“I was ready for a change.”

Tobias Marstaller (28) quickly rose from developer to a management position at beyonnex. In this Interview, he reveals how he seized this opportunity, how he prepared for his new role as Engineering Manager, and what motivates him to lead people.

Tobias, you have been working in the IT industry for several years. What led you there?

I became interested in IT at a very early age. But I wasn't really the typical nerd. [laughs] At school, we had mobile phones with the open-source operating system Symbian. Back then, we could already download small games from the internet and even play them with others via Bluetooth. That was around 2008, 2009. We played one game a lot for a few weeks, but then it got boring. We wanted to develop our own games.

I was lucky because my father worked as a computer scientist and was able to teach me a lot. I found like-minded people on the internet, and we spent a lot of time programming together. I enjoyed solving problems the most. Taking on something complicated, almost despairing, and then finally succeeding – that was a great sense of achievement. That was how I got started.

At beyonnex, you quickly progressed from developer to engineering manager with significantly different responsibilities. Instead of programming you are now responsible for the developers of several teams. Was this career move planned?

I have to admit that after all these years, working as a developer was slowly becoming too routine for me. I felt that I was ready for a change. At exactly that moment, the management at beyonnex approached me and offered me this new opportunity. I knew that such a chance would not come along again anytime soon. So I applied for the vacancy and got the job.

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What skills are crucial for your new job? How did you prepare for it?

The leap from developer to management position was also a leap into the unknown. But I enjoy challenges and love learning new things. It certainly helps that I learned early on to help others. Since I had already spent a lot of time working with computers as a schoolboy, I had a big head start when I began my training as an IT specialist. I helped train the other trainees to a certain extent, because I was always available to answer their questions and had the answers ready. This taught me early on how positively it affects others when you help them with your knowledge and then let them do their own thing. That's why I'm convinced that good communication is essential for a manager. I listen to my employees. We agree on goals, but I give them a lot of freedom within broad limits to find their own way that suits them. If a developer comes to me and says they want to do this or that but don't know how, then of course I support them. I give them meaningful tasks that they can grow from. And when I see after a while that they've done it, that they've reached this milestone and are happy about it, then that's wonderful! It motivates me a lot.

What did you have to get used to in your new role?

The speed of feedback. As a developer, if you make a mistake, the computer should ideally tell you within seconds. The feedback is very direct. As a manager, however, it takes much longer to see results, particularly when it comes to developing people and teams.

Your responsibilities also include recruiting. How does that work when you work completely remotely, as you do?

I definitely believe that face-to-face interviews are very valuable. You simply get a better feel for the person you are talking to. This would certainly be helpful in job interviews as well. But the IT industry has changed dramatically. If we required a face-to-face interview on site, many applicants would immediately drop out. So we have to do without it. And it works!

Now the question for you as an employee: what is particularly important to you in your employer?

A company has to generate profits – that's the basis. However, I also believe that it should create added value for society as a whole. In that respect, it's very satisfying to work for a company like Beyonex, which contributes to making housing more sustainable. Such a corporate purpose makes perfect sense. In my view, it is also important to always consider the benefits to customers. Satisfied customers are the best confirmation that you are doing something right.

What role does computing play in your life today?

[Laughs] I have other priorities in my free time now. Music is very important to me. I play the guitar and rehearse with my band every Wednesday. I also go swimming regularly. Some of my friends are still the same as they used to be. We still meet up, but we don't spend as much time together online anymore.