This week we visit Stockholm (virtually, of course) and meet Thiago dos Santos Ferreira, alumnus from the Master’s degree programme Energy-efficient and Environmental Building Design class of 2018. Thiago describes his studies at Lund University as a turning point in his life that give him a social network in Sweden and led him to his current job as Environmental Design Specialist.
Q: Hi Thiago! What have you been up to since your graduation?
Right after finishing my Master’s I got a job offer to work as a sustainability consultant in an architecture firm in Stockholm.
Thiago in his current home office
Q: Today you work as an Environmental Design Specialist in Stockholm, can you tell us more about your job?
I help architects design buildings that take into account different aspects of environmental sustainability, so buildings achieve a better performance in different aspects, specially regarding daylight levels. I work with various tools that allow me to simulate daylight conditions, for example, so I can inform architects and building owners on their decisions.
Q: How has your education from Lund University been beneficial in your work?
My education allowed me not only to learn the necessary knowledge to play in the field, but also provided me the opportunity to build my network here in Sweden.
Q: If you could look 30 years into the future, what do you see in the future of building design? What are the challenges for creating environmentally friendly buildings?
We’re already facing the effects of climate change, so buildings will have to address this challenge while providing proper comfort for their occupants. In addition, buildings are responsible for a big share of energy consumption world wide. Therefore, architects and professionals from the field will need to come up with strategies so buildings start demanding less energy whilst becoming adapted to this new climate reality.
About the photo: “My love for discovering new coffee places”
Q: What is one of your favourite memories from your student days at Lund University?
Lund was a real turning point in my life. I think that being able to cycle everyday to school was definitely one of my favourite memories, apart of course from all the international environment that provided me with great friends from all over the world.
Curious about psychology studies at Lund University? In this week’s alumni Q&A we talk to Madelaine Sundberg about her studies at the Psychology programme 2010-2016 and what she enjoys about her job. A job which she describes as a great mix of predictability and unexpected events.
What was the reason you chose to study the psychology programme?
At a Lund University event in AF Borgen, I went to speak with the representatives from the study programme in psychology to learn more and I was instantly intrigued. I already had a fascination for the field of psychology from before, but I was still weighing my options. After that, I read up about the profession and studies, and for many reasons I found it interesting, especially the investigative aspect and curiosity for people, combined with the strong connection between science and neurology. It felt like a broad profession with many opportunities, like being able to work within pedagogy, work/organisations, clinical work, research or even starting your own business.
What have you been up to since your graduation and what do you do today?
To obtain a license of psychology, you need one year of PTP (practical duty for psychologists) after graduation. I did my PTP at Elevhälsan in Helsingborg, where I had been an intern for a semester during my studies. After that, I had several temporary positions. I got my first job as a licensed psychologist at Elevhälsan in Landskrona. It was a very good experience to work with the same tasks, but for a different employer. This later led me to BUP (Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) in Lund, where I worked with amazing colleagues within both general psychiatry and a specialist team resolving eating disorders.
My temporary jobs gave me a chance to try out different orientations as a psychologist early on in my career and to work for different employers. From each experience I gained a lot of knowledge that helps me a lot in my current work at Capio Citykliniken, a health center in Malmö. I have worked there for about 1 1/2 years and I really enjoy it.
What does a typical work day look like?
My days as a psychologist at the health center are a great mixture of predictability and unexpected events, which makes the work environment relaxing without being boring.
The predictable being the structure of my workdays. I see patients every day and there are recurrent meetings with colleagues to discuss patients’ needs and we make sure they get the right treatment.
What I mean by the unpredictable, or unexpected events, is that I never know what patients I will meet during a day, what challenges they present to me and what I can offer to them. This means that I, as a psychologist, have to practice my ability to be present in every meeting and at the same time use relevant knowledge and dare to be creative with that. It is one of the main components of the profession, which makes it so exciting.
Have your studies at Lund University been beneficial to you?
My studies at Lund University have been a fundamental condition to even be able to work as a psychologist. The psychologist careers can differ quite a bit when it comes to, for example, what therapy orientation that is taught. At many universities, the students have to choose one therapy orientation. When I studied, we could learn about two main therapy orientations (psychodynamic therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy), which for me was a big plus. That way you get to have a feel for what suits you as a clinician and that furthermore gives you a wide competence.
Do you have a favourite memory from your time at Lund University?
Oh, it’s hard to just pick one memory. Most of the time I thought student life was very fun. During my first years at the University, I was quite active at Västgöta Nation, where I met wonderful people from other parts of the University. To hang out there, running the Metro club and being novischförman, gave me a nice break from studying. A crazy memory was to participate in Tandem. It’s an event where the Nations bike with tandem bikes, in spandex, from Gothenburg to Lund. Along the way there are nightly breaks at parking lots with DJ’s and dancing.
What advice do you have for someone who wants to become a psychologists?
You don’t have to know exactly where to go in life or what to do. Trust that things will work out themselves, because they usually do. And if they don’t – we humans tend to make it a lot better than we think we will.
It’s a good idea to start with self-care during your studies – like exercising, social events, establishing good sleeping habits and eating regularly. Then everything gets so much easier, since these are also skills you’ll need when entering work life.
And if you have the possibility as a student, take the chance to get to know people from other parts of the university world!
This week we meet Mattias Schulstad, who studied at the Malmö Academy of Music, Faculty of Fine and Performing Arts at Lund University. From a childhood of listening to classical guitar to a career as a musician – Mattias shares what inspired and influenced his musical journey. Collaborations with talented musicians during his university studies and even a one-day internship at the iconic Cheiron studio during his teens have contributed to his guiding principles. This passionate musician reminds us of the importance of the arts!
