My first trainee placement: Marketing Communications


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I spent my first three-month trainee placement at my home department: Marketing Communications. The main responsibility of this department is to develop global marketing communication strategies for trucks, buses, engines, services, and parts. The strategies are, then, transformed into tactical marketing activities and tools, such as web campaign sites, brochures, advertisements, direct marketing material, videos, promotional items and graphical guidelines for marketing communication material. A typical activity is the preparation for international trade fairs, such as the IAA in Hanover, the IFAT in Munich, the Dubai International Boat Show or Busworld in Kortrijk. Another main task at Marketing Communications is to continuously update the brochures of our products and services.

However, my very first marketing project was a little bit different: I was responsible for coordinating the production of the Scania 125 year campaign book. This year, Scania celebrates its 125th anniversary and many activities are planned throughout the year 2016 in order to celebrate this special occasion. The campaign book summarizes the background, marketing strategy, core message, and target groups for the Scania 125 year project. Furthermore, it provides an overview over the marketing material that is being produced for the anniversary, such as posters, roll-ups, videos, promotional items etc..

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I realized very quickly, that the daily work at Scania is very cross-functional. This was no different with my project. In order to coordinate the project, I had to meet with various departments at Scania to collect all information necessary for the campaign book. Hence, I met with colleagues from the department of Corporate Relations, Event & Exhibition, Employer Branding, Parts & Services (Vehicle Accessories and Branding Products) and Business Support (Image Desk). We decided to develop a Scania 125 year logotype in different variations, which was then printed on different promotional items, such as flags, T-shirts, umbrellas, key rings, mouse pads, pins, pens, mugs, balloons, and chocolate. Furthermore, we designed posters, roll ups, wall banners, and produced a video together with an external advertising agency. Once the campaign book was written, it was published internally to all Scania distributors in the world. The distributors could, then, decide by themselves which marketing material they want to use locally in order to celebrate Scania’s 125th anniversary.

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All of us trainees have spent a period abroad at a Scania distributor this year. I always got very excited when my trainee colleagues sent me pictures of Scania 125 year marketing material that is used at a Scania distributor, for instance, in Brazil or Holland. It is great to see that the marketing material, which I helped to design, is used all over the world to celebrate Scania’s 125th anniversary!

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Getting my heavy truck driver’s licence


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Each year, Scania offers its trainees to take the heavy truck licence (C-licence). With the C-licence, you are authorized to drive any kind of truck, regardless of its weight. Since I got my driver’s licence for passenger cars in Germany, I had to exchange my German driver’s licence into a Swedish “B-licence” at the Swedish transport agency, first.

During the introduction weeks of the Scania Graduate Trainee Program last summer, we spent two days at “Grönlunds”, which is a driving school for heavy trucks and buses. We attended theory lessons, in which we repeated basic traffic rules and learned more about truck-related regulations, such as restrictions concerning “driving and rest periods”. We also learned the use of a digital tachograph. In addition, we were given a heavy folder and several smaller brochures, which we had to study for the theoretical exam. It was quite a challenge to read and memorize all the material in Swedish in the evening, after having stood at Scania’s assembly lines all day long.

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On the day of the theoretical exam, I was very nervous. The exam is a computer-based test and is comprised of 60 questions, which have to be answered within 40 minutes. Five of the 60 questions are so-called “test questions”, which means that it does not matter if these questions are answered correctly. However, you do not know if the question you are trying to answer is a “real question” or a “test question”. Hence, 44 out of the 55 “real questions” have to be answered correctly in order to pass the theoretical exam. After 40 minutes, a note on the computer screen showed me that I had just passed the theoretical exam for my heavy truck licence. I was extremely relieved and proud, when I saw that message.

A few weeks later, I completed the practical exam with a 18t Scania truck. First, I had to perform a security check on the truck. Furthermore, I had to answer a few questions and calculate how much payload I could have on different roads, depending on the road classification (BK1, BK2, BK3). Afterwards, I had to prove my driving skills on the highway, as well as in rural and urban areas. Besides, I had to reverse the truck around a corner, and I also had to park the truck backwards against a loading bay, so that 10cm of the tailgate were placed on the loading bay, when opening the tailgate. After 45 minutes, the examiner told me that I had passed the practical exam and congratulated me on my heavy truck licence.

