Filip Mihoci has been part of our team for almost seven years. Filip is extremely satisfied with his career at Knauf Insulation, his colleagues, and all the benefits our company offers to its employees. "We have a lot of benefits, but currently, I'd highlight subsidized daily meals and access to various trainings," says Filip. Read on to find out more about what he told us.

Do you remember your first day at Knauf Insulation? What was it like?

In January, it will be exactly seven years since my first day at Knauf Insulation. I started a week before my birthday as a factory performance controller at a very dynamic time - right before the "closing" of the previous year. Colleagues were extremely busy with daily tasks and deadlines, but they still made a great effort to introduce me to the job and provide me with the necessary guidance. With all their effort and support, the job was very dynamic with frequent changes, so it took me about a year to fully master every aspect of the job.

Knauf Insulation is known as a company with many benefits. Which benefits would you highlight the most?
That's right, we have a lot of benefits, but currently, I'd highlight subsidized daily meals and access to various trainings. I'm currently participating in the Controlling Academy, where I complete one level each year and thus upgrade my knowledge. Acquiring new skills and knowledge through education not only strengthens my professional self-confidence but also contributes to the overall success of the team and the company.

What are the two things that working at Knauf Insulation has taught you?
In addition to regular tasks, I often receive tasks from other departments and headquarters so I had to learn how to better organize and prioritize tasks. These are not skills that I could learn immediately, but it takes a certain amount of time to learn what is important to whom and how best to set priorities. I believe that these two skills are extremely important to be as efficient as possible in our work and to maintain a better balance between our private and professional lives.

Do you have any memories from work that particularly have stayed with you?
There were many, but what I remember most is the gift for my wedding. I had just arrived at Knauf Insulation then, so such a warm welcome and support from my colleagues pleasantly surprised me.

Can you tell us a little more about your department - what is the working atmosphere like, how do you cooperate with colleagues within the department?
I must emphasize that from the very beginning, I have had excellent communication and cooperation with colleagues from the department. Considering all the obligations and the dynamic atmosphere, we function excellently and help each other whenever it's necessary. Sometimes, depending on the number of tasks, we are completely absorbed in work and don't even talk for two hours, while in other situations we manage to find time for a casual conversation. Before the pandemic, we were known for a sweet table where we had various chocolates, which was an opportunity for a little relaxation and conversation whenever someone would drop by our department

Do you cooperate with other departments and can you describe it a bit?
My department is closely connected to other sectors, so we are always in contact with everyone, especially during the budgeting period, usually in June, July, and August. Then we hold meetings with other departments to get all the necessary inputs for compiling a quality budget for the next year. Every interaction with colleagues from other departments brings new information that I can use in my work. Our excellent cooperation proved to be particularly important during the cyber attack, when we jointly found a solution in a very short time, ensuring the smooth functioning of the entire business process

Is there any skill or part of the job you would like to further develop?
I believe that there is always an opportunity for learning and personal development and that there is always room for improvement. I am currently satisfied with the academy I attend because it covers a wide range of skills, including so-called "soft" skills. Also, since I spend most of my time working in Excel, there is always an opportunity to learn something new, either from Excel or some new programs with which we will improve our business.

What advice would you give to students or new colleagues who have recently joined Knauf Insulation?
I will take the advice I got from a colleague from Slovakia - the first year is the most demanding, and after that, it gets easier. And indeed, it's true. Working with finances involves monthly deadlines and processes such as closing the financial year, audits, and budgeting. You need to go through the whole year to round up the entire process. Only when you go through this experience do you gain insight into the scope of work and it is easier to prepare for what awaits you the next year.

What are your interests outside of work? How do you spend your free time?
I am a proud father of two children (two and a half and five years old) so I spend most of my time with them. We often go on trips, and now that they are old enough, we can finally go on some more distant trips.