal work week and some working 80%. These positions tend to be held by employees who previously worked full-time for the IAEA.  Job sharing is rather rare. Short-term jobs are not advertised, but are filled from a roster of suitable candidates. Applicants should specify that they are interested in short-term jobs on the application form. There are no unpaid internships for middle-aged applicants.

 

The IAEA had 2,202 employees as of September 1999. Of these, 942 were P staff and 1260 were GS staff. The number of applicants for individual positions varies according to the type of position. For example, a P position requiring scientific background might have 50 applicants whereas a non-technical P position could have 200.Typically, three to five candidates are interviewed for P positions and six to seven for GS positions.

 

Applicants for secretarial positions are expected to have a minimum of two to three years’ work experience and to be fluent in English.  Knowledge of other IAEA languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish), the ability to take shorthand and computer literacy are also desirable skills. GS staff is locally recruited. No preference is given to Austrian applicants and, in fact, the percentage of Austrian GS staff has declined in recent years. No attempt at geographical distribution according to member states is made for GS positions and age is ignored in the selection process. It is possible to be promoted from a high-level GS position to a low-level P position, but this occurs infrequently.

 

Professionals are selected primarily on the basis of competence, integrity and efficiency. The IAEA hires staff with backgrounds in agriculture, computer sciences, energy economics, environmental specialties, life sciences, nuclear engineering, nuclear medicine, physical/chemical sciences, radiation protection and technical co-operation. In addition, non-technical staff with expertise in accounting, administration, financial management, human resources management, international co-operation, international law, languages, library science, political science, project management and public affairs are employed. There are no hiring quotas based on national origin. However, once a short list of equally qualified candidates has been determined, preference may be given to candidates from developing countries, under-represented countries and to women. Currently, 33% of P-level employees are from developing countries and 18% are women (1997). Age is ignored in hiring with one exception: candidates over the age of 57 are not considered for fixed-term positions, as it takes five years to become vested in the pension plan and the retirement age is 62. The average age of P-level staff is about 50.

 

Since 1990 it has been possible for the IAEA to hire spouses of employees for fixed-term positions through the usual competitive process, assuming there is no conflict of interest. Short-term positions have been open to spouses since June 1995. When a spouse applies, the fact that she is a spouse is noted, but it does not negatively affect her candidacy, provided she is recruited on a competitive basis. An advisory committee looks at any proposed appointment of a spouse to make sure that she is the best qualified candidate and that there is no nepotism (favoritism shown to relatives). Twenty-three spouses of IAEA employees have been hired since June 1990.

 

The IAEA does not offer paid summer jobs for college-age students. Occasionally unpaid internships are available for university graduates under the age of 30. An internship usually lasts from three to six months or, at most, a year. If the quality of the work is very high the intern may be paid a token fee of AS 5,000. Interested individuals may fill out an application form and will be contacted if an internship is available.

 

United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO)

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialist UN agency helping the developing countries and transition economies to pursue sustainable industrial development. It provides tailor-made solutions to today’s industrial problems by offering a package of integrated services addressing three key concerns, namely competitive economy, sound environment and productive employment at policy, institutional and enterprise level. Most of the professional posts require staff with an advanced academic background, considerable experience and specific competencies in related fields of sustainable industrial development. Candidates with a background relating to personnel administration and human resource management would only be required occasionally. The official working languages are mainly English and French or Spanish.

 

Applications following an external vacancy announcement are subject to an initial pre-screening, a technical evaluation, telephone interviews as well as a panel interview of 3-5 candidates chosen for the end phase of the selection process. Appointees for Professional short-term positions are usually chosen from a roster of candidates who have had previous UNIDO experience. Professional posts are subject to geographical distribution. The calculation of the range for each member state takes into account several factors including the population, financial contribution and status of the country/developing country/country-in-transition.  The Human Resource Management Branch makes a concerted effort to find qualified female candidates for Professional posts in order to improve the gender balance in the Organization. If there are two equally qualified candidates, a woman will be given preference. Currently (October 1999), UNIDO has 624 employees serving at Headquarters. 23% of the 214 Professionals (P) are female and 60% of the 398 General Service (GS) staff (including monthly short-term) are female.

 

There has been a freeze on external recruitment for GS fixed-term positions since October 1995. Appointees for short-term GS positions are chosen from a roster of suitable candidates and are not advertised externally. Those who want to be considered for the roster should indicate an interest in short-term work on the application form. No preference is given to Austrian nationals in the GS selection process. Applicants with a university degree are considered to be overqualified for GS positions.

 

If applicants are spouses of UNIDO employees, this does not negatively affect their candidacy. A spouse would not be eligible for a position under the supervision of her husband, however, and an attempt would be made to place spouses in different divisions. Very few spouses of employees have been hired.

 

There are no summer jobs for young people with UNIDO. However, there is an active internship programme. In 1998 about 56 interns worked for the Organization. The positions are unpaid and carry no guarantee of paid employment after the internship is completed. A candidate must have a bachelor’s degree as a minimum and may work in any of the three divisions. It is an advantage to apply early in the calendar year. Application forms may be obtained from Ms. Marica Buranich, Tel. 26026 34 48.

 

The United Nations Office in Vienna (UNOV)

The primary organizational units are: United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV) and Office of Drug Control and Crime Prevention (ODCCP). UNOV includes such key programmes as International Trade Law Branch (ITLB), United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (OOSA), United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) and Conference Services as well as a number of administrative and common services. ODCCP consists of Center for International Crime Prevention (CICP), United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) and Global Programme Against Money Laundering.

 

As of January 1999, UNOV and ODCCP employed 830 people. This figure includes staff who works in the field. The organisation employs Professionals with background and experience in administration, public information, legal affairs, translation/précis-writing, interpretation, social welfare, demography and population, computer science and librarianship. General Service positions include the following categories: secretaries and clerk-typists, conference typists, accounting and statistical clerks, security and safety staff and trades and crafts staff. The public information assistants who give tours of the VIC are usually in their 20s. For more details on these job categories, please consult the Job Resource File in the Guild office. English and French are the main working languages of the organisation.

 

Vacancy announcements are posted on the notice boards in  F-Tower and on E-14 in the Human Resources Management Section, UNOV.  They can also be found on Internet on the UNOV home page. Applications may be obtained from Human Resources Management (E-1042, Tel. 26060 36 59) or from the Checkpoint 1 entrance to the VIC.

 

The Permanent Missions may support Professional candidates, but it is not necessary to have the support of one’s Mission in order to apply.   Attention is paid to geographical distribution according to member states.  A formula which takes into account such factors as the financial contribution of a member state, its GNP, etc. is used to determine the desirable range of staff members from each country. Competitive examinations, for positions at the P 2 and P3 level, are held periodically, especially in not adequately or under-represented member states. The age limit for the National Competitive Recruitment Examinations for P 2 positions is 32. Project posts funded from voluntary contributions of member states are not subject to geographical distribution.

 

Austrians are not given any preference in hiring for General Service positions. General Service staff are hired locally, however, and a residence permit is required. University graduates are generally discouraged from applying for General Service positions, as they are considered to be overqualified. Higher-level General Service staff who have earned a degree are encouraged to apply for the lower- level P positions and some of these positions are reserved for them by way of the G to P examinations.

