Diversity in new trainee program

DEEP CONCENTRATION: The new trainees were to set personal development goals during the first gathering. From left: Mona Assadian, Taymaz Hoseinian and Ylva Olsson. (All photos: Tone Dahle)

The group of trainees that was selected by Hydro in 2007 is made up of 12 women and 13 men aged between 21 and 27 years. They represent 20 different educational institutions and 13 different countries – among these Romania, India, Australia, Norway and Sweden. Most of them have a technical background, but some have studied economics and administration.
 
Prior to the gathering in Düsseldorf, the majority of the trainees had already spent a few months in the company, and some of them were already ready for their first job rotation. The trainee program, which was arranged for the third time in 2007, lasts for 18 months. During this time most trainees will have worked in three or four different departments in Hydro, and some will have spent time in several countries.

DIVERSITY: “We need more diversity in Hydro, and this group really makes a contribution to that,” Executive Vice President Anne Harris commented after the gathering in Düsseldorf.

The trainees meet for a total of three gatherings during the 18-month period. The first gathering focused on personal development questions, as well as the company’s core areas of activity. Since the gathering was held in Düsseldorf, there was also an opportunity to make three company visits – to the metal plant in Neuss and the Alunorf and Grevenbroich rolling mills.

Battle for the best
Executive Vice President Anne Harris – responsible for Human Resources and organizational development in Hydro – was present at the first trainee gathering to talk about the company’s values and strategic direction going forward, after the oil and gas activities were merged with Statoil from 1 October 2007.

“I am happy that we have such a diverse group. Without the oil and gas activities, the proportion of women in the company has fallen to 18 percent, and we must work to increase this,” Harris said.

“We in Hydro have realized that there really is a battle for the best candidates. We believe that we can attract some of the best candidates by having a good reputation, maintaining close contact with important universities and offering a good trainee program that will enable the selected trainees to quickly assume important tasks within the company,” she commented.

FULL SPEED AHEAD: “My development goals proved to be moving targets,” former trainee Fransizka Barth told those gathered.

“I am certain that we will see several of our trainees in leadership positions in Hydro in the future. What’s more, it is not just us who teach the trainees something; as a company we also learn from our trainees. They often question matters we have begun to take for granted. The trainee program is a visible sign that Hydro is now building a stock of good leaders for the future,” Harris added.

Valuable experience
Fransizka Barth from the first group of trainees and Christina Dela Cruz from the second group shared valuable experiences with the new trainees. Fransizka’s message was clear: “Things change, that is the only thing you can be sure of.”

Her own trainee experience turned out to take a course that was totally different from the original plan, with a four-month stay in Malaysia at very short notice, rather than Cologne or Oslo. But this gave her invaluable experience.

NETWORK: “Use your trainee period to build networks,” said the experienced trainee Christine Dela Cruz.

“My development goals proved to be moving targets. You can – and should – actively shape your own trainee period,” was the advice she gave.

Christine Dela Cruz spent the first part of her period in Oil & Energy, and was right in the middle of the StatoilHydro merger process. After the merger, she was the only one of the trainees in her group left in Hydro.

“Restructuring happens all the time, and it is important to be proactive and persistent in processes of change,” she advised the new trainees.

"Be nice to the Norwegians and they’ll be nice to you,” she added as an additional tip, causing a lot of laughter from the audience at the trainee meeting in Düsseldorf.