Business
Business protocol is very important in Austria and
business is formal, structured and conservative, more so than many
other Western European countries; all correspondence such as faxes
and emails should also be formal. Dress is conservative, yet
elegant; Austrians take great pride in their appearance and a good
quality, well-fitting suit for men and women should be worn to make
a good first impression. Austrians are also very title-conscious;
always use last names with a preceding title such as Herr (Mr),
Frau (Mrs) or Fräulein (Miss), along with their professional or
academic title where applicable (e.g. Herr Professor Kaufmann). It
is vital to arrive punctually for meetings and to be thoroughly
prepared, as meetings are brief and to the point. Be prepared to
engage in preliminary small talk, including a knowledge of current
affairs, before getting down to business. English is widely spoken
in business, but printed literature should be in German if
possible. Offices open at 8am and close promptly at 5pm Monday to
Friday.
