Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Staff Development Centre (SDC)?
The SDC is an integral part of the Staff Development Programme sponsored by the Division of Human Resources (MTHR). It supports both staff members and their spouses for personal and professional development:
- Self-assessment and determination of career options, and guidance in career choices;
- Development of management and job skills, adjustment of new staff and their families to the working environment and life in Vienna, and in the transition phase when leaving Vienna;
- Use of information resources to support programme activities.
Which clientele does the SDC serve?
The SDC focuses on the following groups of customers:
- Recruited staff prior to arrival in Vienna
- New staff members and their spouses
- Staff seeking career development
- Staff on rotation
- Spouses of internationally recruited staff
What kind of equipment is located in the SDC?
The Centre has 6 Agency standard work stations that are available for practising typing, browsing the internet etc. The PCs can be used on "first come - first serve" basis. An iMac is also available for work related to graphics and presentations.
Do I need my supervisor's approval to go to the Centre?
If staff members use the SDC during lunch time or attend lunch-time sessions they do not need their supervisor's approval. However, during working hours staff members should discuss using the Centre with their supervisor.
What types of materials are available in the SDC?
The SDC contains a collection of more than 800 titles in print, audio, video and CDI (Compact Disc Interactive) formats as well as multimedia software. It comprises a wide range of topics in the personal and professional development area, management and leadership, language skills and topics of general interest.
How can I find the material I'm interested in and can it be borrowed?
MTHR staff are available to assist in the SDC. Materials are cataloged by topics and a database for searching is on-site. Materials can be read while in the Centre or borrowed for up to one month. They can be renewed.
How can the SDC help new staff members?
An Orientation course for newcomers is conducted on a monthly basis. This course is intended for participants as soon as possible after their arrival in Vienna. This one day course covers topics such as Agency Regulations and Rules, Codes of Conduct, Information Security, etc.
The SDC has general information on the Agency and has a Newcomer's Handbook which was specifically written to help orient new staff members and their spouses. Additional material about the Vienna International Centre, the City of Vienna and Austria is also available.
What type of special sessions are run out of the SDC?
Insight Series:
As part of the Staff Development Programme, the Agency conducts Insight Series. These series are one-hour information sessions about a certain Agency function and or part of the organization (for example, the "Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy" or "Everything you wanted to know about Procurement but were afraid to ask?"). Upon request past Insight Series sessions can also be viewed as videos. Complementing videos and/or handouts are published if provided by the facilitator.
Lunch-time sessions:
Informal video discussions or guest speaker presentations are regularly organized by the SDC. You do not need to register for lunch time sessions.
Interviewing Skills:
Courses on how to prepare for an interview (for General Service and Professional) staff are given on a monthly basis. Shortened online versions are available to supplement the course. The courses are conducted for staff members who intend to apply for another job before submission of applications.
Pre-retirement seminar:
Annual seminars are conducted for staff intending to retire within the next five years. An electronic folder supplements the seminar.
What kind of counseling and advice is available through the SDC?
In conjunction with the MTHR Recruitment Unit, individual counseling and testing regarding career opportunities can be arranged.
What kind of support is given to spouses?
The Agency can only provide very limited support to spouses. Spouses can use the SDC to read material and use the PCs to browse the internet and practice typing. The SDC can also provide additional information such as links to local head hunters and international organizations.
