16 December 2025
Valeriia Nepeina: “The main value of the HUB for me was the experience and insight it provided”
Valeriia Nepeina, Professional Integration HUB 3.0 Program Participant.
Intro
- Age: 32 years old
- City before moving to Austria: Kyiv, Ukraine
- Professional specialization: Cultural Management/Graphic Design
- Hosting organization: Austria Tourism
- Self-rated integration: 7/10
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
PM at Shcherbenko Art Centre and MUHi Project; Researcher and PM at Misto-sad NGO; Head of Sustainability and Social Projects at Laska NGO.
HOBBIES AND PERSONAL INTERESTS
My fields of interest include dogs, reading, thrifting, book shopping, boxing, drawing, upcycling.
A deeply meaningful book to me is The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath.
RELOCATION
My decision to leave Ukraine was primarily influenced by the war and the unstable situation in Kyiv at the time.
Can’t say I had a destination that I aimed for, but at that time considering all the places where I had friends Vienna was the most optimal.
The first months after relocation I did look for a job, as well as I did an artistic residency for 2 months and got into scholarship program to study graphic design.
PROFESSIONAL PATH IN AUSTRIA
When did I first start seriously looking for a job here? If we’re talking about “seriously,” I would say I started seriously looking for a job around half a year later, alongside learning German and volunteering locally.
My professional journey in Austria began with volunteering, I guess. It’s been the third year now. The organisation is locally based, but consists of international community mainly. I started doing graphic design there, as well as networking to find out about international companies in Vienna, and integrating.
Before joining the program, I did not have formal work experience in Austria; however, I gained experience through volunteering 🙂
EXPERIENCE IN THE PROGRAM
Last year I learned about the Professional Integration HUB program through Instagram.
I applied last year as well, so it was not my first application. To be honest, before joining, I was more confident that I would be selected the first time, but the second time turned out to be the charm for me.
On my first day at the internship, I felt lost, as I had never worked at such a large company before, and everything seemed overwhelming due to the sheer amount of information.
The most valuable insight I gained during the program was the importance of always attending team events.
My main achievement during the three months of the program was learning how to use Outlook and Teams. 🙂
My contribution to the host organization consisted mostly of creative ideas. 🙂
The moment that stands out most in my memory from the program is the trip to Linz, which I really loved.
The main value of the HUB for me was the experience and insight it provided.
INTEGRATION IN AUSTRIA
I would give my integration in Austria a 7 out of10, mostly because of the language.
A person can truly say they are integrated when they start referring to the place as “home.”
To work toward integration, I focused on language learning, volunteering, networking, and dating. I found that experiences that were more personal than professional proved to be the most effective for me.
Lots of people are genuinely surprised to find out how many languages I speak, my level of education or that I’ve lived in several countries before coming to Austria.
PERSPECTIVE
After completing the program, I plan to update my CV and continue applying for jobs.
On a scale from 1 to 10, I would rate the likelihood of returning to Ukraine in the future as 7. I would consider returning to Ukraine if I had the opportunity to complete the plan I had in 2022: to open my own NGO and possibly a small business.
My dream job would be in the creative or social sector, with a high level of independence and a horizontal organizational structure.
REFLECTIONS
The most challenging moment in my integration journey in Austria was the language:)
As a Ukrainian professional in Austria, I feel that support networks are what’s most missing, for example, community job listings.
If I were to describe the Professional Integration HUB in one sentence, I would say: “No rest for the wicked.”:)
Photos: Ganna Kasych