People have an open and curious attitude towards Graduates across Nordea

Why did you choose to apply to the Nordea Graduate Programme? 

I’ve been working at Nordea for quite some time now since starting out as a student – six years to be precise. Throughout my time at Nordea, the Graduate Programme has – to me – always been associated with great career opportunities, networking, personal growth and the chance to explore different areas of the bank. When I started looking for my first full-time position while working on my master’s thesis, I was in no doubt that I should apply to the Nordea Graduate Programme. 

I have a strong interest in leadership aspects and have always been fascinated and inspired by the value of having the right people working in the right places. In light of this, I saw the graduate programme as a great fit, as it would enable me to explore the different areas of the bank and its vast array of people and cultures. With a MSc in Economics and Business Administration – Strategy, Organisation and Leadership, I believed that a graduate position within Group People would allow me to make a difference across the organisation.  I’m excited to be part of Nordea’s interesting journey within diversity, inclusion and many other aspects. 

What have you enjoyed most about being on the graduate programme so far?  

I feel so honoured to be part of the programme. It’s a unique opportunity for individuals to grow on a steep learning curve while having fun, networking and building bridges between units. I believe that members of the Nordea Graduate Programme are given tremendous opportunities to participate in different activities and tasks, as people have an open and curious attitude towards Graduate Programme members across the organisation. 

Furthermore, the importance of networking shouldn’t be underestimated! I’ve realised the importance of making new friends across the whole of Nordea; when you know more people to reach out to in different situations, this simplifies daily work and tasks. 

What would be your advice to others considering applying to the Nordea Graduate Programme?  

Go for it! Nordea is a diverse and unique place to work and everyone’s welcome. It’s a great chance for you to kickstart your career and personal development. At Nordea, graduate programme members are a very important and valuable asset for the organisation and are highly prioritised – everyone takes really good care of us. 

Once accepted to the programme, stay true to who you are and be confident with the decisions and choices that you make. Believe in your own opinion but be collaborative and listen to your great colleagues. By showing courage, passion and ownership, you’ll make your natural mark on the organisation, and your opinion counts!

Do you have any fun fact or words of wisdom you would like to share?  

It might be hard to imagine, but you can actually practice and learn while being out of your comfort zone, and feel relaxed in not being an expert in everything you do. You quickly learn how to navigate being new in a role. Rotations can be mentally demanding, as the human brain doesn’t like changes. However, the process comes more naturally when you believe in yourself. I find that it’s only once you’ve stepped out of your comfort zone that you really begin to evolve, grow and thrive.