Erika Henningsson started as a trainee at Transtema in August 2022. During the trainee program she was able to spend time at different parts of the company and had the opportunity to get familiarized with various work tasks. A few months ago, she has stepped into her new role as contract manager in the department for customer agreements and processes. How did you end up applying for the position as a trainee at Transtema? I studied economics with a focus on management at Borås University College and thought about what I wanted to do after graduation. During my education I gained knowledge in several different areas such as finance, marketing and organisation. I think this was a very good basis, but I still didn’t know what I wanted to work on after graduation. A friend of mine had just started working at Transtema and spoke very positively about the company. I searched for trainee positions and saw that Transtema had posted one. I then felt that it was a natural thing to do – to apply. I was tempted to join a trainee programme, because it offers opportunities to see different parts of a business and get an overview quite quickly. How would you describe your time as a trainee at Transtema? Both challenging and educational! I have had a lot of contact with both colleagues and customers, which I think has been a lot of fun. My colleagues have been very inclusive, which has made me feel welcome from the start. During the trainee period, I have had to take on many different tasks that have challenged and developed me. In addition, I have had a hand in managing which direction my trainee period should take and what I think is extra fun to work with. To be able to participate and influence, I see as a great advantage. What is your take-away from your trainee period? Since one day is never the same as the next, I have learned to take things as they come, try to adapt to new situations and keep an open mind. It’s about trying to prepare for challenges and change your mindset without having a manual. I have also learned more concrete things, such as analyzing the industry, doing profitability analyses, coordinating meetings, carrying out projects and developing my knowledge in different programs, such as Excel. I have also gotten better at picking up the phone and calling a colleague. There are many people in the company with an incredible amount of experience and knowledge who are happy to assist you. Colleagues can really help, so you can move forward with a work assignment thanks to new ideas. Understanding how things fit together During her trainee period, Erika was part of the sales, marketing and communication departments, as well as customer agreements and processes. By working within several different parts of the company, Erika had the opportunity to gain insight into how different departments work and to contribute with new ideas and thoughts. ”The trainee program has given me an understanding of how things are connected – how we work with improvements and challenges. There are many different components that are needed for the organization to become a well-functioning company where employees thrive.” ”Before I started as a trainee, I didn’t really have any knowledge of the telecom industry, but now I do. Gaining a greater understanding of the industry and being able to weave it into the work with agreements, internal processes and sales has been a lot of fun. Being able to see finished products of what I’ve been working on has also been a lot of fun. I have been given the opportunity to make tenders and write reports that we have published in external channels. I have also been involved in shaping agreements and coordinating conferences.” New role since the beginning of the summer Early this summer, Erika finished her trainee period and moved instead to a role as contract manager. This means that she is responsible for the customers’ contracts. ThisoOften concerns contracts that apply to larger geographical areas or are national, where more coordination and follow-up is required. My working days consist of having contact with our customers and having an ongoing dialogue. I am also responsible for finances, such as monitoring profitability and handling invoicing. It is important to have a lot of internal dialogue to make sure everything works as it should, and to try to find potential for improvement. I am happy that I have my experience from the trainee program. In my role, in many cases there is no instruction book for how to do a task. That’s why I’m happy that I have the various skills I’ve gained from the trainee program, and that I can ask the colleagues I’ve met along the way for help. Work at Transtema Are you interested in working at Transtema? Keep an eye on our careers page to see available positions. Open positions