A proposal to home-loving students
Reputable international firms like JP Morgan, UBS and Morgan Stanley all left their mark on the International Business Week which was arranged at NHH September 17th -27th. Together, they know the international possibilities that NHH students are qualified for.
02.10.2007 - Text and Photo: Jens Frølich Holte
Tore Rønningen graduated from NHH in 2005 and now works for Barclays Capital.
The link
The student business group (Næringslivsutvalget) is in charge of planning and organizing the International Business Week project at NHH.
Many NHH students initially think of Statoil and the four large consulting firms when they search for jobs. The leader of International Business Week, Ingeborg Faye, believes it is important to show the students all of the possibilities that exist for them in the job market, not only in Norway but abroad as well.
"The student business group is the link between the students and Norwegian business, and the International Business Week is link between the students and International business," she explained.
For the rest of your life?
On Wednesday, September 19th, the usual company presentations were replaced by three professional speeches. One of them was by a former NHH student, Tore Rønningen, who traveled to London two years ago to work for Barclay's Capital.
Last week, Rønningen was back at NHH to give his perspective on life outside of Norway.
"You are not committed for life if you travel to another country to work. If it doesn't work out, it's not a problem to move back home after one or two years," claimed Rønningen.
Many Swedes
There are a lot more Swedes than Norwegians in London's financial business world. There are many reasons for this, but Rønningen offered a possible explanation:
"The business school in Stockholm has a great network and Swedes in foreign countries explain how great it is there. In addition, students say to themselves 'I study accounting and I study corporate finance, so now I will go to London.' In Norway it is perfectly normal to be humble, but when you come to London you have to be able to sell yourself," claimed Rønningen.
Ingeborg Faye from Næringslivsutvalget (NU), the student business committee, agrees:
"The culture is different. In Stockholm approximately 70% of students want to work abroad after they finish their studies."
Ingrid Schulerud from UD wishes for more economists.
Home-loving students
Ingrid Schulerud is the Director of Foreign Affairs and believes that it would have been positive for "AS Norway" ("Corporate Norway") if more people had received international experience. "One does not burn any bridges by taking a few years abroad," Schulerud remarked.
The Department of Foreign Affairs is always on the hunt for economists, and Schulerud hopes that NHH students want international careers. She believes Norwegians are homebodies and points out that roll models are important:
"If you know someone who works abroad, an international career may seem more attractive. The problem is that few Norwegians work in foreign countries."
Stine Andersen has had 18 years of international experience, has worked at the World Bank, and can rightfully call herself a "Global bureaucrat". She explained that her Norwegian culture can be a barrier. "Some say lightheartedly that Swedes and Norwegians are a little like ketchup bottles. One shakes and shakes, and suddenly it all comes out. It takes time before Norwegians open up," concluded Andersen for the students.
She feels, however, that NHH students are well qualified for international careers:
"A degree from NHH can be used all over the world. A global job market gives you great possibilities, but it can be great to have worked in Norway a couple of years before one travels out into the vast world."
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October 4th is the next big day for career-seeking students at NHH. Next, it is time for the Career Day where 67 companies come to NHH in the hopes of winning over bright students.
Translated by Nancy Cavanaugh
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