 

Age is for the most part ignored in hiring, except that a General Service candidate must be 18 years old and candidates nearing 60 are not encouraged to apply. The organisation makes every effort to hire qualified women, in line with the Secretary General’s goal of 50-50 gender equality by the year 2000. As of January 1999, women constituted about 34% of employees; including posts subject to geographical distribution.

 

It is possible for UNOV to hire a spouse of a current employee. However, the organisation is  careful to avoid nepotism and will not hire a spouse for a position which would involve a conflict of interest. It may be easier for a spouse to obtain a short-term rather than a fixed-term position. The Human Resources Management Section evaluates each applicant who is a spouse on a case-by-case basis.

 

Although there are no summer jobs for college-age applicants, unpaid internships are sometimes available under the Ad Hoc Internship Programme. Applicants must hold a university degree or equivalent and fluency in English or French is essential. Internships may require background in any of the following areas: social and political sciences, psychology, economics, journalism, finance, business administration, international relations and international law (trade, criminal, public, or comparative law). An internship normally lasts a minimum of three months and up to one year.  Application forms are available from the Human Resources Management Section and suitable applicants will be notified if there is an opening. The telephone number is given above.

 

EMBASSIES

 

A full list of foreign embassies based in Vienna may be found in the white pages of the telephone book under ‘Botschaften’ and is also available in the Employment Resource File at the Guild office. Most Embassies are under an obligation to employ their own nationals first and then Austrians.   In some cases (the US Embassy, for example) certain jobs are earmarked for family members of embassy employees.   However, if you speak the language of the embassy as well as German, it is well worth applying.  Jobs are sometimes advertised in the Austrian press, but if you think you have the right qualifications it is worth writing to ask to be considered for any forthcoming posts.  A letter of application should be addressed to the head of personnel or the management officer of the embassy concerned.

 

The types of jobs usually available are those in the consular or commercial departments, or as secretaries, security guards, or drivers. Useful skills to offer are languages, computing and marketing and business skills.

 

A number of countries (Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Spain, the United States) also have cultural centers here in Vienna which are often run as independent organisations and should be applied to separately. The addresses of these institutes are in the Employment Resource File at the Guild office.

 

OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS

 

Organisation for Co-operation and Security in Europe (OSCE)

The OSCE promotes security in Europe through the co-operative efforts of its member states. The organisation addresses such issues as arms control, conflict-prevention diplomacy, confidence-and- security-building measures, human rights, election monitoring and economic security.

 

At present (1999) the OSCE has 220 employees in Vienna. Professional employees are engaged in logistics, administration, accounting, international law and diplomacy. The number of Professionals is relatively small in comparison to clerical staff. Clerical positions include secretaries, translators, receptionists and drivers. Most of the staff is hired locally. Although no preference is given to Austrian citizens, fluency in German is essential for clerical positions. The working language is English and knowledge of any of the other official languages (German, Italian, French, or Russian) is desirable. Work permits are not required as OSCE employees are considered to be part of the international civil service. One may apply directly to the organisation without sponsorship by one’s embassy, but all staff must be from the OSCE’s member states. (See the Employment Resource File in the Guild office for a listing of these states.) Most professional staff are hired on a two- to three-year contract with the possibility to extend for a maximum of eight years in total. Clerical staff may work for an unlimited time. There are very few part-time jobs available. Some vacancy announcements are posted on the Internet at http://www.osceprag.cz, but a more complete listing can be found at the VIC F-Tower notice board. CVs may be mailed to the OSCE or delivered personally to the reception desk. (OSCE, Kärntner Ring 5-7, A-1010 Vienna,Tel.  514 36)

 

Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the OPEC Fund

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries has two main institutions in Vienna: the OPEC Secretariat and the OPEC Fund for International Development.

 

The OPEC Secretariat is the administrative and policy-making headquarters. Its main function is to co-ordinate petroleum policies of member countries and to determine the best means for safeguarding their interests, individually and collectively.  There are 13 member countries: Algeria, Ecuador, Gabon, Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela.

 

The Secretariat hires two categories of officers: professionals and local staff.  Professionals are recruited from the member countries upon recommendation from their home government.  They usually have a fixed-term contract of a maximum of eight years.  The local staff consists of the S grades and the G grades.  The S staff are professionals who are locally employed but not necessarily citizens of member countries.  They include statisticians, computer analysts, economists and other specialists.  The G-grade employees include secretaries, administrative assistants and support staff. They are also locally employed and do not represent member states.

 

The OPEC Fund is concerned with the reinforcement of financial co-operation between its member countries and other developing countries.  It renders loans and financial assistance on concessionary terms to developing countries in order to help in the development of projects or programmes.

 

The Fund employs two categories of staff: professionals and support staff.  Unlike the OPEC Secretariat, professionals do not necessarily have to be from the member states.  They may be employed locally and have no limitation on the number of years they can work. Specialists are needed in accounting, agriculture, economics, engineering, international law and investment analysis.  The support staff includes secretaries, administrative assistants and account clerks.  These are recruited locally.

 

The working language of OPEC and the OPEC Fund is English, but knowledge of Arabic, French, or Spanish is highly desirable. Vacancy announcements for professional posts with OPEC are circulated to member countries. All other vacancy announcements are advertised in the local press. Applications and enquiries may be directed to:

OPEC Secretariat, Obere Donaustraße 93, A-1020 Vienna, Tel.  21112 0 / OPEC Fund for International Development, Parkring 8, A-1010 Vienna, Tel.  515 64 or 512 86 38 or 513 92 38.

 

INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITIES

 

Berufsfoerderungsinstitut Wien, BFI

This school has vocational, business organization, marketing, public relations, advertising and computer courses. This school also includes the Special European Employee Academy and, especially for women only, European Project Management.

 

The school is interested at various times in hiring teachers of the following languages: Croatian, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Polish, Russian, Slovak, Slovenian and Spanish. Teaching experience is a prerequisite, but educational requirements are not as strict as they are for teachers of English. (Sprachkurszentrale, Kinderspitalgasse 5, A-1090, Tel. 404-35119)

 

The Institute of European Studies

The Institute of European Studies provides American university students with the opportunity to study abroad.  The students come from a consortium of more than 100 American colleges and universities.  The programme offered by the Institute is the oldest of its kind in Austria.

 

There are three or four permanent administrative positions, one of which is for a  librarian.  These staff are Austrian or American.  All staff need work permits and must be fluent in English and German.  Teaching staff are usually Austrian with the appropriate academic qualifications.  Vacant positions are advertised using a mailing list of candidates on file.  Those interested should contact: The Assistant to the Director, Institute of European Studies, Johannesgasse 7, A-1010 Vienna, Tel.  512 26 01.

 

International Christian University

The International Christian University is an American university with campuses in Vienna and Kiev. Very little recruitment is done in Vienna.  Most lecturers are recruited from the USA and the majority of staff work on a voluntary basis.  Vacancies are not advertised locally.  The University is located at: Rennweg 2,  A-1030 Vienna, Tel: 718 50 68-0; 712 57 74, Fax: 718 50 689.

