Interview with Gustav Backlund, newly qualified civil engineer.
When Gustav was studying his final year at Mid Sweden University, he took part in Unga Bünsow, where he discovered Elpress. A meeting that began with a spontaneous chat and ended with both a thesis project and a job as Junior Product Manager.
How did the meeting at Unga Bunsow lead to you doing your graduation project at Elpress?
– At Unga Bünsow, I walked around the stands set up by the companies, and there I came across several companies I didn’t know much about, including Elpress. A group of welcoming employees stood there and called out to passers-by to come and introduce themselves. We started talking, and they told me that Elpress is a well-established company with its head office and production facilities in Kramfors – but also a global player that is undergoing an exciting period of growth.
We started bouncing around some ideas and plans, and I signed up as interested on their list before it was time to move on to the stage programme that Unga Bünsow had organised. In the days that followed, I sent my formal application to the company’s operations manager/site manager, who later told me that she was very pleased that I had contacted the company myself and not waited for them to get back to me, as was the intention with their list.
We then booked interviews with both the site manager and the finance manager who was responsible for the assignment I wanted to write my thesis on, which was to investigate hedging strategies in commodity trading. The interviews went smoothly, and we decided almost immediately that it felt like a good match and that I would be writing my thesis at Elpress.
What was it about Elpress that made you want to move forward with them?
– My first impression of Elpress was that everyone I met seemed to enjoy their work, and that was contagious. There was a clear drive, a desire to grow, and they were operating in an industry that I found exciting. The combination of an international business and strong local roots meant that I saw good opportunities to develop alongside the company. It simply felt like an exciting journey to be part of.
After completing your thesis, you were offered a position as product manager. Did the fact that Elpress is located in the region play a role, and did it influence your decision to take the job?
– Yes, absolutely. While I was doing my thesis, I was offered a position as Junior Product Manager, starting immediately after graduation. The fact that Elpress operates in the region was an important factor for me. It means a lot to know that there are career opportunities without having to move, and that there are companies investing locally, which helps to make the region more attractive for more people to live and work in.
Although Elpress has its headquarters in Kramfors and sales offices around the world, it also has an office in Sundsvall, where I will be based. This made the decision even easier to stay in the region and at the same time work for a growing, international company.
What is your best tip for other students at Mid Sweden University who want to find a job in Västernorrland and the Sundsvall region?
– Finding a job can be a long and sometimes frustrating process that requires many applications, interviews and tests. It can also be difficult to know which companies exist or are interesting, which is where events such as Unga Bünsow play an important role. They provide a unique opportunity to talk directly to companies, form your own opinion and make contacts.
My best tip is to be active at such events and talk to as many companies as you can, even those you haven’t heard of. You never know what opportunities await or what roles are available. For me, it was a cheerful bunch from Elpress, a box of cable lugs and taking the first step forward that led to both a thesis project and a job. It pays to dare to make contact and dare to sell yourself.