Retail
In retail you advise customers, arrange sales areas and look after goods. With experience you can move towards store management or purchasing.
Typical tasks
- greeting and advising customers and answering questions
- working at the till
- receiving, checking and shelving goods
- arranging shelves and shop windows attractively
- checking stock and reordering
Where people work
People in retail work in all kinds of shops, from small specialist stores to large supermarkets, and increasingly in online retail.
A good fit if
- you like talking to people
- you can convince others and give good advice
- you like working in a team
- you are interested in a particular product area, such as fashion, technology or sport
Education pathways in Austria
In Austria the most common path is a Lehre (apprenticeship) in retail; you choose a specialisation, for example food, textiles or electronics. If you want the Matura (school-leaving exam), you can attend an HAK (business college). In Germany the equivalent is the Duale Ausbildung or the Fachoberschule Wirtschaft, in Switzerland the Berufslehre (EFZ) or the Berufsmaturität Wirtschaft.
- Lehre
- Training in a company and at vocational school. With 'Lehre mit Matura' it can also lead to university entrance. 2 to 4 years
- HAK / HLT
- Matura focused on business or tourism. 5 years
Matching schools in Austria
A selection from our school list. Not every school of this type offers every specialisation, so ask the school directly.
- BHAK EisenstadtHAK, 7000 Eisenstadt, BurgenlandCollected automaticallySource: initial collection from public information, as of Oktober 2026
- BHAK und BHAS Wien 10HAK, 1100 Wien, WienCollected automaticallySource: initial collection from public information, as of Oktober 2026
- Vienna Business School HamerlingplatzPrivate schoolHAK, 1080 Wien, WienCollected automaticallySource: initial collection from public information, as of Oktober 2026
Frequently asked questions
How long does the apprenticeship take?
The retail apprenticeship usually takes three years.
Do I have to work on Saturdays?
Often yes, because shops are open on Saturdays. You get other days off instead.
What are the chances of promotion?
With experience you can take on department or store management or move into purchasing.
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