 

Webster University

Webster University is an American university with campuses in Europe.  The University in Vienna has 400 students (graduate as well as undergraduate) representing over 65 nations.  Employees include receptionists, administrative personnel and lecturers.  A work permit is required for non-EU citizens.  Lecturers must have advanced qualifications and experience in American education at the university level.  Fluency in both English and German is essential for administrative staff.  Advertisements for vacancies are published in the Women’s Career Network Newsletter.  Applications may be forwarded to: The Assistant to the Director, Webster University, Berchtoldgasse 1, A-1220 Vienna, Tel.  269 92  930, Fax: 269 92 9313.

 

INTERNATIONAL AND FOREIGN LANGUAGE SCHOOLS

 

The American International School

This private school follows the curriculum of the American teaching system.  The first language is English and students work towards entrance into US colleges and universities.  German is taught at all grade levels and the International Baccalaureate can be taken as an option.  The school has over 500 students from more than 52 countries.

 

To teach at AIS one must speak English, have at least a university degree and have a minimum of 2 years’ teaching experience.  International teaching experience is preferred and teachers of any nationality may apply.  Hiring is done locally and through recruitment fairs.  Vacancies have been advertised in the American Women’s Association newsletter, the US Embassy newsletter Tales of Vienna and on the VIC notice board.  It is not necessary to have a work permit to be employed by the school.  One may call the school to inquire about substitute teaching and such experience may be an avenue to full-time work. (The Administration Office, The American International School, Salmannsdorfer Straße 47, A-1190 Vienna, Tel.  40 13 20)

 

The Danube International School

The Danube International School hires only mother-tongue English speakers.  A teacher must have a bachelor of arts or master’s degree in Education and specific knowledge in the subject areas to be taught.  Teaching experience is required, but it does not necessarily have to be international experience - the individual’s total experience is the determining factor in hiring.

 

Full-time teachers are recruited locally and from recruitment fairs.  Vacancies are advertised in Der Standard.  It is not necessary to have a work permit.  At times substitute teachers are required and the school is happy to receive inquiries about these positions.  (The Danube International School, Josef-Gall-Gasse 2, A-1020 Vienna, Tel. 720 31 10)

 

Lycée Francais de Vienne

The Lycée hires French and Austrian employees only, because of the difficulty in obtaining work permits for non-EU nationals.  Teachers are required to have a university degree in education, but it is not necessary to have had teaching experience.  Some teachers are hired locally and substitute teaching may help in obtaining a full-time position.  (Lycée Francais de Vienne, Liechtensteinstraße 39a, A-1090 Vienna, Tel.  317 22 41)

 

The Vienna Bi-Lingual Schooling Project

The Vienna Bi-Lingual Schooling Project is sponsored by the Stadtschulrat für Wien and currently (Fall, 1999) consists of five primary schools (6-10 years), one middle school (10-14 years), one secondary school (15-18 years) and one higher commercial college (14-19 years) in which both German and English are the languages of instruction.  The project employs teachers who have English or German as a mother tongue, but it is rather difficult to get a work permit if you are a non-EU national.  The problem of having one’s foreign degree accepted in order to work for the project can be dealt with in one of two ways.  You may take your foreign degree to the Ministry of Education and go through the nostrification (validation) process yourself.  An alternative is to work for one of the bi-lingual schools at a lower salary while the Stadtschulrat applies for a special contract from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance.  If the special contract is approved, you will be paid a salary consistent with your education (with the increase in salary paid retroactively).  Vacancies are not advertised formally. Therefore it is important to send in your CV, preferably before the end of March for the next school year.  Substitute teachers are hired from a list of newly graduated teachers.  (Prof. Mag. Franz Schimek or Mr. Stuart Simpson, Vienna Bi-Lingual Schooling Project,  Stadtschulrat für Wien, Dr.-Karl-Renner-Ring 1, A-1010 Vienna, Tel. 525 25)

 

The Vienna International School

The Vienna International School is a private school established under Austrian law.  It runs from pre-school to secondary level and students take the International Baccalaureate exams in their final year. English is the language of instruction, though German and other languages are taught. The students are from over 82 countries.  More than 60% of the students are children of UN organisation, international agency and embassy employees.

 

One may be hired as a teacher provided one is a qualified teacher. Qualified citizens of an EU country do not need work permits; however, they must possess teaching qualifications awarded by an English-language university.  Vacancies are advertised locally, but recruitment is usually done through the European Council of International Schools (ECIS) recruitment fairs in England and the USA. Although to be a substitute teacher, one does not need a work permit, other non-EU support staff does.  The school finds it difficult to obtain work permits for potential employees.  They do welcome volunteers, particularly those with English as a mother tongue.   (The Vienna International School, Straße-der-Menschenrechte 2, A-1220 Vienna, Tel.  203 55 95, e-mail: info@vis.ac.at)

 

The Vienna Islamic School

The Vienna Islamic School is a private school that teaches Arabic language and Islamic religion to children from the Arabic and Islamic communities.  The school has students at the pre-school through middle school level (9 classes). It is supported by various institutions, embassies and individuals. Teachers are required to have a work permit, which is obtained through the Saudi Arabian Embassy. (The Vienna Islamic School, Am Hubertusdamm 17-19, A-1210 Vienna, Tel.  263 21 39)

 

Other Foreign Language Schools

If you have teaching credentials and are fluent in the language spoken at the school, it may be worthwhile to inquire about the hiring policies of any of the following: The Czech School (Czech)   Sebastianplatz 3, A-1030 713 31 88, The Japanese School in Vienna (Japanese) Prandaugasse, A-1220  204 22 01; or The Swedish School (Swedish)  Gentzgasse 6, A-1180  478 14 61.

 

INTERNATIONAL KINDERGARTENS

 

The American Community Pre-School

The language of instruction is English and teachers are required to have a university degree in education or a university degree in some other discipline coupled with experience in working with children.  Although the children are American, one does not have to be an American to teach there.  A work permit is required unless one is connected with an embassy, OSCE, or is an EU national.  Employees do not make contributions to the Austrian social insurance plan.  The staff includes one director, one teacher and one teacher’s assistant. Vacancies are advertised in the US Embassy newsletter Tales of Vienna and at the American International School.   CVs may be sent to: The Director, The American Community Pre-School, Hartäckerstraße 29-39, A-1190 Vienna, Tel. 369 27 73.

 

Bilingualer Kindergarten

The bilingual kindergartens are part of the Vienna Bi-lingual Schooling Project (see The Vienna Bi-Lingual Schooling Project above).  (Bilingualer Kindergarten, Bergtaidingweg 11, A-1100, Tel. 688 45 93)

 

The Children’s House

Fluency in English is required to work at The Children’s House and some knowledge of German is helpful.  Prospective teachers should have a Montessori diploma or an interest in studying for one and experience in working with children.  The kindergarten employs seven full-time and two part-time teachers.  Employees make social insurance contributions and non-EU nationals must have a work permit.  The kindergarten does not advertise when there are vacancies, but relies on their file of applications.  CVs may be sent to: Katherine Wolschner, The Children’s House, Julius Payergasse 9, A-1220 Vienna, Tel. 263 10 56.

