Never cut your Knödel!

Or how to have some Spaß when working in Austria

They speak German, arrive on time and drink beer, but are not Germans. You can read all the general DOs and DON’Ts on the web, so I won’t bother repeating all the ’be punctual and greet everyone’ tips.

But, I can give you some tips on working in a traditional Austrian company. I have started a 6-month project in January and am working for one of the biggest players in the steel industry, which is a highly male-dominated environment. So, you’ve got the picture: traditional Austrian, male dominated, maybe not so easy to blend in as a 25 year old girl from the East. Still, not impossible. Of course I did some mistakes in the beginning, but I have quickly learned my lessons:

1.       The world has The Harlem Shake, Austria has The Handshake!

If you are not used to shaking hands all the time, all day long, you’d better start practicing! In Austria the handshake is of high importance, especially in Upper Austria, as I have been told. It is usual to shake everyone’s hand – shake our colleague’s hands when you arrive at the office in the morning, when you meet them on the hallway or when you have a meeting. Especially when you have a meeting, it is good to arrive a bit earlier, otherwise you will have to walk the round and shake 25 hands before you can go and take a seat.

You should also shake hands when you leave, ladies first, of course. I myself have forgotten to do the handshake a couple of times in the beginning – it is not a tragedy, but it is considered to be very impolite and people will let you know!

2.       Talking – less is more

When you are the ‘new kid’ on a team, people will be more cautious in the beginning and not approach you directly. After 2 or 3 days they will start asking you questions and showing a lot of interest in who you are, where you come from and what you have done before. You will enthusiastically start answering those questions and let them know about yourself, but that is not always the best approach. If you say too much about yourself, about your education or career path, it might be considered as bragging, even if you have been asked about those topics. I have figured it is best to engage in a conversation but, as long as you are at work, keep the details to yourself. Show people who you are, but keep it on a very professional level and do not go into many details – my impression is that Austrians are more private and they expect you to be the same. So, instead of putting yourself out there, let them discover you step by step.

3.       Don’t start running, learn how to walk first

Austrians are very specific at work, very accurate and they invest quite some time into planning and discussing a project. Coming from an environment that was very fast paced and with a stronger hands-on attitude, I was not really used to discussing a topic or project for a long time, I was more the ‘we will see along the way’ type.

Here, you do not see how something develops along the way, you discuss all the possibilities before and most probably also have some alternatives for everything that might deviate from the initial plan. Try to find the appropriate working pace by analyzing how your colleagues work – in some cultures, if you are faster than the rest, you will be appreciated. In Austria, if you try to be faster, it will most probably mean that you have not invested enough time into planning your task and you have not discussed it with all the persons concerned. In conclusion, rather than trying to change something, you should try to adapt to your working environment and blend in, rather than standing out.

Other than some working cultures, Austrians do not only focus on the result, but also on the way you got to that result, which is a quite healthy approach.

4.       Keep it simple

The same way you should keep it simple when you talk, you should also keep it simple when you dress. Other than in the East, no one cares how you dress or look like when you go to work. If you spend too much time dressing up or doing your hair, you will most probably be the target of your colleagues’ jokes. So focus on what is in your head, not on your head. If you are a good professional and master your assignments, you will be appreciated.

Speaking of appreciation, do not expect to get public praise or very much feedback – you will sense that people appreciate your work eventually, even if they do not say it directly. If you are a feedback fan, you will have to rethink your attitude, because you will not get a lot of direct feedback here. Learn how to read between the lines and you will know if you are on the right side of the road.

5.       Don’t assume – ask!

As you do not get a lot of direct feedback, you might fall in the trap of assuming stuff. Do not do that – if something is not clear or if you do not know if you are steering your project into the right direction, just ask! Austrians like direct, open people and they will never leave you in the dark with your work. People at work are very supportive and I have not sensed any type of unwillingness to help. So, instead of imagining things, just put them on the table and you will have your answers right away.

And what about the Knödel thing? I have read that you should never ever try to cut your Knödel, because it is impolite – you should only break it with your fork!

What can I say? Good luck with breaking this one: