You are probably in Austria to get the full experience of a semester abroad. You want to party, get to know new people, travel to all kinds of places, and maybe study a little bit. Working is not your top priority. But what if you cannot finance your studies in Austria otherwise? Getting a student job in Austria does not mean that your time abroad is going to waste – quite the contrary. A student job can bring you a lot of experiences, new friendships, and open doors to future jobs.
How to get a student job in Austria
Here is all the information you need if you have already figured out how to study abroad in Austria and your next step is finding a student job:
Almost two-thirds of students in Austria work to be financially independent and many of them are from abroad. Students from the European Union or Switzerland are permitted to work in Austria without any complementary paperwork. However, if you are an international student, your employer needs to request a working permit for you – this is usually not a big deal. Then you are allowed to work up to 10 hours per week during your bachelor’s degree and 20 hours per week during your master’s degree.
Make sure you have the right application documents
For an application, you will most likely need a CV and a motivation letter. Providing your documents in English will be fine if you are applying for a student job in a bigger city in Austria. If you can manage to compose a German version – even better! Do you need some inspiration for your first CV or motivation letter? There are a lot of drafts and design inspirations available online.
Good to know: Many universities offer a CV check and the Public Employment Service Austria AMS (Arbeitsmarktservice) offers a free application document check-up after a pre-registration via telephone.
Part-time or marginal employment
There are two types of employment possibilities for you, which allow you to work while studying. Part-time employment means you will be working 20 hours per week and marginal employment is working up to 12 hours per week.
It is good to know your boundaries when looking for the right form of employment. You will be better off choosing marginal employment if you have a lot of classes and still want to have time for other activities like hanging out with friends and parties. If you need more money, it is advisable to check whether a part-time job fits into your schedule.
Inform yourself beforehand!
What are they expecting from you? Can you choose your working days and hours? These and many other questions should be considered before applying for a student job in Austria. The choice of your student job will depend on your wants, needs, and your university schedule. Weekends off for traveling and exploring the city sounds great? Then working in a restaurant or a bar will probably not be the right fit for you. However, if you are passionate about food or love to prepare cocktails that resemble art, and you don’t mind working late hours this might be the perfect match.
Tipp: Think about what you want to achieve with your job and what hours are possible for you. This will narrow down the list of possible jobs and make your decision easier.
Do what brings you joy!
This is the most important advice concerning your studies, a student job or life in general. Earning money is nice but should not be the only top priority. After all, going to work every day and hating what you do might result in frustration and dissatisfaction.
A student job should make your life easier, not harder. Pick a job that brings you joy, that challenges you in a good way, and that makes you learn something: Useful skills for consumer contact, expanding your knowledge, or even learning completely new skills if you are up for it.
How to prepare for a student job in Austria
Preparation is essential before starting your studies and before starting a student job. Take your time and research the company, the company policies, the products, and what your job will be like. Best case scenario – you already followed all these steps before the job interview. 😉
Furthermore, before your first day of work make sure you get enough sleep so that you can show up as your best self when starting your new employment.
If finding a dormitory for your stay in Austria is your priority for now you can count on home4students to find a home close to your university!
These links might help you to find the perfect student job for you in Austria. Don’t hesitate and take a look at them.
The only thing that matters now is: Have fun during your stay in Austria and I hope you will find the perfect student job. 😉