27 August 2020
Rasmus Haugen Sandvik started to work with us as a Senior Sales Executive on the 1st of April. The onboarding for his new job was held using digital tools while Rasmus was sitting in his home, safely following the guidelines from global and local health authorities to flatten the curve of the COVID-19 pandemic.
What has it been like to start work in a new company from the home office?
March and April were the months in Norway when the virus really started to have an effect on us. On my first day, I got a visit from the “big boss”, the regional manager in Market Unit West. He delivered my new computer to my doorstep. Then we had some meetings together on Teams to get to know each other. I really appreciate the trust TietoEVRY has in me. My team has given me the freedom to start working as I thought was the best way. For me, the most important thing has been meeting as many people as possible internally, using digital tools, of course.
If you want to sell something, it is necessary to first understand the portfolio and the delivery apparatus. Gradually, there has been more focus on external sales work. A few days ago I even had my first day in the office premises - a milestone!
Why did you choose to work with us?
I have always liked to challenge myself. In my previous job, I helped in building a smaller company in Bergen and learned a lot. After that, it was natural for me to look for a job in a big company for more challenges. I have always been interested in technology and wanted to work closely with it. The opportunity to use what I know and at the same time learn something new was essential to my choice.
What kind of assignments do you have?
Right now, I’m assisting with a large tender in the 50 million class and a small request for consulting assistance. I’m also showing a potential customer on how we can create value for them. In addition, I will still take some time to get to know our portfolio.
Are there any opportunities or tasks you are especially looking forward to taking on?
I’m looking forward to putting TietoEVRY on the map in Bergen, and show that we work with a lot of digital services. Everyone doesn’t know we have our own designers, security experts and strategy consultants or that we develop everything from business applications and websites to industry-specific core systems.
How has COVID-19 affected you and your daily routines at work?
It is of course challenging. As a new employee, it is important to get an overview. The best way to achieve it is by talking to people, and now the talking is quite formal in digital meetings. As a salesperson, you also usually go out and visit the market and your customers. That is pretty hard during these times. Even if it is not optimal, just roll up your sleeves and make the best of the situation. It is hardly any better for anyone in the market.
What are you looking forward to the most when you are allowed to return to the physical office?
First of all, I’m looking forward to listening and learning from experts in different fields. I’m also eager to have lunch or a coffee with my colleagues and to find out who plays Dungeons & Dragons!
Tips for job seeking
by Jon Eivind T. Strømme, Head of Application Innovation West in Digital Consulting at TietoEVRY
When searching for your dream job, it is important to know yourself. To check if a job could be a good match for you, you could ask yourself the following questions:
- What are the situations in which you thrive the most? What inspires you and creates a sense of purpose? Inspiration and motivation are essential to personal development.
- What are you good at? The feeling of success and mastering a task will enable you to evolve and help you reach your full potential.
- Is it possible to do make a living out of what you love? Find out could you make money while living your dream. If not, it might be that your dream job is actually more of a hobby.
As we are all different, we can thrive in different jobs. These questions above can help you find the right fit for you. If you reflect on these, you will be better prepared for a job interview as well and the discussion for why you would be the right fit for the job.
I want to encourage you to be patient and polite and humble at the same time. If there are no open positions at your dream companies or employers, you could send open applications. If you don’t hear back from them within a week, you could follow through with a phone call to check up on opportunities and open positions. People tend to be busy, so it could be a good thing to reach out directly to see if they've received your application letter.
Lifelong learning and different jobs
During your career, you will most likely work with a lot of different tasks, companies and people. Before you’ve had the chance to try out a job, it is hard to know what the job is really about or whether if you fit in.
Be honest. If the position doesn’t fit you, remember that you can always do something else.