Austrian CV format: how to write a CV for Austria

The AMS, Austria's public employment service, recommends formatting the CV as a table and putting first what matters most from the employer's point of view. Work history runs anti-chronologically: the current job first, then earlier roles, each with dates accurate to the month. Training follows the same rule. Keep the design discreet, leave enough space between sections and stay within two pages.

Austrian CVs also use Austrian terms. School-leaving exams are the Matura, an apprenticeship is a Lehre with a Lehrabschluss, parental leave is Karenz and military or civilian service is Präsenzdienst or Zivildienst. The AMS advises listing Karenz, time abroad and Präsenzdienst whenever leaving them out would open a gap; any remaining gaps you should be able to explain in the interview. Unemployment is listed like any other period, as the AMS sample CV shows.

Use keywords from the job posting, as the AMS also recommends. The JD keyword matcher shows which terms from the ad your CV is missing.^[1][6]

The AMS is explicit: a photo is customary in German-speaking countries but not mandatory, and under the Gleichbehandlungsgesetz (Equal Treatment Act) no employer may insist on one in your application. If you use a photo, the AMS asks for a current picture with a friendly expression. Austria's equality body, the Gleichbehandlungsanwaltschaft, adds that job ads may not refer to sex, ethnic origin, religion or belief, age or sexual orientation unless the characteristic is an essential requirement of the job, and that discriminatory ads can be fined under the Act.

Personal details are your decision. The AMS says date and place of birth, marital status and nationality may be included but do not have to be, that marital status and children must not count against you, and that religious, political or trade-union affiliation should never appear on a CV. If you need a professional portrait, the AI headshot generator turns your own selfies into one.^[1][6][7]

The AMS calls the cover letter (Bewerbungsschreiben or Anschreiben) your advertisement for yourself: one A4 page, an introduction, three to four paragraphs in the main part and a closing. Find out who handles applications and address that person by name; EURES adds that you should use their correct title, as in the AMS sample letter to a "Herr Mag." Mention salary expectations only if the ad asks for them. Build the letter in the same design as your CV with the cover letter builder.

For certificates, the AMS lists the highest school-leaving certificate (such as the Matura), Dienstzeugnisse from your last three employers and relevant course certificates; career starters add internship certificates. Never send originals. One difference from German advice: the AMS suggests not sending negative certificates and offering to bring further documents to the interview instead. For email, combine letter, CV and certificates into one PDF of at most 5 MB with a clear file name and subject line.^{[2][3][4][6][8]}

The AMS advertises vacancies through its job search engine alle jobs, according to EURES, which also points to company websites, newspaper job sections, private job boards and EURES advisers. Private boards such as karriere.at and StepStone list many Austrian roles.^[8]