DI (FH) Susanne Pretterebner
Susanne Pretterebner’s next career goal is to return to work after taking maternity leave.
Key data
Job description: Graphic Designer but currently a full-time mother – still on maternity leave
Company: Mörth & Mörth GmbH
I work in: Graz, Austria
I’ve worked here since: 2006, with a few interruptions and not always full-time
My contact
My blog: Rezepte für die Zukunft
Yes, I have a blog. But I have really neglected it… UNFORTUNATELY I have no time for that in addition to my children.
What I do:
I am currently a mother and love looking after my two little ones. I also write a recipe column which is published in a weekend journal each month and featured as a supplement in various German daily newspapers. So I am really overworked already. It makes a great change from everyday life with the kids but I am always slightly stressed when I have to write a new article. Before my maternity leave, I worked as a Graphic Designer for an advertising agency.
Why I love my job:
Because it is very varied. No two projects are the same – so it is always exciting. I also love being at home with the children. It has not become boring yet.
Important skills in my job:
- Creativity
- Openness to experimentation
- Stress resistance
My biggest accomplishment so far:
My greatest personal success is my Master’s thesis on ‘Recipes for the future’. This has won several renowned design prizes such as the Red Dot: best of the best, Joseph Binder Award and ‘Die schönsten Bücher Österreichs’ and was even published by Becker-Joest-Volk Verlag.
How I found my current job:
I will have to think about that as it was some time ago! Yes, it was just a normal job advertisement in the newspaper. It was a change of career for me because at that point in time, I ‘only’ had my Industrial Design degree under my belt. But I wanted to do something in the field of graphics.
What I learned for this job during my studies:
I find it difficult to reduce things to a particular skill. But I still think that the broad range of knowledge provided during the course is a big plus. Even if you are not an actual professional in any specific sector – this develops during everyday professional life anyway – it has often proven useful for me to have an idea about so many different specialist fields.
Job prospects in my field:
Well, somewhat average. It depends on how flexible you are and what salary expectations you have. I like to be in Graz because my family live there. But if you are prepared to go elsewhere for a job, it is much easier.
About my job:
My next career goal is my upcoming return to work after my maternity leave. I am very excited to see how that goes. My children and family come before my job, of course. I still don’t know how I will manage to do everything. I will see what happens. All I know is that it won’t be easy. It all starts with child care, there are far too few places in Graz.