My Ciklopea Story: Juraj Močilac

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your role?

Hello!

My current role is a digital marketing specialist, which includes various activities. It’s shocking how a millennial earns money working in digital media, right? And my mother always told me I spent too much time on my phone.

Now, for the most part, I write blog posts for Ciklopea and then try to promote them through social networks. When I get stuck with writer’s block, I turn to graphic design and visual materials, whether it be photos, videos or brochures and flyers. Besides that, I’m helping Sara with some HR activities and internal events organisation.

It’s a funny story how I got this job, actually.

When our Chief Operations Officer dug out my personal Twitter account, where I cry and swear a lot, I thought I had only two options – to block her or to delete the whole account. After I slept it off, I decided to let it go since it was her decision to follow my emotional rollercoaster. Then, a few days later, she followed me on Instagram and our Managing Director did the same. The same day, just minutes later, our HR manager called me into her office “for a quick chat” and I thought to myself okay, this is it, I’m getting fired or something for what I post on social media and for my language there.

Luckily, it wasn’t like that at all. As it turned out, our management team liked what they saw and thought I would be a good fit to their marketing team.

I accepted the offer without hesitation, because I live in the virtual world 24/7 anyway, so I might make something meaningful and useful out of it.

And who would’ve thought my whining to strangers online will ever land me a job?

How did you get into the language industry?

I came to Ciklopea during my final year at university as an intern at the QA/technical department. Since I studied information sciences, where we placed a lot of emphasis on natural language processing and language technologies, Ciklopea seemed like a great place for me to experience first-hand how it all worked in the real life.

I got to learn all the details and possibilities of CAT tools and everything else about the translation and localization industry.

Of course, none of that would be possible without the necessary resources that Ciklopea provided me with, and without my mentor Nikolina who unselfishly introduced me to the job and shared all the tips and tricks with me.

You work both at the marketing and technical departments. It’s a very rare combination of skills so could you tell us how the different parts of your job influence each other?

It is, indeed, a very rare case and I don’t really think they can influence each other in any way. One job is more analytical, requires a lot of attention to details and often has strict rules and instructions, while the other is more creative, somewhat uncertain and rule breaking.

That’s what’s interesting because it reflects both sides of my personality, even though it’s not always easy to manage them.

What is the driving force of your job?

Creativity and the possibility to switch from one thing to another, so I don’t get fed up with the same routine tasks.

Also, the people I work with. I enjoy the atmosphere here and I made some really close friends. The job gets done easier when the working environment is positive and encouraging.

What is your secret superpower?

I make great pancakes. And coffee!

Who is your hero and why?

It would have to be Božo Vrećo because he always sees the beauty in things and always tries to stay positive, no matter how hard life hits him sometimes. And I think that’s what we can all learn from him. It’s what’s desperately missing in this world. Dwelling on negativity or self-pity will lead us nowhere. Life always gives us back what we offer it. So why don’t we spread love, positivity and good vibes, instead? What’s the worst thing that can happen?

What is your motto or favourite quote?

Be yourself and don’t give a damn what anyone else says or thinks about you.

It’s a cliché, I know, but it’s the truth I had to experience on my own skin. There will always be people who will try to bring you down, but you don’t have to go with them. Obsessing over someone else’s opinion of you will only do you harm. So instead of always trying to please others, try living your own life for a change, because you only have one. 😉

The three things you would take to a desert island?

A cheesecake, Marcel Proust’s Combray and a friend or two so I don’t always have to talk to myself.

Wilson, Cast Away, 2000.

Describe Ciklopea in one sentence.

The place where it never gets boring. 😉