Michael Lövgren participated in SCA Forest Products 2005/2006 trainee program and now works as a purchasing specialist at SCA’s headquarters in Stockholm. Here you can read about his experience as a trainee.
1. What is your background?
I work as a purchasing specialist at SCA’s headquarters in Stockholm. I have a mechanical engineering degree with an industrial economics focus and an economics degree with a finance focus. I am 27 years old.
2. Which departments did you work in during the trainee program?
It would be easier to say which departments I did not work in! As a trainee, I was assigned to various units within the SCA Forest Products business area. I was mostly involved with marketing, production and distribution in Sweden and elsewhere in Europe.
3. Which assignments did you most enjoy?
The opportunity to work with different functions and business units, spanning the entire chain from raw materials to customers, was a very positive experience. It is important to learn about the whole process and how the different activities along the value chain are connected and affect one another.
4. What was a regular day like?
What was special was that there was no such thing as a regular day. I worked mostly on a project basis and when one project was completed, I went on to the next. This usually entailed new tasks in new environments with new people.
5. Most important lessons of the trainee program for you personally?
The experience involving production and distribution, and having the courage to make decisions, contribute and make a difference.
6. What does your having completed SCA’s trainee program mean to you?
It means a lot. SCA is a well-run global company with an excellent reputation and a respected history. It was very stimulating to get to know one of Sweden’s, if not the world’s, largest companies. SCA is characterized by sound values and a fine culture.
7. What was most exciting about the training program?
I especially remember the time I spent at SCA’s terminal in Rotterdam, working and learning about distribution in one of the world’s major ports.
8. What will be of greatest use to you in your career?
Knowing that I can make a difference by making decisions and that there are many interesting jobs within the SCA Group. I also learned the importance of effective communications and clear cooperation between different functions and units.
9. What do you expect from the future?
I will continue to work abroad for SCA, with all the challenges that this involves.
The next trainee program in Sweden will probably be held during 2008/2009.
Trainee positions also open up on an ongoing basis within SCA’s global business operations.