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Yaroslav Shymanskyi about his employer Tesla: "It can be overwhelming at the beginning because you immediately bear full responsibility"
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The start into working life is exciting, exhausting - and often completely different than planned. In the series “My first year in the job”, young professionals tell how they experienced this time. This time: Yaroslav Shymanskyi, 27, parts service employee at Tesla.
»I am originally from the Ukraine and have been living in Austria for six years.
When I started studying business administration at the Lauder Business School in Vienna, I saw myself in the finance department.
But during an internship at an insurance company, I realized: I'm not ready to sit at my desk eight hours a day doing calculations in Excel spreadsheets.
In my master’s degree, I therefore oriented myself more towards management and consulting.
I could well imagine leading people.
Application under pressure
As a non-EU citizen, I was under a lot of pressure after graduating: I had to find a job within twelve months where I could earn a certain minimum amount, otherwise I would have had to leave the country. This time coincided with the corona pandemic, of all places. I also really wanted to stay with my girlfriend and boyfriend in Vienna. That's why I first applied for quite a few positions.
At some point I saw that Tesla was hiring new people in its Austrian subsidiary. I was immediately interested in that. I inherited a passion for cars and motorcycles from my father, and as a child I was involved with models and engines. During my studies I then worked as a student trainee in a large automotive company and took care of ordering spare parts. At Tesla, among other things, positions were advertised for Parts Advisor, i.e. for sales employees who ensure that the necessary spare parts are always available at the service points. That fit perfectly.
I prepared my application very well.
I assumed that the HR managers would look for me on the Internet.
So I revised my LinkedIn and Xing profiles.
I even redesigned my Instagram account and made sure that there were mainly photos of cars.
Cover letters are just a bunch of black and white letters, photos stay in your memory.
Two days after submitting my application, I was invited for an interview, shortly afterwards for a second - and two months later I was able to start.
Flat hierarchies, high responsibility
In the job I had to take on responsibility pretty quickly. As a parts advisor, I have to keep an eye on where which spare parts are needed, when customers get a repair at which service point, and what is the inventory. At the beginning I got introductory courses, for example on the ordering process, inventory and car assembly. And my team-mate showed me everything once. But then I was on my own.
This also shows that the hierarchies in the company are very flat.
At the beginning colleagues said to me: ›Your boss will be like your best friend‹ - and that's true.
The interaction is very relaxed, nobody constantly checks my work or tells me how to do it.
This has many advantages, such as the fact that I am taken just as seriously in a meeting as people in a higher position.
But it can also be overwhelming at the beginning, because you immediately bear full responsibility.
Some people don't get along with this and quickly leave the company.
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Tesla is expanding rapidly at the moment, and I'm noticing that too. My colleague and I work like machines: we do an inventory of stocks every day, arrange appointments with the service points, make sure that parts are shipped - new orders every day. I had two weeks vacation the other day and when I got back my mailbox was overflowing. The recovery was gone very quickly. But it also showed me how important I am to the company.
In terms of the salary structure, I'm still at the bottom of the company.
As a beginner, I earn around 35,000 euros gross per year plus bonuses, and I also got a Tesla share package.
For my first job after university, I think the salary is okay.
It is also enough to get the residence permit.
Much more important to me than money is having fun and working in a company where I feel comfortable and have the feeling that I am seen.
By the way, I have only heard from Elon Musk once in a circular email at the end of the year.
Nevertheless, his presence in the company is noticeable;
some colleagues have already met him and tell how attentive he is.
I've also driven a Tesla before, but only as a test. "
