“Three months suddenly turned into three years.”

You’ve been at yoummday for quite a while now. How did it actually begin back then?

Actually, quite by chance. I was studying mechanical engineering at the time and just wanted to earn some money during the summer holidays, because the opportunities for that in Bosnia aren’t particularly good – even as a prospective mechanical engineering student.

Then a friend sent me a referral link and just said: “Why don’t you give it a try?”

At first I was honestly sceptical. I thought it might be one of those typical platforms for small online jobs. But the website looked somehow different from everything I’d known before – more modern, more interactive. So I registered and just got started.

Back then I had no idea what all the different projects actually meant. My friend just said you could choose projects. Then I was on the platform and thought at first: “Where are these projects anyway?” Sometimes one was online, then gone again. I applied several times and was also rejected quite often.

But somehow I kept at it. And eventually the project came along – the one I’m still in today.

It was immediately demanding, and honestly that’s exactly what appealed to me. The training took several weeks and even afterwards I felt like I’d only just grasped the basics. You really keep learning every day.

I only planned to stay for three months. Then the first money came in, the work was enjoyable, and suddenly I thought: “Okay, a bit longer.” And now that’s turned into almost three years.

You had no previous experience in customer service. Was that difficult?

Zero experience. Really, none at all.

But that’s exactly why I say today: you don’t necessarily need prior experience. Much more important are patience, communication, and the willingness to keep learning.

Especially at the beginning, it was quite an adjustment. Not every customer is relaxed, and sometimes you have to learn to stay calm. But that’s exactly how you develop enormously.

Through work I primarily learned to communicate better and to be more patient. That even helped me in my private life later on. At some point you simply notice that you deal with people in a completely different way.

You’ve now become a Freelance Talent Coordinator (TC). Would you have expected that?

Not at all. For a long time, I honestly even thought that you couldn’t really develop that far as a talent.

I simply tried to do good work and keep at it. First, I became a Freelance coach, later a Freelance Subject Matter Expert (SME), and at some point the opportunity came along in the direction of Freelance TC.

That was a special moment for me, because at some point I realised: people do see how you work – even when you sometimes think it’s not being noticed at all.

That’s why I always tell other talents: be patient with yourselves. Many want to achieve everything straight away. But sometimes it simply takes time.

What does working from home mean to you personally?

A great deal of quality of life, honestly.

My brother also works as a mechanical engineer and sometimes has to get up at six in the morning just to arrive at work on time. I get up, get ready, and my workplace is two metres from my bed.

But the most important thing for me is the freedom behind it. I feel like my work today adapts better to my life – and not the other way around.

Especially here in Bosnia, the whole freelance and home office topic is still completely unfamiliar to many people. For my parents it was also strange at first. That classic thinking of “working 40 years at one company” is still very present here.

But eventually they understood that it can work nonetheless.

Was there a special “you made my day” moment for you?

There were actually several.

Once I had a customer on the phone who wanted to take her Chihuahua on a plane. When she heard what that would cost, she seriously asked me whether she could just hide the dog in her handbag.

I genuinely had to log off afterwards because I was laughing so much.

And then there was a completely different moment later: I had a meeting with contacts on the client side, and afterwards my Operations Manager told me they had been very impressed by my knowledge.

That was special for me, because at some point I realised: okay, I’ve genuinely arrived in this role.

What would you pass on to new Freelance Talents?

That you should simply dare to try.

I had no experience at all at the start and didn’t even know whether this would be something for me long-term. Today I’m still here, I’ve developed, and I’d take the same step again at any time.

And you shouldn’t get discouraged straight away if something doesn’t work out immediately. I was also rejected often at the beginning and sometimes didn’t even know whether anything would come of it at all.

Sometimes you just have to be a little patient.

Thank you very much for your time and the open insights. It’s wonderful to hear how your journey has evolved from a spontaneous start into such a development at yoummday. We wish you continued success and all the best for your ongoing path – both in the project and beyond.