Why did you choose to study music at the Malmö Academy of Music, Lund University?
As a young boy, I grew up listening to the recordings of the extraordinary Swedish classical guitarist Göran Söllscher. I couldn’t put it into words at the time, but I admired the iridescent quality of his playing. He clearly presents the music at hand, with a slightly neutral approach, which allows the listener to both better understand the music, and have a more active listening experience. This is a timeless organizational philosophy, often based on first principles analysis and improvement by reduction.
During my studies at Södra Latin in Stockholm, I realized I might be able to study with Göran Söllscher. I auditioned and was accepted. So after high school, I moved to Skåne. I was eighteen.
What have you been up to since graduating in 2006?
I was eager to continue broadening my horizon, so I moved to New York, studied at Juilliard, and recorded my first album. The album introduced in recent history that the classical guitar tradition is connected to Chopin. It explores the connection between Chopin and the central figure of the modern classical guitar, Francisco Tárrega (1852 – 1909), who shaped the guitar as we know it today.
I also made a recording for the Metropolitan Museum of Art: “Come, Heavy Sleep” by John Dowland (1563 – 1626), in the setting by Benjamin Britten (1913 – 1976), from Britten’s “Nocturnal after John Dowland,” Op.70. The Met chose the recording to illustrate the museum’s essay on the classical guitar’s history, from the 14th century to today.
I believe that expanding the guitar’s repertoire is important. And since the existing repertoire mainly consists of short solo works, I have mainly focused on large-scale collaborative works. So far, I’ve premiered two concertos for guitar and orchestra, with a third under way. I’m collaborating with the leading Mexican composer Enrico Chapela Barba, and I can’t wait to see the project realized.
Have your studies at Lund University been beneficial in your career? If yes, in what way(s)?
During my three years at Lund University, I was entrusted with time to work on my craft, and given expert mentoring from Professor Göran Söllscher. Today, those lessons are with me as guiding principles when I make musical decisions. I also enjoyed learning music history from Professor Staffan Storm.
Photo Credit: Mats Bäcker
You recently shared with us that your recording of “Nocturne Op.9 No.2” ranked amongst the most popular songs in connection with Francisco Tárrega on Spotify. Congratulations! Tell us a bit about what makes this recording so special. What led to its recent popularity on Spotify?
To see this track more popular now, in 2021, than when it was first released in 2012, is highly satisfying. It means the product works and represents a value that grows over time.
One way to look at classical music could be as the music that has remained throughout history. Even if a song was considered to be of another genre when it was new, as time goes on and other people somehow make it their own, it often starts to be heard as “classical.” We see it happening already with the Beatles, and I believe the same will be true of ABBA and the Denniz Pop tradition.
When I think of the guiding principles in Chopin’s composition, I remember reading about the song writing ideals of Denniz Pop: simplicity, clarity and contrast, never dull or sentimental. Recognizable in one second.
What is on the horizon in your music career? Any new projects or recordings in the works that you can tell us about?
I’m currently planning a future recording, and am grateful for the initial philanthropic support from the Kjell and Märta Beijer Foundation. Though classical music recording is gaining traction in the current streaming economy, it still relies on the vision and commitment of individuals who believe that supporting the arts is worthwhile. I look forward to continued collaboration with respected actors and to share meaningful work ahead.
What has been one of the most unexpected aspects of having a career as a musician?
How holistic and challenging it is. Good art represents value creation. It nourishes our souls. It brings people together. It drives a social ecosystem of related products and services that are fundamental to economic growth. But even if the individual wellness aspect is felt directly, the economic effects are often indirect and sometimes hard to measure.
Art is often taken for granted, or used in cynical ways. And since improper treatment can harm quality and thereby relevance, it’s crucial to keep that spiral positive, not negative. Like an athlete, it’s vital to have the time to maintain and develop one’s technique. The level of precision and agility involved is hard to describe, but when it’s there, it’s obvious to most people, like watching an Olympic athlete. Duplantis, for example.
The same goes for equipment. I’m honored that my first teacher passed down his guitar to me. It is made by Ignacio Fleta (read: Stradivarius), from his “golden age.” It has unique characteristics (cedar top, no. 577, from 1971) and I named it Erik, after my first teacher Erik Möllerström. It’s an instrument that’s highly sensitive and requires great care. I have two humidifiers working 24/7 to maintain a healthy climate around the guitar, and since its varnish is original, and can easily be damaged, I carefully clean it at the end of each day.
Aside from the obvious (classical guitar music), what other type of music do you most enjoy listening to in your free time?
When I was 15, I interned for one day at the Cheiron studio in Stockholm. This was shortly before it was closed down. “Oops, I Did It Again” with Britney Spears had just come out. I played a demo tape for the two guys upstairs, they listened for two seconds, and said “become a studio musician.” The Denniz Pop tradition has stayed with me. Today, I’m fascinated to hear a song like “break up with your girlfriend, i’m bored” with Ariana Grande, and discover similarities to Ace of Base.
Practice session with André de Ridder and the Malmö Academy of Music’s symphony orchestra. Photo: Private
What is one of your favourite memories from your time as a student at Lund University?
I got to play “Concierto de Aranjuez” by Rodrigo with the school’s symphony orchestra, conducted by André de Ridder. De Ridder is an incredible conductor whose career was just starting to take off at the time, and has since gone on to work with artists like Jonny Greenwood and Max Richter. I learned a lot.
Mattias in concert with the Malmö Academy of Music’s symphony orchestra, October 2006. Photo: Private
Do you have any pieces of advice for students studying music today? Perhaps some career tips as they pursue their dreams of being working musicians?
