A British man who submitted around 1,000 job applications in the UK without success has found work in a remote Austrian village after a two-hour flight. Tamer Zeki, 29, moved to his girlfriend Anna Haselboeck's hometown in Lower Austria, which has only 400 residents.
After trying to break into data analytics in London, Zeki applied for roughly 1,000 jobs but received only four interviews. Meanwhile, Haselboeck secured a job in Austria within three weeks after three interviews. A conversation with her family dentist led to job offers for both at a local health centre.
Zeki now works as a digital orthodontic technician, while Haselboeck is an office manager. The couple pay about £800 monthly for a three-bedroom flat, compared to £1,300 for a one-bed in London. Weekly grocery costs have halved to £50.
Zeki said he enjoys the nature and silence but finds the village isolating, with only one road and a single restaurant. Haselboeck noted the stark contrast in competition, saying UK jobs often had 5,000 applicants while Austrian roles attracted just two or three.
The move was partly driven by post-Brexit visa difficulties. Haselboeck said it was easier for Zeki to get an Austrian visa than for her to move to the UK. The couple, who previously maintained a long-distance relationship, now live together in a property owned by Haselboeck's parents.
