"Even after the program officially ended, the MTOP team kept supporting me, helping me prepare for interviews and stay motivated during a difficult time."

 

#mtopstorytelling tells the stories of our MTOP associates.

Be inspired by our MTOP stories!

Daria

My name is Daria, I am 34 years old, and I come from Russia. I studied Economy and Management at the State University in Russia. I have lived in several countries before coming to Austria, including Belgium and Italy, so moving here was part of a longer journey of exploring where I wanted to settle.

When I first arrived in Austria, the biggest challenge for me was the language. Although I was used to working in English on international projects, suddenly I needed German for everyday life — at the doctor’s office, when looking for a job, or simply managing daily tasks. It was frustrating, because even though I was studying German, my level wasn’t enough for more complex conversations. Learning German has been a long-term process, and I am still working on it.

"I came across the MTOP Associate Program, which was incredibly helpful."

After arriving, I was looking for a job for quite some time. I came across the MTOP Associate Program, which was incredibly helpful. Even after the program officially ended, the MTOP team kept supporting me, helping me prepare for interviews and stay motivated during a difficult time. Eventually, in September, I found a job. This position has provided me with stability, the chance to work in a professional environment, and — just as importantly — the opportunity to regain balance after the intense period of job searching.

I currently work as a Sales Manager in a boutique company that manages property throughout Vienna and is transitioning into hotel operations. I handle customer communication, documentation, monthly reports, and help onboard new clients through various online platforms. What I especially appreciate about my workplace is the international and open atmosphere. My director has been in business for over 20 years and intentionally hires people from around the world, because he understands the struggles of adapting to a new environment. He is open to ideas, listens, and gives people opportunities to prove themselves.

When I compare working in Austria to Russia, I notice that everything in Austria moves much slower. In Russia, job applications, decisions, and changes can happen within days or weeks. In Austria, it’s often a process that takes months, and this slower pace can be frustrating. But at the same time, there is more openness to wellbeing and worklife balance.

Looking ahead, I want to apply for a Master’s program at the University of Vienna, focusing on cultural differences and transnational processes. It ties in well with my previous experience working in a nonprofit organization, and I hope it will allow me to further pursue meaningful work.

I do have a LinkedIn profile and consider it an important tool for international job searching. I’m not someone who is very active on social media, but I recognized how useful LinkedIn is for connecting with companies and finding opportunities.

"My advice would be: learn German as soon as possible, and be open to all kinds of opportunities."

For anyone coming to Austria, my advice would be: learn German as soon as possible, and be open to all kinds of opportunities. You might start in a field you didn’t expect, but it can open doors. That happened to me. So there is always a choice to start from somewhere. And I think you really need to be open to anything that comes across your path. Sometimes you just have to step in, even if it’s not perfect, and build from there.

For me, “More Than One Perspective” means understanding that everyone sees things differently, and that’s okay.

We often assume we know what others think or even speak for them, and that’s a mistake. True dialog starts with openness, being willing to listen, to learn, and to accept that our differences, shaped by unique backgrounds and experiences, are what make us stronger. That’s the real beauty of it.

If I had to name a life motto, it would be: never give up. It’s okay to take a break and gather yourself, but eventually, you have to come back to what’s important to you and keep working toward it. That determination has helped me every time I moved to a new country, faced setbacks, or had to start over.