Carefully choose your mentors, whose destinies you will tend to gravitate toward, for good or bad. And consider many of your activities to be experiments, rather than finished products. Seen in that way, lack of immediate success won’t be discouraging, but sources of learning that inform your next steps. Finally, aim for delayed gratification, which is an approach that you’re unlikely to regret. As students at Lund University, you’re already on a good track. Keep going.
Let’s say hello to Caio Zen Fiore, alumnus from the Master’s programme in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, class of 2019, working as a business hacker at KPMG. In our interview, Caio shares his view on how business ideas get successful, his best life-hacks and his personal experiences from starting his new job mid-pandemic in São Paulo.
Cover photo: Caio with tons of post-its during a serving design workshop at work.
Q: What have you been up to since your graduation in 2019?
After I graduated, I went back to my city, São Paulo in Brazil, and, to be honest, it felt weird moving back. It took me some months to get used to the daily life here – which I’m now completely adapted to, and absolutely love.
I came back to Brazil eager to apply all the knowledge and lessons I learned during my one-year Masters. One of the first things I did (after going to the beach and enjoying a well-deserved swim) was just talking to people. That really helped me to understand what was happening, and it later showed to be super important, not only as a way to set up a network for myself but also opening doors for opportunities, and making friends.
Currently, most of my time is being invested into exercising my purpose and personal goals through work (from home, be safe people!), studies (keeping myself updated and educated), and experimenting with things along the way.
Q: As a business hacker at KPMG and Distrito Leap, you help organizations turn their ideas into businesses.
What’s your advice for someone nurturing a great idea, but doesn’t know how to take the next step and make it viable?
When we talk about next steps, it’s normally not a simple answer to give. One of the most important lessons I learned while at Lund University is that context is really important when you’re building a business – this is actually one of the reasons why some companies hire innovation consultancies in the first place. Therefore, there’s no straightforward answer.
Looking at clients I have worked with and startups I have mentored, the most successful ideas I’ve seen are those that are really good at identifying a problem and acting on it with an open mindset, meaning that they don’t invest too much time filling our frameworks and sheets, especially those that are still refining and discovering an idea. These entrepreneurs invest most of their time in getting to know their customers, actively listening to what they struggle with and what they can do to help.
“It’s more about creating value than pushing an idea.”
Also – and this is key – over time, these businesses become really good at developing and experimenting their ideas in ways where they don’t spend much time and money and still collect in-depth feedback that helps them enhance their ideas. So, whenever a demand emerges they are able to quickly develop a hypothesis and start testing. Having a strong idea is the first step, but as times goes by the idea gets refined, as does the best way to charge for it, and with that it becomes possible to get a perspective on the best business model and to plan scaling.
About this photo: “One of my favourite things about in São Paulo: seeing the city from above, I particularly love watching the sunset among the skyscrapers. This picture is from one the most iconic avenues here, called ‘Avenida Paulista’.
Q: What do you do to spark your own creativity and inspiration?
I always try to look for stuff outside my area of expertise. Lately, I’ve been feeling super inspired by architecture, interior design and fashion – it just amazes me how creative it can be and how they mix their own repertoire with different styles, materials, colours, and textures to create something completely different each time. Fashion, is also going through a major transformation in the industry, with topics such as circular economy gaining more importance, so it is interesting to watch how organisations are solving this problem.
Besides that, whenever I need to press the reset button, I try to go out (with proper care and wearing a mask!) – either grabbing my bike and going around the city, or just going to the beach or going for a hike in the countryside (something I miss about Sweden, since I don’t do this as often as I did there). Giving my head some space to chill and be thankful is a great way to get inspired.
Q: You started your new job during the pandemic, how has that influenced your work?
It’s hard to find words that can describe this moment. I’m gonna say that it has definitely been interesting. The quarantine in São Paulo began during my first week at my new job; I didn’t even get to complete my first week. I went to the office for onboarding and training from Monday to Wednesday. Then, on Thursday I met my co-workers, and on Friday I was already working from home.
The good side of working from home is that I feel I get to set the pace I want for my job. I don’t get influenced by externalities (which really work for me), but, on the other hand, I sometimes get so involved in what I am doing that I forget to stand, stretch or drink water, for example. Also, my back doesn’t like when I stay seated for a long period (back pain is a real struggle, people!).
“For me, the worst part is missing the daily life of the office, not the office itself, but the connection with colleagues.”
Regarding clients and stakeholders, the good side is that the communication is actually more fluid. The main reason is that we decided to bring the client closer to the project, which means they are actively involved in most communication. So instead of only making weekly check-points, we created a process to discuss topics related to the project asynchronously. This has reduced a lot of those long meetings that should’ve been an email.
The downside is that for workshops (those that we use tons of post-its, use frameworks, and discuss a lot), the level of online engagement often falls, despite the usage of online boards such as Miro or Whiteboard, which may lead to not so many creative answers.
For me, the worst part is missing the daily life of the office, not the office itself, but the connection with colleagues. There’s something that happens during that coffee break when I talk to a friend, which usually helps me come up with a solution to something I may be struggling with, for example, or helps to decide where to go for drinks after work.
Despite all the negative things listed, in my mind, it doesn’t even compare to the risk of exposing myself and others to Covid-19. In the end, it has affected life in general, not only work. If there ever was a separation between personal and professional life, there isn’t anymore. The pandemic really pushed me to rethink how I approach work-life balance. These are such sensitive times and I’m sure I can hang on a while longer before going back to the office.
Q: How has your Lund University education been beneficial in your work?
