What is/were your dreams as a newly graduate?

On my last semester I focused on finding a graduate position, so I looked and applied for several companies. I wanted so, because I have always thought that a graduate programme is a smooth and soft transition from a student life with a part-time job to a full-time employee with plenty of responsibilities. As a graduate you take the first 2 years to explore different areas from the organization and learn as much as you can, and I find that an amazing opportunity!

What did you do to prepare for life after graduation?

As a foreigner in Denmark, I had to get to know the job market, main companies from the energy industry, how to apply, and so on. So, I joined the Young Professionals in Denmark for 6 months. The programme was essential for me to create a network in a new country, find out about interesting companies that I could apply, how the application process usually works, how to write a good CV and cover letter, what do those companies offer and, most of all, what do they expect from me as a newly graduate. Therefore, I started applying when my last semester started, in that way I didn’t miss any deadlines and had time to plan and prepare myself.

What is/were your expectations for working life?

I expected a working life which could be adaptable and dynamic. For example, with flexible hours where I could plan my day in the best way possible, the opportunity to work some days from home and some days at the office and, more importantly, where I had the chance to learn something new every day. On top of that, I wanted to find a job that was related to my educational background, where I could see a connection between what I have studied in class and how it is applied on an industry level.

How did you experience the time just after graduation?

I had 2 months between my graduation and my first day at work, so I decided to take this time to go back to my home country and visit my family and friends in Brazil. I also had time to look for an apartment, since I had to move from Esbjerg to Copenhagen. So, those 2 months were essential for me to not only relax but also get the last things done before my next chapter begin.

Has the transition from student to graduate affected your perception of yourself? If so, in what ways?

As a student I have a feeling that I had followed a structured path that was already done before me. I knew the classes I had to take in the coming years, I knew I would have to take one semester for an internship or an exchange, I knew I had to find an interesting project for my master thesis, and so on. But as a graduate, I realized I had an open map full of options, and I could choose different paths depending on what I wanted. It is as exciting as it is a bit frightening! Because you don’t have a nice student counsellor or good and thorough teachers next to you to help you getting through any hiccups you face. I had to be proactive to find my own way of doing things, open for changes and brave to go through the unknown.

Do you experience that other peoples' perception of you has changed after graduation? If so, in what ways?

I believe people still see me as a person that wants to try something new and always search for having different experiences.

Are you currently employed?

Yes, I work as a graduate at Ørsted.

How long (if any) were you unemployed after graduation? How did you experience this period?

Since I started looking for jobs and applying when my last semester began, I got my job 4 months before graduating. So I didn't go through the job search after graduation and, therefore, I had time to focus only on my master thesis without any worries of how life would be after graduation. I also could enjoy a bit more when my education was done.

How did you experience the transition from university to labor market and how did you handle this transition?

It is an exciting transition where I had to find a balance between personal life and work. Although, working as a graduate still gives me the feeling that I am still a student, in a sense that I am surrounded by young people like myself, also newly graduates discovering the work life, and as part of the programme, it is expected that I learn as much as I can from different areas in the company. So, it is a smooth transition that fits me quite well. The best thing though, is that I come home after work and I don’t have to study or keep working on something. I have the time all for myself to relax, do what I like or find new hobbies.

Do the people you work with have a scientific or educational background that differs from yours? If so, how do you experience it?

On my first rotation, I have worked with chemical engineers, risk managers, quality specialists and auditors. Besides chemical engineers, which is also my background from my bachelor's, it was all very different from what I have studied. And for me, it was a great experience where I had the opportunity to learn a lot everyday. I believe those differences create a good work environment where I am always able to challenge myself, as well as teach what I know to others.

Please describe your career up until present day

I started my job 8 months ago at Ørsted, as a graduate. The graduate programme takes 2 years, where I will go through 3 rotations in different areas within the organisation, so I still have a way to go. But for now, I have worked in QHSE (Quality, Health, Safety and Environment), learning about risk management and assessment. I have developed some new skills, such as negotiation and communication that helped me with negotiating deadlines with our stakeholders and how to communicate what I need and want from others.

Why did you choose to study at Aalborg University over another university?

I looked for a university with a good ranking, especially for the engineering programmes, so AAU was on the top of my list. I also read a lot on the websites about the programmes that were interesting for me and the one I chose was the best fit in terms of what I was looking for as a career after graduation. AAU also has the project based learning, which makes the university stand out from the others. With the PBL I am confident to say that I developed a different mindset and approach to problem solving that I will definitely carry with me going forward.

Why did you choose this particular study programme? If you could turn back time, would you have chosen differently?

My bachelor’s was in Chemical Engineering, so I was looking for something more focused on process engineering. My previous experiences as an intern at my home country were mostly in the oil and gas industry, so I wanted to change sectors and learn more about sustainable energy. Therefore, choosing Process Engineering and Combustion Technology was the best fit for me, since it opened a lot of opportunities in the job market. And that was also what I was expecting.

Which competencies obtained from your AAU education do you treasure the most? What competencies are lacking?

Definitely PBL is what I am taking with me from the university. I have improved my way of approaching problems, my writing, how to gather data and present in an understandable way, to name a few. And those skills I have already put in practice at my work, so certainly a treasure is very valuable for my future.

Describe your best AAU memory

Besides studying hard to pass all the exams, it is important to look for experiences outside the university. An internship or a project in collaboration with a company, looks very nice on the CV (sometimes even better than a bunch of 12s). Once you are almost done with your education, start looking a bit in advance for jobs to get a feeling of how the process works. Chances are that you won’t be accepted on your first job interview, so having some trials beforehand can be quite useful. In that way you can get a feeling of how it is a job interview, the main questions they usually ask, how are the online tests, and such. After a few, you won’t be so nervous. And lastly, don’t forget to enjoy along the way!

Your hopes and dreams for the future

Since I have less than a year of working experience, I still have a lot of dreams. I would like to extend my knowledge about sustainable energy, the different types of industry, especially offshore wind, bioenergy and hydrogen.

Anything else you would like to share about your life at Aalborg University?

I took my masters in AAU and it was 2 years of great knowledge, some challenges, and a lot of fun. The university gave me the knowledge I need to specialise in process engineering, focusing on sustainable energy. On top of that, the teachers gave me important advices not only to find better ways of studying, but also where to look to have experiences in companies during and after my education.