Daniela Bartacek Hutter has been working in the administrative sector at Holzbau Wagner for six years. Her responsibilities include preparing quotations, calculations, ordering materials, and handling invoicing. When needed, she also assists with inventory and organizational tasks such as tidying up the workshop.

Originally, she worked in the tourism industry. After the birth of her daughter, however, she found it difficult to balance work and family life due to irregular hours, including evenings and weekends. She therefore decided to change careers, first moving to a lightning protection company and later transitioning into the timber construction sector.

Her main motivation for entering the timber construction industry was achieving a better work-life balance. Over time, she also developed a strong interest in the field, especially in sustainable building practices. Working in timber construction not only offers more predictable working hours but also provides the opportunity to contribute to environmentally friendly solutions.

One of the biggest challenges Daniela faced was acquiring extensive technical knowledge directly on the job. In particular, gaining an overview of the wide range of materials and developing technical understanding proved demanding.

Key difficulties included:

• reading and understanding construction plans 
• preparing quotations 
• managing material orders 
• handling invoicing processes 

She had to build these skills step by step without prior formal training in the field.

To overcome these challenges, Daniela relied on a combination of practical experience and personal initiative:

• Common sense and proactive thinking: learning by doing 
• Interest in the profession: curiosity and willingness to learn 
• Internal training: company-provided learning opportunities 
• Support from colleagues: her team was the most valuable resource 
• Technical literature: self-directed learning about materials and products 

This combination of initiative and workplace support enabled her continuous professional development.

One of the projects she is particularly proud of is the construction of small holiday homes in Königsdorf am See. These were built using solid wood panels, pre-cut in the factory and assembled on site. The project represents modern, sustainable construction methods.

Another important aspect of her work is the use of regional materials, which helps reduce transport distances and strengthens local economic cycles.

Additionally, her role contributes to raising customer awareness:

• helping clients better understand environmental and sustainability issues 
• encouraging the use of renewable alternatives 
• supporting the transition away from fossil-based materials 

Timber construction is especially valuable because it is fully recyclable.

Positive customer feedback and her own sense of fulfillment are key indicators of success for her.

Daniela advises anyone interested in entering the green tech sector:

• be open to new opportunities and not afraid of career changes 
• view interest and motivation as the most important foundations 
• actively seek knowledge and ask questions 
• rely on teamwork and support from colleagues 

A key lesson from her journey is that many skills can be learned on the job with the right mindset. Her experience also shows that changing careers is not only possible but can be highly rewarding—both personally and professionally.