Besides the educational aspect (course structure, teachers, academic research, and the infrastructure), one of the things that really influenced me during my period as a student was definitely the environment. It always blew me away how Lund University brought together students, academics, entrepreneurs, government, and different types of organisations.
There was always an event, a network session, or just fika organised by somebody to discuss something. One of my favourites was the Ideon breakfast, a one-hour mingling event where you could network and listen to what people have been up to. Overall, for me, that was the best complement for the education I was getting: to be able to see in practice a lot of the topics we were discussing in the classroom, and basically seeing innovation and entrepreneurship happening in real-time.
About this photo: “Presenting my Business Development Project (one of the deliveries of the final semester from the Masters) with Rita (my partner and good friend)”
Q: Do you have any life hacks that you could not live without?
The best life hack I have, one that really works for me, is taking some time for myself before and after work. I discovered that waking up early gives me time to enjoy myself through meditation, exercise, reading, or just doing whatever comes to mind (which occasionally means going back to bed). So, I usually wake up around 5:30 AM and do my things before I start working at 9 AM. That gives me time to get ready for the day.
“For me, feeling good is about feeling that I’m learning, having fun, and becoming a better version of myself.”
Overall, it’s about finding out what makes you feel good. It’s less about being more productive and more about keeping our mental and physical health in order, especially during these weird times. For me, feeling good is about feeling that I’m learning, having fun, and becoming a better version of myself.
Focus: Career is a series of career events for those of you who recently graduated or are at the start of your career, as well as for students. Events will be taking place until 12 February 2021 and are hosted jointly by Lund University and Malmö University.
The events are free of charge but spaces are limited, so make sure to register in time by clicking on the links to the specific events below.
Our best advice on how to write a CV and cover letter! (online workshop) 2 February | 12:00–13:00
A summary of our best advice about CV and cover letter writing.
What are the recruiters and hiring managers looking for in your application documents? We give you our best advice and talk about the key parts of CV and cover letter writing.
The workshop is divided into three parts: 1. Our top advice on how to write a winning CV (20 minutes) 2. How to write a tailored cover letter (20 minutes) 3. Q&A where you have the chance to interact and ask your questions (20 minutes)
Golden rules for a sustainable professional life in an international context 2 February | 16:30–17:30
Receive valuable career advice on how to develop a sustainable professional life while working in an international context.
Lund University and Malmö University alumna Sara Fallström currently works as an ICRC Delegate in Côte d’Ivoire. During this seminar, she will share her favourite career advice. However, her advice is not about what courses to take or what universities to attend in order to land that dream job. Instead, she will reflect on lessons learned from the start of her studies in 1995 to where she is today. She will present a combination of factors that can help you maintain a sustainable work life. Why is it important to be good at giving and receiving constructive feedback? Why should you know what your transferrable skills are? And is karma really something to pay attention to?
Sara has worked and volunteered for Swedish and international civil society organisations for over 25 years, in positions ranging from shop assistant in a fair trade shop and secretary on the board of a local sports association to head of an international department. Her academic background is within languages, environmental science and development studies.
Are you interested in pursuing a career as a PhD student? 3 February | 16:30–18:00
Tune in for a panel discussion with four current PhD students representing different subject areas at Malmö University and Lund University. They will tell you all about what it’s like to work at the University, how to apply, work–life balance and many other things. You will have the chance to ask questions during the discussion.
Rebecka Söderberg: I am a PhD student in International Migration and Ethnic Relations (IMER) at the Department of Global Political Studies (GPS), Malmö University. I hold a master’s degree in European Ethnology from the University of Copenhagen. In my current research, I compare Denmark and Sweden and explore how segregation and urban diversity is problematized in policy discourses and how residents experience their neighbourhoods and interventions for social mix. My PhD project is a part of the SEGMIX project, funded by FORMAS.
Asimina Papoulia: I am a PhD student in Computational Atomic Physics at Malmö University, Faculty of Technology and Society. I am originally from Athens, Greece, where I also performed my undergraduate studies in physics. Seven years ago, I came to Sweden to pursue a master’s degree in Theoretical Physics at Lund University. My research focuses on the modelling of atoms and ions. I perform quantum mechanical calculations and develop computational methods to accurately describe the structure of atomic systems and the interactions of their electrons with internal and external electromagnetic fields and the nucleus.
Linn Alenius Wallin: I am a PhD candidate in sociology and involved in the project “Caring between generations. A study of relationships, commitment and care in everyday family life.” My own research is about non-kinship relationships between so-called bonus-grandchildren and bonus-grandparents, both those that have arisen through reorganised families and self-chosen relationships.
Joakim Frögren: I am a PhD student at the Department of Health Sciences at Lund University, where I belong to the research group Active and Healthy Ageing. In my dissertation, I study the potential ethical and epistemic contributions of various collaborative approaches in research on ageing and health. This is done by providing thorough examples of what various collaborative approaches can add, ethically and epistemically, but also by giving an account of what they may require in terms of for example resources and attitudes and what the challenges are.
The Introvert Career Advantage – get that job! 9 February, 16:00–17:00
This workshop shows how introverts go from invisible to outstanding during the job hunt!
How does one navigate the job-hunting process as an introvert? Learn how to use your introversion as an advantage and stand out without bragging. Do great interviews, know your strengths and network in an authentic way to get a position!
Included in this workshop: – The science of introversion – Why being an introvert matters for your career – Quiet strengths and how to go from invisible to outstanding – How to network effectively with authenticity – CV, cover letter and interview tips for introverts – Leave the workshop feeling ahead of your competition!
How to network on LinkedIn 10 February | 17:00 – 18:00
Boost your network on LinkedIn with the help of resume expert Birgitta Möller.
