Austria’s Business Customs

The average office is formal in the way employees interact with one another and with clients. There is an emphasis on doing the ‘right thing’. To some non-Austrians, this can mean an atmosphere that is rather uptight. The greatest difference for many foreigners, however, is that what you know does no count as much as whom you know.

 Etiquette

Etiquette is standard in a business setting. Shaking a client’s or a colleague’s hand is customary and a good way to begin a relationship or maintain one. Punctuality is central to the process of any business meeting and is a principle adhered to by employees. Appointments should be made well in advance and it is considered rude to cancel a meeting at the last minute. Meetings are formal and follow a certain protocol. It is best to get to the pint at hand after only a bit of small talk. Meetings are followed by significant amounts of written communication.

Business Cards

Exchanging business cards is customary although it is not done with any type of fanfare. Because of their interest in titles, it would be a good idea to put any advanced degrees or honors you have received on your card. It is also a nice gesture to have one side of your business card written in German.

Dress and Titles

At work, the average businessman or businesswoman wears a classic, dark-colored wuit to work. Civil servants dress down and blue-collar workers wear uniforms. There is a predisposition for the use of titles, handed down from the Habsburgs. Although the law has banned the use of noble titles, the list of professional titles is endless. Titles serve the dual purpose of advancing status to hopefully make a difference in your professional life.

 Business Dining

Lunch is the most common setting for business thoughts. Females should twig to engaging male coworkers to lunch until they get tow them on a more personal level. In restaurants, men always enter before women and a tip is not included in the bill. A 10% gratuity is the norm. Most Austrian’s start a meal with “Mahlzeit” or “Guten Appetit”.