 

The International Montessori Pre-School

The language of instruction is English and employees are not required to have a knowledge of German. A work permit is required for non-EU citizens and contributions are made to the Austrian social insurance plan. Teachers are required to have a Montessori diploma.  The Pre-School employs one co-ordinator and six teachers. Vacancies are advertised with the American Chamber of Commerce, the US and British embassies, the Vienna International School, the American International School and the Danube International School. CVs may be sent to: Mrs. Julia Dekleva, The International Montessori Pre-School, Marc Aurel Strasse 5/16. A-1010 Vienna, Tel: 533-2024.

 

The VIC Child Care Centre

The Kindergarten on the VIC grounds is run by the Gemeinde Wien. The language of instruction is German and all employees are currently Austrian.

 

Working as a Tagesmutter

A Tagesmutter is a person who provides day care for one to five children in her home under a programme sponsored by the Jugendamt. Most Tagesmutter care for Austrian children and speak German, but it is possible to provide care for English-speaking children.  The authorities check to see that you do not have a criminal record and evaluate the suitability of your home for childcare. You may contact the Jugendamt in your district (under Amt für Jugend und Familie in the white pages of the telephone book) to find out more about the programme.  

 

INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES OPERATING IN VIENNA

 

There are increasing numbers of international companies working in Vienna and many use Vienna as a base for operating in Eastern Europe. Lists of British and American companies operating in Vienna are available in the Employment Resource File in the Guild office.

 

EMPLOYMENT IN SPECIFIC AREAS

 

Of the respondents to the Guild Employment Questionnaire, 82% had higher education qualifications, 76% had one degree or more and 71% had experience with computers. We are an extremely well qualified group of women and many of us have experience in very particular types of work.

 

A useful source of information on where to start in looking for work in specific occupations is the book American Women and Work in Austria, published by the American Women’s Association.  Although some details may have changed since the 1993 publication date, the general advice is still very helpful. Occupations covered include au pairs and babysitters, English-language-related occupations, headhunters and management consultants, health care professionals, lawyers, medical doctors and dentists, musicians and singers, teachers, tourism-related occupations and writers. A copy of the book is available in the Employment Resource File in the Guild office.

 

It is worth making every effort to find work in your area of expertise and experience. If it becomes clear, however, that there are insurmountable difficulties in pursuing your chosen career in Vienna, you should be prepared to be creative and possibly make compromises. Consider what other talents and experience you have and how they might be put to use in an international environment. You may have skills which would be useful in the expanding economies in Eastern Europe. If you are unable to find a ready-made niche in an international or Austrian firm or organisation, you may also want to consider being self-employed.

 

If you are fluent in German - There are many organisations in Vienna representing various occupational groups and they may be able to help and advise you on how to adapt your qualifications and experience to the Austrian job market. A list of these organisations can be found in the pamphlet ‘Service Von A-Z’ in the Job Resource File at the Guild office.  

 

SELF-EMPLOYMENT & FREELANCING

 

There are many things one can do full or part-time on a self-employed basis: artistic work, catering, child care, dressmaking, editing, freelance journalism, language teaching, hairdressing, translating, tutoring and writing, to name a few.

 

The best way to get around the language barrier is to advertise your services amongst the international community. You can do this very effectively by putting up notices on the VIC, UNWG, British Council Library and British Bookstore notice boards. Submit your notice for the notice board to the various Staff Council offices. Get permission to post on the Guild notice boards (at the Kiosk, outside the Guild office, in the hallway leading to the commissary and to the right of the cafeteria entrance behind the elevators) from the Publicity and Information Chairwoman. You can also advertise in the English language press (Austria Today, The UNWG Newsletter) or by writing to the various embassies.

 

Some special considerations apply to people who are self-employed in Austria with respect to work- permit requirements, social insurance and pensions. A work permit is not required if you are self-employed. If you are freelancing and have a work contract (Werkvertrag) with a firm, however, it is important to distinguish whether you are truly self-employed or whether you are an employee of the firm. The most important issue legally is how dependent you are on the firm.  If you are required to work on days and times specified by the firm and/or the firm provides you with materials necessary to do your job, you would probably be considered to be an employee. In such cases you must obtain a work permit, unless you are an EU national.  Also, you and your employer must make social insurance contributions if your monthly income is greater than AS 3,899.  If you are independent of the firm with respect to working times and materials you are probably self-employed.  The key to the self-employed/employee classification lies in the wording of the work contract itself, not in the type of work done. You should seek confirmation from the Department of Labour Law at the Bundesarbeitskammer or the appropriate Arbeitsmarktservice office in order to be certain about your status.

 

·          Bundesarbeitskammer (AK), Department of Labour Law, Prinz-Eugen-Straße 20-22, A-1040 Vienna, Tel.  501 65

·          Arbeitsmarktservice offices:  Employees, academicians, executives, Esteplatz 2, A-1030 Vienna, Tel.  711 18

·          Construction, transportation, traffic, agriculture, youth, food, household, catering, Neubaugasse 43, A-1070 Vienna, Tel.  524 91 720

·          Clothing, textiles, leather, paper, graphics, metal, chemistry, insurance, Pasettistraße 74, A-1200 Vienna, Tel. 331 36

 

It is possible to get individual health insurance with a regional Krankenkasse if you are self-employed. At present (Fall, 1999) the premium is AS 3,386.40. People who join the individual insurance plan must pay premiums for six months before they get the right to benefits, i.e. before they receive an insurance card (Krankenschein). Details on health insurance are available in the Job Resource File at the Guild office. More information, including the extent of benefits provided, may also be obtained from: Wiener Gebietskrankenkasse, Wienerbergstraße 15-19, First floor, Room 116, A-1100 Vienna, Tel.  60 12 20.

 

People who are self-employed may participate in the Austrian individual pension programme (Selbstversicherung). Currently (1999), the minimum monthly premium is AS 5,665.80 for those who have not been previously employed in Austria. You have the right to receive a pension after 15 years of paying premiums. If you leave Austria, you may continue to participate in the programme by paying the premiums from abroad. Details concerning the individual pension programme may be obtained from: Pensionsversicherungsanstalt der Angestellten, Friedrich-Hillegeist-Straße 1, A-1021 Vienna, Tel.  211 35 22 or 211 35 23.

 

CHAPTER 3
WHERE CAN I FIND OUT WHAT JOBS ARE AVAILABLE?

 

Embassy Newsletters

Some embassy newsletters list job vacancies at the respective embassy.  These are circulated internally, however. If you are a UN spouse you may want to ask your embassy friends to inform you when they see a position which is suitable for you.

 

The Internet

You can contact Austrian Job Search on BEKO-EDV Personalentwicklung.  The Learning Resource Centre at the VIC has computers which may be used to search the Internet. The Centre is open only to IAEA employees and spouses (1999), but it is hoped that spouses of other UN organisation employees will be able to use it in the future. Hours are 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., Room F-0123.