Making connections, engaging with content and utilising your online network – but how is this best done on LinkedIn? What do recruiters look for on your profile? What should you keep in mind if you want to be discovered by recruiters? In this webinar, expert resume writer, Birgitta Möller, will give you tips on how to network on LinkedIn.
Virtual Career Fair 2021 11 February | 10:00 – 14:00
Meet your future employer at the Virtual Career Fair 2021!
On 11 February 2021 at 10.00-14.00 all students and recent graduates from Lund University and Malmö University are invited to a virtual career fair.
During the fair you will get the opportunity to network with over twenty different employers through chat and video calls. The participating organisations offer full-time jobs as well as summer jobs and internships in several different industries. Since the fair is arranged digitally, it provides you with the opportunity to connect with employers located in several places throughout Sweden and Greater Copenhagen.
Online After Work: Career advice, case discussions and a fun quiz! 12 February | 15:30 – 16:45
Join us for a relaxed After Work with a focus on your future career!
After a series of career-related events, put your newly gained knowledge to the test! Join us for a digital After Work where you will get career advice from alumni, listen to a career-focused case discussion by an expert panel and join a fun quiz. A perfect start to the weekend and your future career!
Vägen till ingenjörsjobbet 3 februari | 12:00 – 13:00
Här får du som ingenjörsstudent och nyutexaminerad konkreta tips på hur du möter arbetsmarknaden.
Hur gör du ett bra första intryck på en arbetsmarknadsmässa? Hur skriver du ett professionellt CV och personligt brev? Hur kan du använda LinkedIn i ditt jobbsökande? Hur kan du förbereda dig på bästa sätt inför en anställningsintervju? Och vad är bra att tänka på under intervjun? Att söka jobb är att marknadsföra sig själv och därför måste du sälja in dina kunskaper och erfarenheter på rätt sätt för att sticka ut från mängden.
Under lunchen kommer en CV-expert från Sveriges Ingenjörer ge dig konkreta tips och råd om vad du behöver tänka på för att kunna stärka ditt personliga varumärke för att hitta just ditt sommarjobb, exjobb eller första ingenjörsjobb.
Samma dag som workshopen mailar vi ut en Zoom-länk till alla som har registrerat sig. Klicka på länken och följ instruktionerna för att delta.
Hur blir du rekryterad? Panelsamtal med tre utställare från Virtual Career Fair 2021 4 februari | 12:00 – 13:15
Undrar du hur företag resonerar när de rekryterar? I denna paneldiskussion får du höra vad rekryterare värderar hos potentiella kandidater.
Lär dig mer om hur företag tänker när de rekryterar nya medarbetare. Vad är det som sticker ut lite extra när rekryterare tittar på olika ansökningshandlingar? Hur använder man LinkedIn? Vad förväntas av en kandidat på en anställningsintervju och finns det något man absolut inte får göra? I denna paneldiskussion möter vi representanter från arbetsgivarna Gigstep, Lime Technologies och Malmö Stad för att lära oss mer om rekryteringsprocessen.
Hur du förbereder dig inför en virtuell karriärmässa 8 februari | 12:15 – 12:45
Kom förberedd till Virtual Career Fair 2021! Här får du värdefulla tips och tricks för att lyckas på en virtuell karriärmässa.
Att förbereda sig inför en anställningsintervju kan kännas självklart, lika viktigt är det dock att förbereda sig inför en karriärmässa. Är mässan dessutom virtuell finns det ytterligare aspekter att tänka in.
Fanndis Hermannsdottir har jobbat med mässor i över 10 år, är kommunikatör för arbetslivssamverkan på Lunds universitet och är dessutom medievetare. Fanndis erbjuder under detta webbinarium värdefulla tips och tricks för att lyckas med nätverkandet på en virtuell karriärmässa. Exempelvis vikten av en bra Elevator Pitch, utmaningar i medierad kommunikation och vad du bör läsa på innan du deltar på mässan.
Meet Göran Niléhn, a Lund University alumnus who started as a teacher and ended up completely changing his career path. In 1993, when Göran began to study at Lund, he had already decided to become a teacher of social sciences. The plan was to take free-standing courses and then finish the degree at Lärarhögskolan (Teacher Training college) in Malmö. Before finishing in the year 2000, he had participated in the Lundakarneval twice and got a degree in political science in addition to the one in teaching.
What have you been up to since you graduated?
I graduated as a teacher from Malmö University in 2000 and then I started working at a school in Hässleholm. I taught social science and after about a year I also taught home economics. It was unexpected, but very fun. It was fun to meet the students in a more practical subject.
A few years later I got the opportunity to take a preparing class in school management, simultaneously while working as a teacher.
Some time after, a position as assistant principal in the municipality opened up and I was recommended to apply. It turned out that I enjoyed working as an assistant principal. I missed teaching, but other factors weighed heavier.
After a few years, my principal retired. I applied for the position and I got it. Now I was a principal of a school district that included multiple preschools and schools. It was so much fun! But now my work tasks where even further from teaching and more focused on organization, structure, staff and budgets. They are quite far from my original subject that I taught, like geography and history, but very close to my degree in political science. It’s important to have some knowledge in this field if you are to work as an official in a politically controlled organisation.
You completely changed career path at one point, can you tell us a bit about that?
