Name: Lara
Pronoun(s): She
Nationality: Slovenian (Slovenia)
Current location: Heidenheim an der Brenz, Germany
Occupation: Marketing Freelancer
Hi there!
I’m a Slovenian expat living in Germany.
I moved here about a year ago and before that I was living in Chicago for one year.
I’m currently working as a Marketing Freelancer (last year I decided to quit my “9-5” job and became my own boss) and I also recently launched a furniture company with my partner called Nusen.
In my free time I love to dance, do yoga, and watch Friends.
I’m also a huuuge fan of Friends, and I love lasagna.
On Education
Did you attend college? If so, where, and how did you choose that school/those schools?
in 2019 I got my bachelor’s degree in Marketing Communications and PR. I went to a University in Ljubljana, the capital city of Slovenia. I chose this program because I was always super interested in advertising, building brands, creating brand stories, and I already knew back then this was something I was really passionate about. I met so many wonderful people during my Uni time and I enjoyed every moment of it.
Is there anything you would do differently education-wise in college? How much have the courses you took influenced your choices post-undergrad?
If I had the chance to go to college one more time, I would definitely go abroad for a semester or 2 as an exchange student. This is probably the only thing I regret not doing during the college. I thought about it a lot when I was still a student but I guess I didn’t have enough courage to do it. I really wanted to see how the whole University system works in other countries and I was curious if I would have gained more knowledge about marketing abroad.
The courses that I took were very theoretical and I knew that in order to work in a marketing world I would need more hands-on/practical experience.
That’s why when I was in my 2nd year of college, I already started working in advertising agency. By the time I got my degree, I already had two years of really good experience and finding job later was definitely easier for me.
Even after I finished college, I stayed in advertising agencies because there I got the opportunity to learn so many new skills… and most of them are not taught in college.
Professional Background
How long have you been in your current position?
I’ve been working as a freelancer for eight months now and I really enjoy it. It’s the freedom that makes me super happy.
How might your career path have differed if you’d stayed in your home country?
I think my career path would have been totally different if I have stayed in Slovenia.
Living abroad made me realize that I wasn’t meant for the “ordinary” office 9-5 job.
I felt unmotivated and kind of trapped when I was working for corporations and advertising agencies. I was always dreaming of running my own company one day and now these dreams are slowly becoming a reality for me. So, if I’d stayed in my home country, I would probably still be working for some agency or a corporation.
Did you ever feel unsure of your career path?
Yes, I did. When I was applying for jobs abroad, I first got so many rejections and I started doubting myself. I wasn’t sure back then if Marketing and Advertising was the right industries for me, especially if I wanted to work in another country.
Curious about marketing and living abroad? Check out Gracie’s feature! She’s an American who did an entire master’s degree in Marketing in Strasbourg, France. Fearless Friday No. 11 – Gracie – The Millennial Abroad
On Lifestyle
Which has been your favorite country/city to live in?
My absolute favorite city is Chicago. It has such a great vibe and really awesome people. There is always so much going on and you can never be bored in a city like this. I had the best time of my life there and I can’t wait to visit it again.
Lots of people think traveling is cool, but not something they can see themselves doing. What are the characteristics of a traveler or person who would enjoy living abroad, in your opinion?
I think travelers or expats are people who are open-minded, adventurous and generally really positive people.
New places, new cultures fill them up with good energy and they feel much happier outside of their comfort zone.
One last question
What advice would you give to someone who knows they want to travel but aren’t sure where that fits in with the rest of their lives?
If you’re in this situation, I would recommend you to just dig deeper and ask yourself some important questions, for example:
- What is the main reason you want to travel or move abroad – is it maybe just an attempt to run away?
- Will you be okay without your support network (family and friends)?
- How will this impact your career?
- What are some of the challenges that you will have to face as an expat or someone who travels a lot?
After answering these four questions, I’m 100% sure you will have a more clear picture in your head.
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Editor’s note: This interview has been lightly edited.
If you connected with Lara’s feature, are curious about how she’s finding life in Germany as a Slovenian, enjoy hilarious reels about her time learning German and observations about German culture, and enjoyed her advice on how to decide if expatriating could be for you, she invites you to connect on the following platforms.
IG: @larcipetek
Website: https://www.livingexpatlife.com/
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