 

Networking

Networking may be the most important thing you can do to find out about jobs.  Six out of the ten working respondents to the Guild Employment Questionnaire found their work through personal contacts. Let your friends, acquaintances and people already working in your field know that you are looking for work. Talk to people in the organisations to which you belong about your interest in working. These may include the Guild, national group organisations (such as the African Women’s Association, the American Women’s Association, Amicale des Femmes Francophone, the Australian Women’s Group, the British Community Association, etc.), VIC clubs, church groups, foreign service clubs, or other organisations for which you volunteer. Make certain your husband lets his contacts know. Austria is a country where jobs are often filled before they are advertised. Therefore, it is also important to get to know the companies or organisations you want to work for and to make certain they think of you the next time a vacancy comes up.

 

One organisation which is worth joining if you would like to broaden your circle of contacts is the Women’s Career Network.  The group is made up of professional women who are looking for employment or would like to change jobs.  Monthly meetings feature speakers and the opportunity to network with other women.  The Career Network also publishes a monthly newsletter, which includes a job board and a directory of members.  The yearly membership fee is AS 400 (1999). For more information contact:  The Women’s Career Network, c/o The American Women’s Association, Sieveringer Straße 22A/1, A-1190 Vienna, Tel.  320 14 95.

 

Newspapers

The following are available throughout the city or from the VIC newsstand in the rotunda:

 

·          Austria Today - English, weekly

·          Bazaar - German, weekly; ads placed are free of charge

·          Falter - German, weekly; new edition comes out on Wednesdays

·          Kurier - German, daily

·          Der Standard - German, daily; Friday and Saturday editions are best for jobs

 

Radio

It is possible to advertise your services on the air or to hear about job vacancies (part-time only) through the Blue Danube Radio Help Line at 103.8 MHZ FM.  The broadcast is on Mondays from 12.45 to 1.30 p.m. The number to call is 0800 22 6988 or 0800 22 6989.

 

VIC Notice Board

Vacancy notices from the UN organisations, the OSCE and the American International School are posted on the F-Tower notice boards.

 

CHAPTER 4
CONDITIONS FOR EMPLOYMENT

 

WORK PERMITS

 

Who Needs a Work Permit?

Most foreigners need a work permit in order to work for an Austrian firm.  Currently (September, 1999), the exceptions are:

 

·          a citizen of a country of the European Economic Area (EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) or a country with a reciprocal agreement with Austria.  Spouses or children under the age of 21 of Austrian citizens or citizens of the above-mentioned countries are also not required to have a work permit, even if these family members are citizens of a third country; children older than 21 can also be exempted if their subsistence is provided by those persons;

·          a journalist working for foreign media which are accredited by the Bundeskanzleramt – Bundespressedienst;

·          a visiting lecturer, researcher, scholarship holder at certain institutions (Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Bundesversuchs- und Forschungsarsenal, Geologische Bundesanstallt, etc.);

·          a person active in a pastoral field for religious organisations acknowledged by the law;

·          a foreign diplomat, including staff members of the international intergovernmental organisations with diplomatic privileges and their domestic servants;

·          an acknowledged refugee.

 

How Is a Work Permit Obtained?

The request for a work permit must be submitted to the Arbeitsamt (Labour Office) by the prospective employer. The Arbeitsamt will check that there is no Austrian candidate for the post with the required qualifications. In principle the number of all foreigners employed should not exceed 8% of all those employed in Austria in any one industry. Exceptions are, however, possible.

 

The initial form of work permit is the Beschäftigungsbewilligung.  This permit is restricted to the job with the employer who applied for it.  After one year you may apply for an Arbeitserlaubnis, which is a form of work permit allowing you to change employers and work anywhere within one province of Austria. Finally, after five years of continuous work you are eligible for the Befreiungsschein, a work permit valid for five years throughout the whole of Austria.

 

The Befreiungsschein is also granted to former spouses of Austrian citizens who were married for at least five years. Also eligible for Befreiungsschein are the children of foreigners who have spent half of their lifetime or schooling in Austria and who have at least one parent who has lived in Austria for five years.

 

Existing permits can be extended four weeks before the expiry date. It takes approximately four to six weeks to obtain the extension.

 

Note that students are not exempt from needing work permits, as they are in many countries, even if they want to work only part-time.

 

If you are fluent in German - For further details look at the pamphlet ‘Ausländerbeschäftigung’, issued by the Arbeitskammer Wien (AK), available in the Employment Resource File.  

 

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA (EEA) NATIONALS (Europäischer Wirtschaftsraum, EWR)

 

The European Economic Area includes countries that are full members of the EU as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. EEA nationals and their spouses do not need a work permit to work in Austria, but should obtain an identity card called the Lichtbildausweis für Fremde. The card acts as a residence permit and it states on the card that you may work without a work permit. It is renewable every five years. Residents of Vienna can get the card from the Fremdenpolizei at Wasagasse 20, A-1090, Tel. 313 44. If you live in Niederösterreich or another province, it can be obtained from the Bezirkshauptmannschaft, which is the provincial government branch office located in most towns. If you do not have the identity card, you may present a copy of the relevant statute to the prospective employer in order to prove that you do not need a work permit. The statute is available to copy in the Job Resource File at the Guild office.

 

Certain degrees are automatically treated as equal to those in Austria if you are an EEA national. Medical doctors, veterinarians, nurses (but not paediatric nurses), dentists, midwives, pharmacists and architects do not require special recognition of their degrees in order to work in Austria.

 

A teacher who would like state recognition of his/her degree should contact Mr. Klaus Schlick at the Ministry For Education and Cultural Affairs, Tel. 531 20/2350.  For most other degrees one should contact Dr. Wolfgang Lentsch of the Ministry For Economic Affairs, Tel. 711 00/2109.

 

A small percentage of government jobs (about 5%) are reserved for Austrians. Otherwise, EEA nationals and their spouses are treated the same as Austrians with respect to hiring. Income tax and social insurance obligations are the same.  

 

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS AFFECTING POTENTIAL EMPLOYMENT

 

UN Organisation Dependency Allowances and the Effect If a Spouse Works

For all UN organisations in Vienna, the dependency allowance paid to the staff member is lost if his or her spouse earns an annual gross income beyond a certain limit. This limit is set every year.  UNOV and UNIDO spouses may obtain the figure directly from the respective personnel section or service, but the IAEA will give the information only to the staff member. The following limits apply (August, 1999):

 

                            Spouses of Professional Staff             Spouses of GS Staff
IAEA                    AS 354,738                                         AS 348,055
UNOV                   US$ 30,088 = AS 355,038                  AS 348,055
UNIDO                 US$ 32,231 = AS 351,323                  AS 348,055
CTBTO                 US$ 30,088 = AS 355,038                  AS 348,055

 

UN Spouses Who Want to Work for Austrian Firms

Spouses of staff members of the international organizations require a work permit, unless they belong to the group of the persons exempted from this requirement referred to above (e.g., EEA citizens and their spouses).