One day in early January of 2011 I was sitting in my office. It was still school break. It’s always pretty quiet, calm, abandoned and boring at a school without students and teachers. So I was thinking about my future. Maybe it was time to try a new employer, or a new municipality. To completely change industry was not even on my mind. Just then, my phone rang. It was the recruitment agency Manpower and they wanted me to apply for a job they where hired to recruit for. They couldn’t tell me who the employer was. Curious and flattered, I applied and then the recruiting process started. It turned out to be HKScan, the manufacturer of meat foods and products, looking for a new purchasing manager. Manpower knew from before that I grew up on a farm with pigs and the company wanted some new competence, someone who wasn’t schooled within the sector and that could contribute with new leadership qualities.
I decided pretty quickly that I would take the job if I was offered it. I thought that Manpower probably wouldn’t call me again with an offer like that. And to get the opportunity to change industry was immensely exciting! I also never felt like it was a big risk. If I did not like my new position I knew that my old industry would still be there and that I would be welcome back to my employer. The ones who took a risk was HKScan because they were willing to try a wild card. And I am forever grateful to them for that.
In may 2012 I got my first business card: Business area Pig! I did miss the school world but never regretted my decision. The years at HKScan were fun and I learned a lot. Some work tasks I had as a principal were the same, but with new titles. The new part was all negotiation, writing contracts and making sure the right amount came in to the slaughter.
What do you do today?
February this year I took the next step. Now I work for Skånemejerier, overseeing the department that purchases milk to the dairy. I’m in the management team, which is the biggest difference from my job at HKScan. Skånemejerier is also a part of Lactalis group, so a big part of the day-to-day life is with colleagues from all over the world. It’s very exciting and challenging.
What is your best advice for alumni who might be thinking of changing their career path?
If you get the chance, take it! But make sure to finish with the old employer in a good way, so that you are welcome back. That will give you a comfort knowing there is always a way back, even if you might never need it.
Do you have a favourite memory from your time at Lund University?
There are many; for example, a “brännboll*-party” at the housing unit Parentesen, joining Lundakarnevalen twice and the feeling when I had earned my first credits.
*Brännboll is a game that resembles softball and baseball, but it has never been a competitive sport in that sense.
You find thousands of videos on the Lund University YouTube channel about research, events and exciting findings. The most popular videos have been around for a couple of years, but still show incredible findings and research about, for example, the mummy of a 17th century bishop, the world’s fastest camera and a walk through a house from Pompeii.
One of Europe’s most well-preserved 17th century mummies was discovered in Lund, Sweden. By examining the mummy of bishop Peder Winstrup, researchers at Lund University shed some light on the medical and historical mysteries of everyday life in the 1600s. Click on the photo to watch the video on YouTube.
The mummified remains of Peder Winstrup are one of the best-preserved human bodies from the 1600s. Preliminary investigations reveal a sensational find: the internal organs are still in place. Click here to learn more
By combining traditional archaeology with 3D technology, researchers at Lund University in Sweden have managed to reconstruct a house in Pompeii to its original state before the volcano eruption of Mount Vesuvius thousands of years ago. Unique video material has now been produced, showing their creation of a 3D model of an entire block of houses. Click on the photo to watch the video.
Forget high-speed cameras capturing 100 000 images per second. A research group at Lund University in Sweden has developed a camera that can film at a rate equivalent to five trillion images per second, or events as short as 0.2 trillionths of a second. This is faster than has previously been possible. Click here to watch the video on YouTube
Seven years ago divers discovered the oldest known stationary fish traps in northern Europe off the coast of southern Sweden. Since then, researchers at Lund University in Sweden have uncovered an exceptionally well-preserved Stone Age site. They now believe the location was a lagoon environment where Mesolithic humans lived during parts of the year. Click here to watch the video on YouTube
Breakfast, for some the best meal of the day. For others, something only consisting of a strong cup of coffee. And for some, a business idea. Like for alumna Hedvig Littorin, who started her “foodie” Instagram account during her Service Management studies and released her first cookbook on healthy and tasty breakfasts in 2019.
In our interview with Hedvig, we learn about her Pop-Up Café in Saluhallen, a successful New Year’s resolution and the recipe for an ideal weekend breakfast.
Q: You graduated from the bachelor’s programme in Service Management with a focus on Health Management in 2017. Can you tell us what you have been up to since then?
After I graduated in June 2017, I moved back to Stockholm, and started working as a Marketing Coordinator at EF Education First. I had an internship there the summer before, which gave me a great benefit to come back to the marketing department. I stayed at EF for almost two and a half years and exactly a year ago I moved on in my career and started working as a Performance Marketing Specialist at IDEAL OF SWEDEN, where I still work.
Besides full-time work, I also run my own company Eatnlive and launched my own cook book a year ago (Hedvigs Morgonstund).
Q: What sparked your interest in healthy cooking? Where do you get your inspiration from?
I have had an interest for healthy cooking almost as long as I can remember. I am probably inspired from my family from the very beginning, but in 2013, I started my “healthy food Instagram account” Eatnlive, and I have since then been cooking and developed my interest even more. I would also say that Instagram is a platform where I get a lot of inspiration from other “foodies”. I also get inspiration from cookbooks and food newspapers and articles.
Experimenting in the kitchen
Q: How has your Lund University education been beneficial in your work and business?
At Lund University I didn’t only meet friends for life and had three amazing years. I also learnt to take responsibility, work with deadlines, to structure and organize which is something I find helpful in my everyday work.
In my programme, Service Management, we studied marketing, communication, business and organization which are somethings I also find very helpful in my work today.
Q: In 2019 you released your cookbook Hedvigs Morgonstund – why did you choose to write a cookbook? And why did you choose to focus on breakfast recipes?
That is correct! I have, for a very long time, had the interest of healthy cooking and started my Instagram account 2013 where I, in the beginning, wanted to inspire myself. But today, I also want to inspire other people with healthy eating and healthy cooking, where balance is always the key! To write a cookbook is something I have dreamt of for many years.
