When she graduated in Värmland, Sweden in 2013, Nathalia already had a clear picture of what she wanted to do in the future. The school that topped her application list was Mälardalen University in Västerås.
“When I applied, Mälardalen University was the only University which offered an education in Industrial Engineering and Management with focus on energy systems”, says Nathalia who seems content with both her education and with Västerås as a city.
“I’ve lived in Västerås for about 6 years now and I really like it here. It’s a nice city and being close to Mälaren is really pleasant, especially during the summertime.”
Nathalias first contact with ABB arose when she was about to do her degree project, which led to her applying for ABB’s trainee program.
“I came in contact with ABB through my degree project which I did at ABB’s business, Industrial Automation. During my time there, I got a really good impression of ABB and felt that it was exciting to work at such a large global company that covers several different markets. When I was told about the trainee program it felt like a perfect next step since I wasn’t entirely sure about what I wanted to work with at that time”, says Nathalia.
The program consists of 3 internship periods that are 10 weeks long each. The trainees get to decide for themselves where they want to be placed.
“You’re given free hands to contact any business unit that you find interesting to see if there’s a possibility to do have a trainee assignment there. It can be in sales, purchasing, product development – anything! You then sit down and discuss the role with your manager and together you can design an assignment that feels good for both of you”, says Nathalia.
After having completed her three internship periods, it became time to select a fixed placement, and for Nathalia it was clear early on that the energy and power area was for her.
“Today, I work as Project Supply Chain Manager. In short, my role consists of handling all questions related to procurement and logistics in projects, from planning to delivery. I chose Power Grids because I wanted to work within the energy sector which I’ve always been interested in. A good thing about my role is that I get a wide perspective of the project business, which is very valuable when you’re new.”
Great companionship
There are several perks about being a trainee. For Nathalia, the companionship in the group of trainees has been among the best things.
“We have two trainee groups in Sweden, one in Västerås and one in Ludvika, and you’re part of a great group. It’s really nice that we are able to share our different experiences and challenges with each other.” We’ve become close friends through the duration of the trainee program, so we spend a lot of time together outside of work. For example, the entire group is traveling to Budapest this fall for a mini vacation”, says Nathalia.
In addition to the companionship and the possibility to try different roles within the company, you also get to take part in a lot of different activities.
“We get to take part in different fairs, seminars and events where we get to meet other people from ABB, customers and people within the business. Needless to say, you get great exposure which provides you with good opportunities to create a large network of contacts”, says Nathalia.
Meetings that inspire
Participating in different events and fairs and going on customer visits is part of the trainee experience, another is the possibility to invite people who you’re curious about to dinners.
“Each week, we arrange a ‘speaker dinner’ where the trainees get to invite a guest, it can be people inside or outside of ABB. During the dinner, the guest of the evening gets to present themselves and talk about their life and their career. Thanks to these dinners, we’ve gotten the opportunity to hear several inspiring stories and have been able to meet and talk to a lot of interesting persons in a more relaxed environment outside of working hours.”
Working within a large organization like ABB has many benefits, but it can also be challenging as, for example, it can be difficult to get a comprehensive picture of the company. However, as trainee you are given a brilliant opportunity to learn a great deal about the company in a short time, which Nathalia has noticed.
“I think it’d be more difficult to get a comprehensive overview in such a short amount of time if you get a permanent position immediately. As a trainee, you learn a lot about different functions, roles and business units within the span of a few months and you also get the opportunity to create a vast contact network. The trainee program is perfect for anyone who wants to try different roles within the company and get a good understanding of how a large company works. The trainee program is simply a great way to start your career!”