 

The new Headquarters Agreement between the Republic of Austria and the United Nations which entered into force on 1 June 1998, as well as similar agreements between Austria and the other international organizations, provide spouses of staff members with preferential access to the Austrian labour market. Preferential treatment is also provided to (i) dependent children of staff members up to the age of 21, provided that they came to Austria for the purpose of family reunification and (ii) the staff member’s children over the age of 21, provided that they entered Austria for the purpose of family reunification before they were 21 years old and that they were supported for the main authorized holder of the Legitimationskarte (Austrian identity card) before reaching the age of 21 and until they actually commenced employment.

 

The preferential treatment lies in the fact that a work permit may be granted even after the federal quota limit fixed by law for employment of foreign labour (8% limit) has been exceeded. The work permit (Beschftigungsbewilligung) may be granted for a maximum period of one year. An extension is possible, provided that the legal requirements are met. A work permit may not be granted if the occupation is to be taken up in a sector of the labour market or a region where the labour Market Service has observed serious labour market problems.

 

To take advantage of this preferential treatment, staff members of Office of Drug Control and Crime Prevention (ODCCP), United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV) and United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) must apply for Bescheinigung (certificate) by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Austria through the Pass office of the United Nations Security and Safety Section (COE Rotunda: ext. 3907 or 3929). Staff members of IAEA should contact Ms. Ursula Reiter (A-0777, ext. 21256) and staff members of CTBTO contact Ms. Anita Reitter (E-0938, ext. 6128).

 

It should be noted that the Bescheinigung is not a work permit. It should be given by the spouse to the prospective employer. He must then submit the request for the work permit to the Labour Office and attach the Bescheinigung to it. However, before giving the work permit to the spouse, the Labour Office will determine whether there is no suitable candidate for the job from the following groups of persons with higher priority: (1) Austrian citizens, (2) acknowledged refugees, (3) foreigners with Befreiungsschein and (4) foreigners with a right for unemployment benefits. With the same priority as the spouses will be highly qualified foreigners, in the case of whom there is the overall economic interest in their employment, the foreigners who have been settled in Austria for at least 8 years, Swiss citizens and, under certain circumstances, foreigners subject to intrafamily violence.

 

As of September, 1999, there were 114 applications for the certificate of preference. There are no known successful job seekers. Five applicants found a job but were then denied the work permit.

 

Embassy and Permanent Mission Spouses Who Want to Work for Austrian Firms

A diplomatic agent’s spouse is not required to give up the Legitimationskarte or to obtain a special residence permit in order to work for an Austrian firm. They must, however, obtain a work permit. Some embassies and missions have special regulations governing whether or not a spouse is allowed to work as well as what kinds of work are acceptable. One should check with the embassy or mission concerned.

 

Nostrification (Validation of a Foreign Degree or Diploma)

In order to have your degree or diploma nostrified you must contact an Austrian university providing the same programme of study. Each application is assessed by the university on a case-by-case basis. The university will determine which additional courses or examinations are required to make your degree equivalent to an Austrian degree. For example, a medical degree will require Latin or Greek and a degree in economics will require a course in Austrian business law. During the nostrification process you may enroll at an Austrian university as an exceptional (ausserordentlicher) student. A list of Austrian universities as well as information on nostrification of high school diplomas are available in the Employment Resource File at the Guild office.

 

European Economic Area nationals in certain occupational groups are not required to have their degrees nostrified.

 

Interviewing for a Job

The Employment Resource File contains a set of sample questions one might ask or be asked in a job interview. If you have thought about how you might respond to questions beforehand, you will probably be more relaxed and should be able to present yourself well at an interview.

 

Austrian Income Taxes

Income tax rates are progressive in Austria. After subtracting out relevant exemptions, the first 50,000 schillings per annum is taxed at 10%, the next 100,000 at 22%, the next 150,000 at 32%, the next 400,000 at 42% and income over 700,000 at 50%. An employee’s tax payment is deducted from the salary each month. Self-employed people pay income taxes four times a year.

 

Austrian Social Insurance

Social insurance for an employee includes health and unemployment insurance and a pension.  If you are an employee and earn less than AS 3,899 per month (1999) you do not make contributions to social insurance. Social insurance payments are calculated at 17.65% of the monthly gross income greater than AS 3,899 but not more than AS 42,600. Self-employed people may elect to pay for health insurance and a pension independently (see Self Employment & Freelancing).

 

Employee Rights and Benefits

The rights and benefits of employees working for Austrian firms (such as maternity leave, paid holidays, etc.) are detailed in American Women and Work in Austria. A copy is available in the Employment Resource File at the Guild office.

 

Gender Discrimination and Sexual Harassment

Working women in Austria are protected both by the Austrian Equal Treatment Act (Gleichbehandlungsgesetz) and European Union law. The Austrian law provides for equal treatment of men and women in hiring, training, salary and benefits. Remedies for violations of the Equal Treatment Act vary, but include fines for firms found in violation of the Act, as well as individual compensation. Since 1993, sexual harassment has been prohibited under the Equal Treatment Act. Claims under the Act can be taken to court.

 

Establishing Your Own Business

The requirements for establishing your own business are explained in some detail in American Women and Work in Austria. A copy is available in the Employment Resource File at the Guild office.

 

CHAPTER 5
EDUCATION AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT

 

LANGUAGE TRAINING

 

Vienna has many schools and teachers providing German tuition at every level. Even if you intend to work in English or in your mother tongue, basic German is invaluable in order to operate effectively in Vienna and to find work. Private tutors advertise through Falter, Bazaar, other newspapers and the VIC notice boards. The language institutes can also put you in contact with personal tutors. However, a more cost-effective way is to join a class, which can also be a good way to meet people when you first arrive. A sampling of language schools in Vienna follows:  

 

·          Berlitz – Graben 13, A-1010 Vienna, Tel. 512 82 86 or 512 07 56

·          Berufsfoerderungsinstitut Wien, BFI – Sprachkurszentrale, Kinderspitalgasse 5, A-1090 Viena, Tel. 404 35 121 or 122, http://www.bfi-wien.or.at/bfi-wien

·          Goethe Instit – Alpha Sprachzentrum, Profungszentrum des Goethe Instituts, Staliburggasse 2, A‑1010 Vienna, Te. 503 69 69

·          Iki, Internationales Kulturinstitut – Opernring 7, A-1010 Vienna, Tel. 586 73 21

·          Inlingua – Neuer Markt 1, A-1010 Vienna, Tel. 512 28 87

·          Intercultura Wien – Bauernmarkt 18, A-1010 Vienna, Tel. 533 24 93

·          International Christian University – Rennweg 1, A-1030 Vienna, Tel. 718 50 68

·          Polycollege – Siebenbrunnengasse 37, A-1050 Vienna, Tel. 545 32 440

·          Universitat Wien – Ebendorferstrasse 10/4, A-1010 Vienna, Tel. 405 12 54

·          VIC Joint Language Training Programme – VIC, Room G-0665, Tel. 26060 41 47

·          Volkshochschulen – A list of schools by district is available in the Employment Resource File

 

COMPUTER TRAINING

 

Europa Secretarial School

The school offers computer and secretarial courses in English.  (Europa Secretarial School, Getreidemarkt 16, A-1060 Vienna, Tel. 587 65 35/36)

 

The IAEA Staff Council Computer Training Programme

The programme offers a course called Introduction to Personal Computers as well as classes on commonly used software programmes, Windows and the World-Wide Web.  Fall and spring semester classes take place at the VIC and are open to VIC staff members, members of permanent missions and dependants.  A course schedule is circulated desk-to-desk at the VIC and is posted on the door of a black cubicle located between A and B towers.   For more information call 2600 21554.  