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The workshop practice


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The three-week workshop practice, which is part of the six-week introductory program at Scania, was one of the activities that I had been looking forward to the most since I signed my working contract with Scania. It takes place in August and September each year and is part of the introduction program for the newly recruited trainees.

There are three production facilities in Södertälje: bus and truck chassis, axels and gearboxes, and engines. The aim of the workshop practice is to obtain first-hand experience of how Scania’s products are assembled and to get an insight into the daily work flow at the production lines.

Due to safety reasons, the regulations concerning what clothes or shoes to wear when working at the assembly lines are very strict. Therefore, each trainee was given a pair of safety shoes on our first day at Scania. Furthermore, we all received a workshop outfit, consisting of work trousers, T-shirts and a sweater.

I still remember the moment, when I entered the chassis production facility for the first time. There was so much happening simultaneously that I did not know where to look first. The factory was surprisingly clean and light, all components were perfectly organized on the shelves, and every single step along the assembly line was precisely structured and planned in great detail. When walking through the production hall, you had to make sure to stay within the yellow lines, which are drawn on the floor, since there are so many small trucks, such as forklift trucks, driving around in order to supply the different workshop stations with new material. Thus, one of the first rules we learned was that these trucks were always allowed to go first.

Wearing the Scania outfit that we were given earlier, we trainees were dressed in the exact same way as all the other assemblers at the production line. Even the workshop managers all the way up to the plant manager wore at least the beige Scania T-shirt. This is, again, a typical example, that shows Scania’s unique organizational culture, where everybody – from the assembler to the top manager – feels like being part of one big family.

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When I was at the chassis assembly line, I worked with the team that put the engines into the bus chassis. I was surprised by the fact that a lot of work is still performed manually, for example, pushing the chassis from one work station to the next at the end of each tact time. The tools that are used in the chassis production are very heavy and not so easy to handle and it was exhausting to stand up during the entire day. Thus, my feet and shoulders hurt quite a bit when I got home from work.

During my second week of workshop practice, I was at the rear axle assembly line. The tact time, which is the time spent on each unit, is a lot shorter compared to the bus chassis production. Furthermore, since the rotation of an axle from one work station to the next is completely automated, every movement is prescribed in detail and has to be followed strictly. In addition, taking a break for drinking a sip of water, eating a snack or going to the restroom is steered by the tact time.

However, the workshop practice has been a very valuable experience for me. From day one, I felt like being part of the team and the assemblers were very patient and thorough when they taught me their tasks. The production facilities are really “the heart of Scania” and I have even more respect for the Scania assemblers, who are standing at the production lines every single day, now, after I have worked there myself. The assemblers’ dedication and commitment to Scania is truly exceptional and is definitely one of the reasons why Scania can retain such a high level of quality in its products.

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The introduction weeks


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The trainee program at Scania started in August with a six-week introductory program. Three of the six weeks were filled with lectures, seminars, and various other activities.

On one of the first days at Scania, we visited the Scania DemoCentre in Södertälje. The DemoCentre is Scania’s showroom where you can test drive different Scania products. More than fourteen thousand visitors from around the world come to the DemoCentre each year. Among them are representatives of major customers such as local councils, fire services, and the military, as well as international politicians. A wide range of vehicles can be tested on the test track – from distribution trucks to 25.25-metre rigs to hybrid Scania buses. The trucks are fully loaded and most of them are available in truck and trailer combinations. There is a Demodriver for each truck and bus who provides technical information and driving advice.

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Having never driven a truck before, I was very excited when I climbed into the driver’s cabin of one of the Scania trucks for the first time. It was an amazing feeling sitting high up in such a heavy and robust vehicle and experiencing the power of the V8 engine, when the truck easily mastered a steep hill on the test track. I also test drove a hybrid Scania bus, which was quite a unique experience, too.

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Another highlight of the introduction weeks was that we got to meet all executive board members including the CEO.

One of the seminars that we attended during the introduction weeks, was an intercultural training, where we learned more about the differences between the Swedish and German business cultures. German companies, for instance, tend to be more hierarchical, whereas consensus decision-making is very important for Swedish companies. Being aware of such cultural differences is crucial for successful German-Swedish business relations. Since the collaboration between Scania and MAN has intensified after Scania became part of the Volkswagen Group, understanding the German corporate culture has become essential for Scania.

