Pioneers new ways of attracting talented trainees
 OPEN TO NEW IDEAS: "You are important partners in renewing Hydro," executive vice president Hilde Aasheim commented during a meeting with trainees recently. (Picture: Terje S. Knudsen). |
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(Dec. 6, 2006) Hydro is looking for a considerable number of trainees and is pioneering new ways of gaining attention for its international trainee program. These include the setting up a blog on the companys website, www.hydro.com, enabling readers to communicate directly with recently employed trainees and ask them what it is like to work in Hydro.
The trainee blog complements an extensive promotional campaign in newspapers and on the Internet.
“We are among the first major Norwegian companies to start using a blog on our website. It’s an excellent offer for newly qualified students, who will get the opportunity of asking Hydro’s trainees about their work and how they were taken on board by the company,” says hydro.com editor Sissel Rinde.
The trainee campaign, which started on Thursday November 30, is being run in various media, including the worldwide web. In addition, great use is being made of Hydro’s own website to communicate with potential jobseekers.
 READY TO THINK BIG? Get up to speed with Hydro's Trainee Program |
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A record number of trainee positions
So far this year, Hydro has recruited 683 persons, and the company’s high level of activity is also reflected by the record number of trainee positions advertised.
This year there are 50 trainee positions in different areas of the company, from finance and communication to engineering positions in drilling and aluminium production. Trainees, who are permanently appointed from day one, undergo an 18-month training program.
Applications for last year’s trainee campaign were received from all over the world. Of the 20 trainees appointed, six came from Norway and the remaining 14 from China, Singapore and The Philippines in the eastern hemisphere to USA, Mexico and Venezuela in the west.
“We see the need for continuous recruitment in the engineering field particularly. A good trainee program is crucial here,” says executive vice president Hilde Merete Aasheim.
“We need to appoint talented young people with international experience or outlook who want to take on important tasks. Hydro operates in two exciting industries, energy and aluminium, which are both fundamental to the development of modern society,” she adds.
 Kirsten Margrethe Hovi |
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Trainee blog
Hydro hopes that the trainee blog will give potential job applicants an insight into what life in Hydro is like.
“We find that many young people would like to know more about what it is like to work in Hydro before they apply for a job here. In the blog we hope we have found a medium that is natural for our target audience, and that they will find it useful to talk with current trainees and hear about the sort of reception they have been given, and the work they have been doing,” says Kirsten Margrethe Hovi, who is responsible for Hydro’s trainee program.
“Moreover, we hope that it will be useful for candidates to see Hydro demonstrating such openness, whether they are applying for trainee or other positions in the company,” adds Hovi.
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