 

OTHER VOCATIONAL TRAINING

 

International House Teacher Training Courses

Berufsfoerderungsinstitut - BFI offers a teacher training program for individuals who would like to teach  English as a foreign language. The courses are supervised by the University of Cambridge and lead to a teaching certificate. Two options are available for beginners. The intensive course is completed in a month with three-hour classes every weekday and an additional three hours of teaching practice every evening, normally during the month of September. The part-time course normally runs from February through May, with seven-hour classes on Saturdays and teaching practice two evenings a week. The cost for either course is AS 19,500 (1999). One should register about 3 months in advance, at which time a deposit of AS 3,000 is required. Address for BFI is at the beginning of this chapter.

 

London Montessori Centre

The London Montessori Centre offers correspondence courses on Montessori teaching methods at three levels. A Gold Seal Certificate emphasizes theory and may be earned entirely by study at home; a Red Seal Certificate includes practical experience in addition to theory and requires that you attend workshops and seminars in London; and an International Diploma includes more extensive supervised teaching experience in London. Six concentrations are offered under the independent study programme: infant-toddler, early childhood, nursery foundation, primary, special educational needs and English language teaching. Detailed information is available in the Employment Resource File at the Guild office. (London Montessori Centre, 18 Balderton St., London W1Y 1TG, United Kingdom, Tel. 0044 1714 930165)

 

The MODUL International Course in Hotel Management

The MODUL International Course in Hotel Management is a two-year programme run by the Wirtschaftskammer Wien. Applicants must have completed A-levels or the equivalent and have had three years of experience in the hospitality industry. The academic year runs from early September until the end of May and the annual fee for the 1997-98 school year was AS 78,000 for international students and AS 39,000 for students from EU countries. There are three main categories of courses: hotel administration and management, marketing and communications and practical training (in food production and service). An eight-week internship is required and elective courses in various foreign languages and Austrian and International Law are offered. Most students are between the ages of 20 and 40, but older candidates are sometimes accepted. The language of instruction is English. (MODUL, Peter-Jordan-Straße 78, A-1190 Vienna, Tel. 476 70)

 

If you are fluent in German - WIFI (Wirschaftsförderungsinstitut)

WIFI offers a wide variety of vocational courses.  There are classes on advertising, book-keeping, computers, foreign languages, professional cooking, programming, management, marketing and communications, massage and preparing to be a professional tourist guide - to name just a few.  Costs vary depending on the nature of the course.  The classes are open to non-Austrians, but fluency in German is essential.  The WIFI catalogue is in the Employment Resource File at the Guild office. (WIFI, Währinger Gürtel 97, A-1180 Vienna, Tel. 476 77/555)

 

Other Vocational Schools

A variety of vocational schools are listed in the Bildungsseiten section of the telephone book (yellow pages, light gray colour-coding, at the front of the book). Fluency in German is necessary in order to enroll at any of these schools.    

 

HIGHER EDUCATION

 

Institute of European Studies

The Institute of European Studies offers university-level courses, primarily to young American students who are studying abroad. However, middle-aged adults are also welcome as special students. A variety of courses are offered, with an emphasis on the German language, business topics and Viennese and Austrian art, music, literature and history. A few classes are held in the evening, but most take place during the day.  You may audit a three-credit course for AS 6,366 or take it for credit at a cost of AS 9,549 (1997). Credits may be applied toward a degree at a university. (Institute of European Studies, Johannesgasse 7, A-1010 Vienna, Tel. 512 26 01)

 

Open University

The Open University is a British university that offers courses to students all over Europe.  It is a study-at-home programme outside a defined campus system. Courses lead to advanced professional diplomas, certificates and university degrees in the sciences, humanities, education, business, computers and mathematics. Students are given study packs, which may include textbooks, videos and audio cassettes and they meet on specified dates for tutorials with an area tutor. During the summer some courses may require that the student attends formal residential classes for a few weeks and takes examinations. The study year runs from February to October. A sixty-point class costs about £ 600 (£1 = about AS 21 in 1999) and one must earn 380 points for a bachelor’s degree.  Middle-aged applicants are welcome. Several UNWG members have studied with OU programmes.  (Open University, Fischerstiege 10/Tur 16, A-1010 Vienna, Tel. 533 23 90)

 

Webster University

This is a private American university which offers bachelor of arts degrees in computer studies, management and business, international studies and psychology. The University also offers masters degrees in international relations, international business and marketing and finance. Undergraduate courses are offered during the day and graduate courses in the evening. The current cost (1996-97 school year) per course is AS 10,900 and a full-time class load is eight courses per year. Middle-aged applicants are welcome.  (Webster University, Berchtoldgasse 1, A-1220 Vienna, Tel.  269 92 93 0, Fax: 269 92 9313)

 

If you are fluent in German - Austrian Universities

A list of Austrian universities as well as information on application procedures and tuition fees is available in the Employment Resource File at the Guild office.  

 

CAREER DEVELOPMENT

 

The Learning Resource Centre

This excellent service is currently available to IAEA staff and their spouses. It is a multi-media centre for personal and career development and is based on the principle of self-directed learning. There are coordinators available to assist you in your area of interest, but they are there primarily to help you help yourself. The Centre has three high-powered computers with Internet connections and international job-search data-base bookmarks. In addition, it has audio and video cassette recorders, as well as CDI players for use with the multi-media resource materials, most of which can also be checked out for home use.

 

The Learning Resource Centre has three primary emphases:

·         Career Planning and Personal Development - job-search strategies, résumé writing, interview strategies, balancing work and family, cross-cultural communication, stress and time management, dealing with difficult people and handling conflict and confrontation.

·          Management/Job Skills Development - team building, leadership skills, negotiating tactics, effective presentation, communication and writing skills, customer service and project management.

·          International Mobility Programme - resource materials and regular workshops for those moving to or from Vienna. Adaptation, portable careers and expatriate issues are covered.

 

(Vienna International Centre - Room F-0123, Email: lrcentre@iaea.org, Tel. 431-2600 22646/431-2600 22 626, Fax: 431-2600-7 22 646)

 

CHAPTER 6
VOLUNTEER WORK

 

If you are willing to work without pay and would like to make less of a time commitment than paid employment requires, there are many worthwhile organizations which are desperate for your time and skills.  Some options you might consider are:

 

The American Women’s Association

This organisation is happy to take members who are not American nationals, initially as associate members and eventually as full members when places are available. The organization sponsors a wide variety of activities and raises funds for charity. It meets once a month at the Hilton Hotel, where you can find out if there is something of interest to you.  Tel. 320 14 95

 

The Befrienders

The Befrienders is similar to the English Samaritans organization. The group runs a telephone helpline for anyone who is in crisis or who needs to talk about personal problems.  Volunteers are needed to man the phones and to help with fund raising. Those who answer the phone must take a preparation course first, offered in the spring and the autumn. You may call the helpline number if you are interested in volunteering.  Tel. 713 33 74.

