Some are looking for employees, others jobs: Petra Maier and Petra Unterweger (Next Step Career) have been bringing together the best minds in the hospitality industry in Klagenfurt for ten years. The newest client is the Jumeirah Group, which also operates the largest luxury hotels in Dubai.
The Next Step Career office in Klagenfurt is large and multilingual – Spanish, Greek and Portuguese can be heard. Because the office of Petra Maier and Petra Unterweger, with 15 employees, arranges around 600 jobs in the luxury tourism and gastronomy sector throughout the country.
The customer list reads like a who’s who of the most famous establishments: from the Hochschober on the Turrach to the 4-chef kitchen of Hubert Wallner on the Wörthersee to the Stanglwirt in Tirol or the Gannerhof in Innervillgraten.
Education and appreciation neglected
Petra Unterweger, a lawyer from East Tyrol, a career switch in tourism: “The shortage of skilled workers is becoming more and more dramatic. Our job is to get the best people from other EU countries into the best companies, because the jobs just can’t be filled with locals anymore.” the time has been added up : “You have completely neglected the training and appreciation,” says Unterweger. “The industry just needs an image correction to become attractive again, especially for young people.”
The wage level is also a constant crisis problem. “Of course, a good specialist expects a fair and good salary. But actions like that of a Rosental pizzeria that offers a bartender 3,200 euros net do more harm than good and arouse false expectations. Only the best chefs often earn that much from us!”
Carinthian gastronomy professionals in the Burj al Arab
Next Step’s youngest client, on the other hand, digs deeper: the Jumeirah Group, the largest luxury hotel operator in the Arab region, who also recruits top people for the world-famous Burj al Arab and at least pays them accordingly for the top positions. Unterweger: “It would also be an opportunity for Carinthians who would like to gain experience in Dubai.” However, a lot is expected there – almost no restaurant professional has a chance to win a Michelin star on his resume.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