It is very important for Scania that its employees have an appropriate work-life balance. Therefore, Scania motivates its employees to take a break from work once in a while in order to attend one of the gym classes that are offered at the Scania Health Center or to work out at the Scania gym. Hence, we trainees got the opportunity to test a Kettlebells class at the health center, which was a lot of fun.

On one of the weekends during the introduction weeks, we travelled to Barnens Ö together with the trainees from the year 2014/15. Barnens Ö is an island north of Stockholm and we stayed in a Swedish cottage directly at the water, where we celebrated a typical Swedish “kräftskiva” (crayfish party). It was also a great opportunity to get to know the former trainees and to ask them questions about their journey at Scania.

The activities mentioned above are only some of the highlights of the introduction weeks. Another highlight was definitely the three weeks that we spent at the Scania assembly lines, which I will write more about in my next blog entry.

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The structure of a trainee program


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Trainee programs at big international companies are usually structured in a similar way. In this blog post, I will describe the structure of Scania’s Graduate Trainee Program in detail in order to give you a better understanding of how a trainee program might look like.

In short, Scania’s trainee program is composed of an introduction phase followed by four three-month practice periods, which take place at the home department and three other departments. During the entire trainee program, each trainee is supervised by the manager that has recruited the trainee, and together, they decide where the trainee will spend the other three practice periods. Between the practice periods, the trainees gather for seminar weeks at the headquarter.

The trainee program usually starts in the middle of August. All newly recruited trainees spend the first six weeks together in an introductory program. Three weeks of the introduction take place at the chassis, axles & gearboxes, and engine assembly lines in form of a workshop practice. The other three weeks are filled with lectures, seminars, and group activities.

After these six weeks, the trainees start their first trainee period at their respective home department, which is the department that has recruited them. The first seminar week is usually held in December just before the end of the first trainee period, and with the beginning of the next year, the second trainee period starts. Trainees within Production might, for instance, switch to a totally different department, such as Purchasing or Finance. However, the trainees within Sales & Marketing and Commercial Operations typically spend this period at the Scania Dealers in Malmö, Gothenburg or Stockholm.

In the middle of April, the trainees gather again for a seminar week in Södertälje, before they each take a one-week intensive language class in the UK, Germany or Spain. Afterwards, the third practice period starts, in which the trainees work abroad at one of Scania’s distributors. These year’s trainees travelled to countries such as Australia, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Argentina, the Netherlands, and Germany. The practice period abroad is followed by a four-week vacation, which gives the trainees the opportunity to discover their host country or neighbouring countries.

After the summer break, the fourth practice period starts, which the trainees usually spend at a department in Södertälje, Luleå or Oskarshamn. Sales & Marketing trainees, like me, often take the chance to deepen their knowledge within sales and marketing. Therefore, I am currently working at the department “Sales Trucks – Europe” during my last practice period.

After 14 months, the trainee program ends, and a permanent position awaits the trainees at their home department. However, a trainee can also choose to work for a different department, if a job vacancy is available.

During the trainee program, the trainee is not only supervised by the home department’s manager; he or she is also assigned a personal mentor, typically a former trainee who has worked for about one year after the trainee program.

To summarize, a trainee program at a big international company usually implies spending a period abroad at a subsidiary, working at the assembly lines, taking part in lectures and seminars, and being supported by a personal mentor for the duration of the program.

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How to choose the right company


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One of the most important aspects when looking for your very first job is finding “the right company”. A company that fits you best, that has an organizational culture that suits your personality and that enables you to achieve your personal and professional goals, whatever they might be. Sometimes it can be difficult to assess a company’s culture simply by looking at its website. However, as soon as you meet its employees face-to-face for the very first time, for instance during a job interview, you get a better feeling for the atmosphere within the company. Listen to the questions the company’s recruiters ask you and observe the way the recruiters treat you as a person, and you will easily understand if the company has a very competitive “elbow culture” or if it is a company that truly values a work-life-balance. My advice to you is to ask yourself “the right questions” and, then, to simply listen to your gut feeling when meeting the company for the first time.

The first question I asked myself, when looking for my first job position was: In what industry would I like to work in?

I have a Master in International Business Studies and, thus, do not have an engineering background. However, I always liked technical classes, for example physics in high school, and missed this part during my studies a little. Therefore, I wanted to work for a company that produces a complicated technical product. The innovative strength in the automotive industry is fascinating and the next decades hold so many new developments in store such as platooning, autonomous driving, and connectivity. I understood that working for a company in the automotive industry would enable me to learn new things every day and to develop my technical knowledge further. Hence, it became clear to me that I wanted to work in the automotive industry.

