"I sent an open application to Hydro in Sunndal while I wrote my Master's thesis in the hope that something might turn up. It did it pretty quickly. It is important to be open to the offers you might get, and to be assertive. There are often many opportunities in a big company once you get a foot in the door," she says.
Her chemistry background came in handy in a project that attempted to reuse the slag product dross. Dross is a mixture of metal oxides and aluminium which forms as a layer on top of the liquid metal in the melting furnaces and is skimmed off before casting begins.
"I was assigned more and more tasks as the year went on. When my thesis was delivered, I was offered a permanent job in the process optimization department, a support unit for the operational departments at the plant."
"After three years in the department, I was offered a position as a process engineer in electrolysis, the position I still hold. Through participation in the People Skills course and AMPS course, I had the opportunity to develop myself as a manager. Currently I am the Union leader for Tekna at Hydro Sunndal. This means I represent all the employees who are Tekna members at the plant. My job is to raise issues with management, participate in negotiations, and attend meetings related to plant economy, changes and projects. I need to stay informed about everything that is happening and to support the Tekna members."
Where are you on the career ladder?
"Hydro is a diversified business where you can work with many disciplines. I originally saw myself working more in the environmental and emissions areas, which are more related to my education, but I enjoy working with electrolysis and do not regret that I seized this opportunity."
"As Union leader for Tekna at Hydro Sunndal I have gained much more insight into how all of Hydro works, which has given me a better overall picture of the company. It is a large company with many opportunities for development and varied job situations. With two children that require a lot of attention, the way I work now fits my schedule perfectly - in a professional environment in an operational organization with a focus on daily follow-up and projects.
The best thing about my job is that I get to combine a lot of time in production with analysis work and projects. With talented colleagues and constant new challenges, I look forward to going to work every day," says Halkjelsvik.
What do you do in your spare time?
"I love living in Sunndal. I spend most of my free time with my two children. With the great outdoors all around us, we try to take every opportunity to go for walks. The trips are not so demanding when the kids come along but I also like to take more challenging hikes, with or without skis, and hunting and fishing trips too," she says.
"You do not need to go far from the center of town to find fabulous hiking trails. With mountains on every side, there are many possibilities.
Although we have a town center with a shopping mall, it's not the same as Karl Johan, Oslo's main street. Anyone living in Sunndal should be pretty fond of nature."
