In our age of social media dominance, marketing has become a complex, around-the-clock proposition. It’s good practice to remain alert to take advantage of quickly changing trends while being sensitive to the needs of a wide variety of audiences. Fortunately for PTW, our Associate Marketing Manager Bertram “Berti” Tinhof is a great mix of experience and responsiveness, leading to creative and timely communication. He’s also a great example of how we encourage career growth at PTW, given his journey from LQA to Marketing. Let’s get to know him better. 

Origins 

Berti started out at PTW as a German LQA (Localization Quality Assurance) Tester in April 2019 and transitioned to the Marketing department in December 2020. “I’d say the main catalyst for the move was seeing that there was an open internal opportunity to join the Marketing team in 2020,” he says. “Since I do have a background in sales and marketing working for a newspaper in Austria, and I studied Digital Media here in the UK, joining the Marketing team just felt like the right thing.” Berti takes care of most of PTW’s social media channels and works closely with HR and the wider Marketing team on a wide variety of projects. 

Differences in roles 

Berti believes that the two positions he’s had at PTW are quite different. “In LQA testing, my native language played a crucial part in my daily work,” he shares. “I don’t have to use German here in Marketing at all (except when we exhibit at Gamescom in Cologne where my German comes in handy quite a bit!). But what is similar in both positions is the need to have excellent attention to detail and the ability to work and collaborate with teams based all around the globe. Overall, I’d say that in Marketing I have more flexibility and creative freedom, which is challenging and satisfying at the same time.” 

Berti enjoys working as part of an international team alongside colleagues of diverse backgrounds, from different walks of life. “I love being part of a multicultural team and believe that different views and opinions always help to produce better and more sophisticated work.” 

Career change advice  

Having changed careers a couple of times in his life, Berti speaks to the challenges inherent in doing something different. “It might feel uncomfortable and uncertain, but taking the time to think about what you really want will save you time, effort, and heartache in the long run,” he asserts. “When it comes to a career change, the more research you do, the better position you’ll be in to make the right decision.” 

However, he feels it’s important not to get trapped in “analysis paralysis” and let the weeks, months, and years pass you by. “Bottom line, listen to your heart and do what feels right for you at the time,” Berti says. “There’s never a ‘wrong’ career path. No matter what you do I am sure you’ll learn skills that will help you in future jobs. I transitioned a couple of times already, from the construction business, to working for a newspaper, and all the way into the gaming industry. I wouldn’t want to forget any of the experiences I had nor the skills I learned along the way. Always remember that experience and flexibility are key in today’s working world.” 

Personal life 

Always active, Berti loves to run, rock climb, cycle, play football, snowboard, and ski in the Austrian Alps, near to where he’s from. He also loves music and art, so he likes to explore new art exhibitions and go to live concerts in the UK where he lives now.  

As for his interest in gaming, video games have been a part of Berti’s life since he and his brothers received a SEGA Master System for Christmas in 1994. “I was born and raised in a little picturesque town in the Austrian countryside where making a career in the gaming industry is just not a thing at all,” he relates. “Then I moved to London in 2018 to do my MA in Digital Media; breaking into the gaming industry just came by accident when I saw an open role for German LQA testers. I never thought that speaking German would help me to get a job but that was my start in the gaming industry, and I haven’t looked back since.”