Secondly, I asked myself in what department I would like to work at.

The field of strategic management has always been the main focus of my studies. In addition, I completed classes in international marketing and project management, which aroused my interest in the development and implementation of marketing strategies and projects. I also deepened my marketing knowledge by participating in a research project at the university – in cooperation with the German Football League (DFL) on the topic “Brand Associations of and Brand Loyalty towards Professional Football Clubs: An Empirical Study of German and Indian Football Fans“. The project enabled me to broaden my knowledge in market research as well as to gain experience in brand management. Furthermore, I became familiar with the marketing and sales business during internships at Telstra Corporation Limited in Australia and the German-Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Sweden. I was involved in the administration of and communication with various business clients as well as the customer acquisition process. Additionally, I conducted market analyses and market research projects, for example a project for the measurement of customer satisfaction. Both, the research project at the university as well as the internships confirmed my enthusiasm for the international marketing and sales business. Accordingly, I decided to pursue a career in Sales & Marketing.

Then, I wondered, whether I should apply for a trainee program or directly for a position within Sales & Marketing.

Since I studied International Business, the lectures and seminars I attended have been quite generic and theoretical. Thus, I did not really feel prepared enough to start a job in Sales and Marketing right away. A trainee program gives you the opportunity to get to know the company insight and out. In the best case, you are able to observe the company from production to sales and from the dealers to the headquarters. You will stand at the production line at 6 o’clock in the morning and you will meet the CEO for a meeting in the afternoon. A good trainee program enables you to learn and develop, to observe and question, and to suggest and deliver. And after the trainee program, you will have gained so many new insights, you will really KNOW the company and how things work, and you will feel best prepared for your very first job position at this company. There was no doubt in my mind, that a trainee program was what I wanted to do.

Thus, I asked myself the final question: At which company in the automotive industry would I like to complete a trainee program in Sales & Marketing?

My studies and internships indicate a very strong international focus, therefore, I wanted to start my professional career at a leading international company. I completed two internships at the German-Swedish Chamber of Commerce, hence, I speak Swedish fluently and I am very familiar with the Swedish business culture. I definetely could imagine myself working at a Swedish company. When comparing different companies in the automotive industry, Scania stood out to me right away. It seemed to me as if Scania has a unique organizational culture that is in alignment with my own values and goals. This positive impression was confirmed during my first face-to-face meeting with one of the recruiters. After a second meeting at the headquarters in Södertälje and after having met even more employees and former trainees at Scania, my gut feeling told me that this was it: I fit to Scania and Scania fits to me. I have worked at Scania for a year now – a year full of exciting but also challenging experiences. But I have never regretted my decision and I am very curious to find out what the future at Scania has in store for me.

Thus, I encourage you all to ask yourself these questions and to figure out what your personal and professional goals are and most importantly what kind of company you would like to work for. And then, just listen to your gut feeling! All the best and good luck!

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Hello and welcome to my blog


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Hello, my name is Alexandra Wilbs and I am a blogger at TraineeBloggen. This is my very first blog post on TraineeBloggen, therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to you.

I am from Germany, where I attained a Master of Science in International Business Studies at the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg. During my studies, I spent two semesters abroad at the universities of Uppsala and Linköping. Additionally, I completed two internships at the German-Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Stockholm. Hence, Sweden has become my second home and communicating in Swedish in a business setting is perfectly natural for me.

The field of strategic management has always been the main focus of my studies. Furthermore, I became familiar with the sales and marketing business during my internships in Sweden and Australia, where I worked at Australia’s largest telecommunications and media company, Telstra Corporation Limited.

Since my studies and my internships both indicate a strong international focus, it was very important for me to start my professional career in a leading international company. In August 2015, I started working as a Graduate Trainee in Sales & Marketing at Scania. Scania is a perfect fit for me and Scania’s engineering prowess and orientation towards innovation and sustainability fascinate me. Besides, the Scania Graduate Trainee Program offers me the possibility to apply and to deepen my previously acquired experiences and skills as well as my passion for international business relations in an exciting and challenging working environment.

Stay tuned for my next blog posts, in which I will give you a better insight into my life as a Scania Graduate Trainee.

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