In the end of my exchange semester in Singapore autumn 2016, I travelled to Bali and Sydney where I was inspired by juice bars, smoothie bowls, etc. I really felt that these kinds of cafés, were something that was missing in Sweden, and especially in Lund. That made me come up with the idea to open my own Healthy Pop Up Café that I opened during my last spring in Lund, 2017, in Saluhallen. Here I served fresh juices, smoothie bowls, overnight oats, raw food fika, etc. And from here I developed my ideas even more and decided before New Year’s 2019 that my New Year’s resolution was to launch a cookbook!
And from there it all started. My focus on breakfast recipes was a quite easy choice since breakfast has always been, and still is, my favourite meal of the day. You can eat breakfast even for lunch and dinner, right?
Hedvig’s book launch
Q: Would you like to share your favourite breakfast recipe with us?
Oh of course! I have a lot of favourites, but let’s give you the ideal weekend breakfast. Avocado toast, smoothie bowl topped with granola, fresh fruit berries, and, peanut butter. And a cup of coffee with oat milk. And let’s give you the recipe of one of my favourite smoothie bowls, a recipe from my cookbook – “Pink smoothie bowl”.
You need: 2 frozen bananas 2 dl frozen mango 2 dl frozen raspberries ½ dl coconut milk 1 tsp baobab (not necessary but give your bowl an extra boost)
Peel the bananas, chop into small pieces and put in the freezer. Carefully mix the frozen bananas together with mango and raspberries (you need a strong smoothie mixer or let the frozen fruits unfreeze a little), add coconut milk and baobab and blend with a fork – then mix again. You might need to stop the mixer and blend with the fork a few times and/or add a little more liquid to get the blender going.
What baobab is and what it is beneficial for is something you can read in my book. 😉 You can find it at www.hedvigsmorgonstund.com
Hedvig’s breakfast cookbook “Hedvigs Morgonstund”
Q: You run your own company Eatnlive, how do you see your business evolving in the future? Where will you be in 5 years?
I have opened a café, I have held workshops for cafés and restaurants in Stockholm to help them develop their healthy supply, done “healthy catering” and then launched another cookbook. I more or less constantly think of what the next step will be. While I, at the same time, just enjoy having my food Instagram Eatnlive and inspire with new recipes there. In the future my dream is to be able to work with Eatnlive full-time. But exactly what the focus will be is yet to be decided.
During this challenging year, we very much appreciate the alumni community and your continued support and involvement in the University’s activities. We hope that you and your loved ones are healthy and safe this holiday season.
This year, we put together a holiday concert that you can watch at home from the comfort of your couch! We suggest streaming this video to your TV while enjoying a cosy holiday fika!
Wherever you may be, we hope alumni around the world are able to take a break from holiday preparations in order to reminisce about their time in Lund and enjoy the beautiful voices of Carolinae Damkör.
We look forward to a new year with new activities, so keep an eye on our events page for new happenings in the spring!
Food in abundance – sweet, salt, hot and cold, all in a delicious combination found on the Swedish Christmas “smörgåsbord”. But why does the traditional Swedish Christmas dinner look this way?
To shed some light on the Swedish Christmas food traditions, we asked food culture researcher at Lund University, Håkan Jönsson to present some of the key ingredients on the Christmas dinner table and why they are there.
Several times per year we have the pleasure of checking in with our alumni residing all around the world in our “LU Alumni around the world” series here on the blog. This week we meet Natasha Boella, LUSEM alumna who graduated from the Master’s degree programme in International Marketing and Brand Management in 2019.
Q: You graduated from the Master’s degree programme in International Marketing and Brand Management last year. What have you been up to since then? Since my graduation in 2019, I began working in Brussels under a graduate program with a company called Trane Technologies. I have lived and worked in Brussels for one and a half year. I have recently relocated back to my home country, Kenya, to pursue my own business ideas. 🙂
Q: Would you like to tell us something about your new business ideas, or are they secret? For now, I can tell you, one will be a software company driven towards SMEs. The second, which I have yet to start, will be focused on art, something I enjoy doing. I hope to have it up early next year.
Natasha with a friend at the Comic Book museum in Brussels
Q: You have worked at a US company in Brussels since your graduation, how would you describe the business culture? The company culture is definitely different. It’s very work-oriented and individualistic. If you’re unable to manage this then you may risk getting burnt out. But I would also say that the people in my team and office were very welcoming and helped me out a lot. The company is also very focused on sustainability and has entered into the Gigaton Challenge, which aims to reduce our carbon footprint by one gigaton.
Q: Of all the skills and knowledge you acquired during your studies at LUSEM*, which skills have you found most useful? Definitely the research abilities I developed and the ability to work with people with different work ethics and cultures. These skills were true assets since I have worked in an international company and met and interacted with many different people.
Q: What made you choose to move to Belgium? And what is your advice for someone planning to find a job in Brussels? To be honest, I was posted there, but not voluntarily. However, I loved it! Brussels offers you a lot of different opportunities. For one, you can improve your language skills, such as French, Dutch and German, and have time to practice that with people. So many different people congregate in Brussels as it is the EU commission and parliament HQ. I would say if you want to move to Brussels, remember there is so much to see in the city but so much more in other cities and towns, such as Liege, Bruge, Dinant and so on. It’s a lovely place!
Canal street in Brussels
Q: What is your favorite memory from your time as a student in Lund? I think I really enjoyed meeting new people. So, whenever I was able to, I spent time with my friends – watching movies, cooking together, working on projects or going out for drinks. It was always something I looked forward to.
