The ASSA ABLOY Entrance Systems’ graduate program is a 24-month on-the-job training program in which graduates between international locations. Discover Iina Rantanen’s perspective on moving to a new office and country as part of her experience as Marketing & Digital Solutions Graduate.
I started in Landskrona, Sweden, and I have been working on various projects since then. For example, I have been auditing our external channels and working on a social media content calendar. Recently, I moved to Ede, the Netherlands, to continue my graduate journey abroad. The move meant switching from a global perspective to a local one, which has been very insightful. The new office was well-prepared, had housing reserved for me, and established processes to accommodate graduates. Even though I’ve moved elsewhere, the work culture remains. Everyone’s friendly, open, and eager to learn and try new things.
It takes a toll, but I choose to embrace each relocation as an exciting new chapter. When moving abroad, you go through different phases, and I was eager to get a friend group running again. However, it is important to allow ourselves to take the time we need to settle down and get into our daily routines. You have to force yourself out of your comfort zone, but in the end, many other expatriates are in the same situation, and it is easy to find common ground.
It is a continuous cycle of gathering knowledge that I can take with me to the next location. It is amazing that we get to experience local and global organizations because they are so different. I’m getting hands-on experience, and we bring fresh eyes and ideas as newly graduated university students. I feel like I can try to implement best practices from one place to another, combined with the opportunity to explore a new country.