We spoke with Synnøve Rubach at Becour Fredrikstad. Synnøve is the Chief Operating Officer and Head of R&D&I at Becour, but she is also responsible for our internships in the company. We wanted to hear her experiences with internships from a business perspective.
Why do you choose to offer internships?
We offer internships for several reasons. Firstly, we see it as a fantastic opportunity to gain fresh perspectives and innovative thinking. Students often bring the latest knowledge from their studies and can contribute with creative ideas and solutions that challenge our established ways of working.
Additionally, internships are a great way to get to know potential future employees. We get to work closely with talented students, and they gain a good understanding of how we operate. This makes it easier for both parties to determine if we are a good fit in the long run.
For us, as a relatively young company, it also provides a unique opportunity to build networks and collaborations with universities. This is important not only for accessing talent but also for staying updated on research and developments in our field.
I should also mention that it is part of our social responsibility. We want to help students gain practical experience and a smoother transition into the workforce. It's also a way for us to give back to the community and support future generations of workers.
Overall, it's about creating a win-win situation. We get help with projects and tasks, the students gain valuable experience, and together we can create something beneficial for both parties.
What experience have you had with internships?
Our experiences with internships have been very positive. It has been an educational process, and we feel that we have developed and improved each year.
One of the things we have implemented, which we believe has worked very well, is a mid-term conversation with the students. They get the opportunity to share what they think is working well and what we can do better. Similarly, we provide feedback to them. We also have a similar conversation at the end of the internship, where we evaluate the entire period and discuss what has been most valuable and which areas we can still improve on. This has allowed us to adjust along the way and make the internship even better for all parties. Additionally, we have weekly pit-stop meetings. These have been an important way to monitor progress and ensure that both the students and we stay focused.
From the US
Another exciting aspect is that we have had students from four different nationalities over the past three years. This has not only been educational for us as a team but has also given us unique insights into different markets. The students' knowledge of their home countries has opened up opportunities for us to explore new perspectives and ideas that we might not have considered otherwise.
Erik and Nicole are exchange students from Minnesota, US, and had internship at Becour.
Overall, the internships have been a valuable experience for both the company and the students. We learn at least as much from them as they learn from us, and it is this mutual learning that makes it so rewarding.
Have you employed students after completing their studies?
We are now in our third round of internships, and so far, we have had two interns each year, meaning four have completed the program with us. The two we have now are still in their internships, so a total of six students have been with us. Of those who have completed, we have hired one intern in a permanent position.
We would have liked some of our first interns to become part of the team, but they chose to pursue other job offers or further studies. For us, it is important that the internship provides them with both relevant experience and opportunities, whether with us or in other exciting positions.