 

Church Organisations

There are a number of international churches in Vienna and many run bazaars, libraries, shops or sponsor charitable events. The addresses and telephone numbers of English-speaking churches are listed each month in Gruess Gott!, a publication put out by Referat fuer Tourismuspastoral der Erzdiozese Wien, A-1010 Vienna, Stephansplatz 6/6/670, Tel. 515 52/3375.

 

The International Schools

Most international schools will consider taking on volunteers to help in the classrooms and with special activities, particularly if you have skills in music or art.  They may also be interested in volunteers to work in the school libraries (see International and Foreign-Language Schools section for addresses and telephone numbers).

 

Lollipop
The Lollipop Project is run by the Stadtschulrat für Wien and offers an opportunity to help Austrian school children practice their English. Volunteers with English as a mother tongue who are willing to give one to two hours per week are needed. The Project operates in several districts.  Tel. 713 71 66.

 

The United Nations Women’s Guild

Our own organisation needs you. People are needed to work on the various committees, to sponsor activity or conversation groups, to work at the kiosk (selling goods and providing information to newcomers) and of course to run the stalls at the Bazaar. Read the newsletter to see what activities might interest you and call the office or contact a board member directly if you think you would like to help.  Office Tel. 2600 24276 or 26026 6776.

 

UNOV Volunteer Programme

This programme offers you unpaid on-the-job experience in the UN Office at Vienna. Contact the Human Resources Management office (E‑1042, Tel. 26060 36 59) for information.

 

If you are fluent in German - Ärzte Ohne Grenzen (Médecins Sans Frontières)

Ärzte Ohne Grenzen was founded in 1971 and provides medical assistance to victims of war or natural disasters. Médecins Sans Frontières was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999. The office in Vienna is supported by volunteers who are fluent in spoken and written  German.  Volunteer work includes office work, helping with mailing the organisation’s newsletter and translation of texts from French or Spanish into German. Call or send your CV if you are interested.  (Ärzte Ohne Grenzen, Josefstdterstrasse 19, A-1080 Vienna, Tel. 409 72 760, Fax: 409 72 76-40)

 

Caritas der Erzdiözese Wien

Caritas has volunteer opportunities for women. They primarily do social work in the houses of families in need, such as pregnant women, women with children under one year and families needing financial aid. They are also involved in family therapy.  Secondarily, Caritas collects and distributes baby clothes, toys and books. They welcome volunteers who are fluent in German and who have some background in social work.  (Mrs. Haldis Steinstoestk, Caritas Familienzentrum, Lassallestraße 2, A-1020 Vienna, Tel.  728 68 62)

 

Österreichisches Rotes Kreuz

The work of the Red Cross in Austria is twofold: Special Youth Projects and Exchanges, which are for female volunteers 18-25 only, and Social Service Projects, which include care for the elderly, visiting programmes, assistance for the handicapped and domestic help and short-term care.  Fluency in German and a willingness to help are the only criteria.  (Mrs. Wild, Co-ordinator of Volunteers for Austria, Österreichisches Rotes Kreuz, Wiedner Hauptstraße 32, A-1040 Vienna, Tel.  589 00)

 

CHAPTER 7
CHILD CARE

 

KINDERGARTENS

 

There are numerous Kindergartens throughout Vienna. The Vienna Service Office can provide a list of those in your area. A list of English-speaking Kindergartens is available in the Employment Resource File at the Guild office.  (The Vienna Service Office, Eve Suske, VIC, Room F-1021, Tel.  +431 26026 4234 - Open:  Tuesdays and Fridays, 9.00 a.m. - 2.00 p.m., Thursdays, 12.00 noon - 5.00 p.m.)

 

Stadt Kindergärten

There are a large number of state-run Kindergartens run by each district for children from the age of three. Priority is given to working mothers and places can be hard to obtain. It is best to register as early as possible. You must apply to each district separately, but you are not limited to the district in which you live. These Kindergartens are on the whole free of charge, but some make a charge for books and materials. The language of tuition is German. Further information is available from the Bezirksamt in each district (listed in the white pages of the telephone book under Bezirksämter).

 

The VIC Child Care Centre

There is a state-run Kindergarten in the main VIC building which takes children from three months to three years. The language of instruction is German, but most of the staff can communicate in English. It is open from 8.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. Places are limited and priority is given to children of GS staff working for the UN organisations.

 

Private Kindergartens –There are many private Kindergartens in Vienna.  Some take children from the age of a few months, but most require them to be toilet trained. Costs vary, depending on the number of days a child attends and whether or not the Kindergarten is independent or associated with one of the international schools.  

 

DAY CARE

 

Tagesmutter

Tagesmutter is a programme sponsored by the Jugendamt in which one to five children are cared for in the caretaker’s home. You should contact the Jugendamt in the appropriate district (under Amt für Jugend und Familie in the white pages of the telephone book) in order to put your child on a waiting list.  It is a good idea to make your request four months before the place is needed.  The tagesmutter fees are higher than those for a kindergarten - currently about AS 4,000 for 40 hours a week (1997). The authorities check the background of a Tagesmutter and evaluate the suitability of her home for child care.

 

AU PAIRS AND NANNIES

 

If you have the room, one of the cheapest ways of getting good quality childcare is to have a live-in au pair or nanny. An au pair is usually contracted to work 25 to 30 hours a week during the day and two to three evenings per week in addition. The employer provides accommodation and meals and pays about AS 800-1000 per week (1997). Unless the au pair’s country of origin has a reciprocal health-care agreement you will have to pay an extra sum to cover Austrian health insurance (Krankenkasse). A nanny has had training in childcare and usually works full-time. The family pays about AS 1500-2000 per week and provides accommodation and meals. Live-in help can be found through the following agencies:

 

·          Anglo Continental Au Pairs Placement Agency – 21 Amesbury Cresent Hove, East Sussex, England BN3 5RD, Tel. 0044 1273 705959

·          Auslands-Sozialdienst Au-Pair-Vermittlung – Johannesgasse 16/1, A-1010 Vienna, Tel. 512 79 41

·          KinderLink Recruitment – Wildhern, Andover, Hampshire SP11 OJE, England, Tel. 0044 1264 735566 – Both au pairs and nannies.

 

LIVE-OUT CHILD CARE

 

It is also possible to hire a caretaker who comes to your home, but lives elsewhere. They are paid on an hourly basis of approximately AS 80 per hour, which can be fairly expensive if you require many hours of care. It is worth considering sharing the costs of childcare with another family who has children of similar ages. This arrangement can  benefit the children as well, but no caretaker should be asked to look after more than three children at a time. Possibilities for this type of care are:  Oma-Dienst, Friedrich-Kaiser-Gasse 94, A-1160 Vienna, Tel.  486 36 68, Monday - Friday, 9.00 a.m. - 11.00 a.m.

 

SOURCES