Why Scania caught my attention

To be the new one at any workplace can be both intimidating and exciting. For 25-year-old Filip Linse from Malmö in southern Sweden, the position as a trainee at Scania is all about discovering the unknown.

It took more than the first seven introductory weeks to get to know Scania. For Filip, the overview of the company came long after that. Even though he was somewhat familiar with Scania. The summer before this, he studied industrial economy at the university in Lund not far from his birthplace. He was looking for a summer job anywhere in the country, and ended up at Scania’s cab factory in Oskarshamn as a “summer technician”. “I had an extremely good time. I met trainees there and they totally convinced me that Scania is where I should work.” After he’d spent several weeks getting rid of dust that were caught in the paint, the choice to go for Scania’s trainee programme was a given.

The first three months were spent at the Purchasing department, dealing with Scania’s business units all around the world. This was no coincident as Filip loves meet new people and also be a part of negotiations. His task was to analyse the need for security solutions and clothing to a unit in Asia. A task that is not overly easy when you know nothing about it. “But I have a mentor that helps me out. I’ll just have to check out a large amount of data, make some calls and ask how they normally would do this. It’s about showing who I am and what I can do.”

The thing that caught Filip’s attention with Scania is the possibility to work in other countries, something that’s always been a part of his career plan. “Many people at Scania have a connection at the company, family or friends that work here. I’ve got none, except that I am from Skåne, which is Scania in English, but that might be a bit far-fetched,” he laughs.

During the fifteen months that Filip will be a trainee, he will also take on a position abroad. But before that happens, he’ll try out his skills at another part of the organisation in Södertälje. It’s not yet decided where this will be, but it’s a part of his mission to figure out what he wants to do. “I’ll tag along and do what’s needed and more.”

As a trainee, Filip feels well looked-after. From the meeting with Scania President and CEO Henrik Henriksson on the first day, and lunch with other trainees once a week to having won a quiz and become a mentor for Plant Manager at the Chassis Assembly, Robert Höglund as well as being a blogger at Scania Career.

Despite the good impression he has of Scania, moving to Södertälje was a big change for someone who’s lived and studied in the same area all his life. “That’s the thing. You just need to get out there and challenge yourself!”