*LUSEM = Lund University School of Economics and Management
The storage facility of the Lund University Art Collection
The acting director of Skissernas Museum and alumna, Annie Lindberg, is in charge of the Lund University Art Collection and told us about how it came to be. In this post you can also read about it and look at some of her favourite art pieces from the collection.
The Lund University Art Collection is just as old as the University itself. Actually, it’s even older, since the first drawings date back to the 16th century. Traditionally all principals, professors and kings were painted at the University, and in 1772 the first designated art master was hired. The art master was a painter, whose job was to teach drawing. The reason that drawing was a part of education was due to the fact that, during these times, the students were fostered in to a certain class, where not only classical schoolwork was taught, but also fencing, etiquette and holding conversations. Besides that, the art master held private lessons for students as well as public lectures, to which even farmers were invited. This was long before the camera, so the art master often created the illustrations for scientific publications. And of course, he also painted many of the portraits of royals and professors, which are a part of the Lund University Art Collection today. He would paint original portraits, but also copy other artists’ portraits of, for example, the king. It wasn’t until the 1860s that the university started thinking about creating an official art collection, in order for students to learn about different art styles and how to copy them.
Skissernas MuseumAnnie Lindberg, Acting Director Skissernas Museum Photo: Emma Krantz / Skissernas Museum
Annie considers the art collection to be the visual memory of the University because it shows who worked there and what type of art was considered important at the time. It works as a compliment to the written documentation. In the most recent years, the University actively started buying art for the collection and people would donate as well. Therefore, not everything is directly linked to Lund University. But nevertheless, it tells us what focus and aesthetic values existed at certain times in history. Since the collection was for the students, it also tells what the University wanted the students to see and learn about. After the 1860s, the collection was a part of the art history department. When the main University building was built in the late 1900th century, they made a gallery on the third floor, with a ceiling window, to properly display the art. Thus, the student-driven art association, Pictura, was born.
Today, the art collection is managed by Skissernas Museum and the pieces are currently hanging all over the University. Annie’s vision for the art collection is that in the future it will become an open gallery again, available for students and researchers. It would not completely open, but available so that people can book visits and students can be a part of it. Hopefully, the art pieces can hang in the main University building again once it’s renovation is complete.
Some of Annie’s favourites from the Lund University Art Collection
Tedrinkaren, Tea drinker 1970. Ola Billgren (1940-2001). “He painted very photo-realistic images during the 60s and 70s. It was often from inside apartments and of people who either look away or stare straight at you. His art is often melancholic and heavy-hearted.”
Tea drinker 1970. Photo: Gunnar Menander/Lund University Art Collection.
Stilleben, Still life 1926. Agda Holst (1886-1976). “It’s the only painting we have from her and it doesn’t really do her justice. She has also painted many cityscapes and portraits, which are lovely. I chose her because she is not that well known by everybody. She was born in Kristianstad and lived her whole life there. She did, however, travel and study in Paris, where she came into contact with the international art scene.”
Still life 1926. Photo: Gunnar Menander/Lund University Art Collection.
Haremsdam, Harem Woman 1871. Elisabeth Jerrichau Baumann (1819-1881). “She was a Polish-Danish artist. A typical trait of her paintings is that they are very dreamy and have an incredible color scale and lighting. She had troubles establishing in Denmark because she was very controversial, as both a painter and a woman.
Women were often forced to choose between marriage and a career. She did not stop painting when she get married and became a mother nor did it stop her from travelling around the world. Today she has gotten the restitution from Denmark that she deserved.”
Harem woman 1871. Photo: Magnus Nygren/Lund University Art Collection.
På var sida, On each side 1993. Lena Cronqvist (1938-). ”She was born in the 30s. Her work typically deals with themes such as motherhood, childhood and death. The pictures are quite terrifying and she often uses her own face, as well as references to classical art history like the Madonna and child. She isn’t afraid to portray children and girls rather grotesquely, instead of in sweet and innocent way.”
On each side 1993. Photo: Gunnar Menander/Lund University Art Collection.
Kamraterna, Comrades 1912, Tåget till Mölle, Train to Mölle 1918 and Självporträtt, Self portrait 1957. Johan Johansson (1879-1951). “He was based in Lund and had a studio at Clemenstorget. I chose his work because I’m very fond of the colour scale. There is something restful in the art, but still a very vigorous painting style, and there is a luster to it, which I am fond of. It’s almost like it’s glowing from the inside.”
Comrades 1912Train to Mölle 1918Self portrait 1957Photo: Gunnar Menander/Lund University Art Collection.
Cilia, väverskan, Celia weaver 1937 Tora Vega Holmström (1880-1967). “She was also based in Skåne around the same time as Johan Johansson. They were both in the same circles, which you can kind of see, because of the colours and the abstract painting.”
Celia weaver 1937. Photo: Magnus Nygren/Lund University Art Collection.
Thank you, Annie, for sharing some of your favourites with us!
You can read more about Annie Lindberg in our Q&A with her, and you can read a bit more about the Lund University Art Collection by clicking here for English or here for Swedish.
Let’s say hello to Caio Zen Fiore, alumnus from the Master’s programme in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, class of 2019, working as a business hacker at KPMG. In our interview, Caio shares his view on how business ideas get successful, his best life-hacks and his personal experiences from starting his new job mid-pandemic in São Paulo.
Q: You graduated from the bachelor’s programme in Service Management with a focus on Health Management in 2017. Can you tell us what you have been up to since then?
Q: You graduated from the Master’s degree programme in International Marketing and Brand Management last year. What have you been up to since then?
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