Experiences with job applicants from AMS: I only work with a hijab and without men
A businesswoman from Vienna spoke about her difficult experiences with job applicants sent by the Austrian Employment Office (AMS), describing cases that ranged from strange demands to disrespectful behavior. She stated that she has successfully run a service company for nearly twenty years, but her daily interactions with some applicants often leave her in shock.
She recalls one instance where a Syrian applicant requested to be registered as a minor during the interview. When she refused his request to receive part of his salary in cash so he could continue receiving social assistance, he attacked her saying, "You are a woman, and you have no right to tell me anything." She explained that she was shocked by this disrespectful behavior but had faced similar situations before.
In another case, one applicant refused to attend a job interview on the grounds that he was "on vacation" and not actually in Austria, asking her to call him back in September. She described such behavior as incomprehensible and frustrating, pointing out that many job seekers do not show any seriousness towards employment opportunities.
The entrepreneur also raised concerns about what she called "phantom applicants," who are people that register their names but do not attend interviews or suddenly report illness without providing any medical documentation. She explained that when the labor office sends her a list of candidates, she contacts each person individually, and if one does not respond, she reports their unavailability. However, this sometimes backfires, as the individuals reported deny the matter and then retaliate by leaving negative reviews online against her company.
In addition, she often receives job applications from people living outside Vienna or who do not speak German at all. Since her work requires direct communication with clients, she wonders how such candidates can succeed in the job. She sees that these experiences highlight significant issues in the employment system and the gap between applicants' expectations and the reality of the job market.