"MTOP helped me maintain my self-confidence, especially after months of job searching and prepared me well for the Austrian job market."

 

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Tymofiy

What’s your name, how old are you and where are you from?

My name is Tymofiy. I am 50 years old, and I am originally from Ukraine. I’ve been living in Austria for a little over a year now.

What did you study in your home country?

I studied a kind of business administration, which involved marketing management and economics. It was many years ago, so it wasn’t exactly the same as today’s modern business programs, but it was along those lines.

"The hardest part was the lack of trust in foreign experience, but eventually, I did find a company that was a good fit for me."

What was your biggest challenge after coming to Austria and how did you deal with it?

The biggest challenge was adjusting professionally. I came to Austria while leaving my previous job, so my main focus from the start was finding a good company to work for. I thought it wouldn’t be too difficult because I had a lot of experience, but I soon realized it was much harder than I anticipated. The recruitment process in Austria is very different from that in Ukraine—companies tend to be more cautious and selective. The hardest part was the lack of trust in foreign experience, but eventually, I did find a company that was a good fit for me.

How did you find out about MTOP? (How) did the programme support you?

I found out about MTOP through a job opening I saw on LinkedIn. Initially, I wasn’t very interested in it, but by November, after struggling for a while to find a job, I realized it was a great opportunity to get into the market. MTOP was very supportive. It helped me maintain my self-confidence, especially after months of job searching and prepared me well for the Austrian job market. It prepared me for working in a completely different environment and allowed me to understand the professional culture in Austria better. While I didn’t land the job directly through MTOP, the program helped me get ready for this opportunity and for future ones.

Can you tell us a little about your current job and what you enjoy most about it?

I currently work in growth marketing for a company called Ooblee Alpine. It's a platform that connects local consumers with local businesses, helping them compete with big players like Amazon. I really enjoy the hands-on nature of my role. Unlike my previous roles where I was more of a manager, now I get to be directly involved in the marketing work. The pace is quick, and the flat structure of the startup culture is something I really appreciate. It’s a lot of work, but I enjoy it.

What has been the biggest challenge in your current role?

The biggest challenge is definitely the fast pace of work in a startup environment. There are many changes happening all the time, and it requires a lot of adaptability. But I’ve worked in similar environments before, so I was prepared for it. It’s also about balancing the excitement of growth with the risk of instability, but I’ve learned to embrace it.

How did starting this job affect the rest of your life?

Starting this job had both positive and negative effects. One downside was that I had to pause my German course, which I was really enjoying *laughing* But apart from that there are just positive sides for me. One of them is that I’ve been living between two places—Vienna during the week and Graz on weekends—which has been a nice change.

What are your next goals?

My main goal is to see my company succeed and grow. I hope that we can expand significantly and I can grow with the business. Personally, I also want to continue improving my German, but my focus right now is on my work and making an impact at Ooblee Alpine.

"I actually found my current position through LinkedIn, so it was a vital part of my job search process."

Do you have a profile on LinkedIn and did you use LinkedIn for your job search? Why do you think it's good to have a LinkedIn profile? How helpful was the LinkedIn platform for you during your job search and why?

Yes, I used LinkedIn extensively. I applied to hundreds of companies over the course of a few months, and it was definitely the primary tool I used to search for jobs. I actually found my current position through LinkedIn, so it was a vital part of my job search process.


What tips or advice would you give to people who are new to Austria?
My advice is to be open-minded and accept the country for what it is. Don’t just stay in your native community—integrate as quickly as possible. And if you relocate here, embrace everything, the good and the bad, because you’re here for a reason. The experience of adapting will help you succeed.

And what does ‘More Than One Perspective’ mean to you?

To me, it means embracing differences and learning from them. Everyone brings a unique perspective, and that diversity can be incredibly valuable. It’s not about judging whether something is better or worse—it’s about appreciating what different experiences bring to the table.

Last question from our side: do you have any specific life motto?
I believe that being in demand and being useful to others is a gift, not a burden. Many people see work as something to endure, but I see it as an opportunity to contribute. I enjoy being busy and useful, and I believe:

success comes when you help others.