Name: Lars Danielson
Age: 27
Education:
2017-2020: Copenhagen Business School: BSc Business, Language & Culture
2020-2022: Copenhagen Business School: MSc Finance & Strategic Management
2020-2022: CEMS Master of International Management
Exchange semesters in Portugal and Austria
Experience:
2015-2017: Trainee in Aftersales, Mercedes-Benz (in Germany & Belgium)
2018-2020: Student Assistant, HR, Nestlé
2020-2022: Student Assistant, Finance, Nestlé
2022- Finance Graduate, Demant
Current rotation:
I am currently on my first rotation in Treasury. The tasks in Treasury include ensuring that the company has money to run the day-to-day operations (cash management), management of financial risks and internal and external funding.
How did you end up at the Graduate Programme / when and where did you first hear about it?
I saw Demant’s graduate programme on Graduateships when I was on the last year of my master’s degree and looking for job opportunities. I already knew Demant from a friend, who had been very happy working there. I was intrigued and started doing my own research of the company and consequently decided to apply for the graduate programme.
➔ Hiring! Demant are hiring graduates right now. Click here for more details on the programme.
What attracted you to the company?
I had a really positive experience with all the people from Demant I came into contact with throughout the interview process. I had the impression that they genuinely enjoyed working there. Also, the company’s purpose of helping people with a very important, but often over-looked problem (hearing loss) was very inspiring to me.
Why did you want to join a graduate programme?
As my first job after finishing university, I wanted to join a graduate programme so that I would be able to gain experience in different areas of a company within the first couple of years. Also, the opportunity to do a rotation abroad was very appealing to me. I have already both worked and studied abroad, and I could definitely see myself working abroad again at a later point in time. Finally, I thought that being a part of a community of other graduates would be a great way to start at a new company.
What has surprised you the most about working at the company?
Most Danish companies will tell you that they have a flat hierarchy, but few companies are as serious about it as Demant. I was very surprised to see that not even the CEO has his own office, neither does he fly business class when he goes to visit the company’s many subsidiaries abroad. Apart from the symbolic value of this, members of the top management are very approachable, which I find refreshing, having worked in large and very hierarchical organizations prior to joining Demant.
My second piece of advice is that when you have found a few companies you are interested in, reach out to people who work at these companies. Look for people on LinkedIn in roles that you could see yourself in within a few years.
Biggest challenge as a graduate so far?
As I started my job relatively recently, I am sure that my biggest challenges as a graduate have yet to come. However, as a graduate at Demant you are given challenging tasks and a lot of responsibility right from the start.
My first project at Demant has been to create a standardized process for our intercompany funding, meaning how we fund our subsidiaries across the globe. When doing so, we need to consider a wide range of factors such as optimization of our liquid funds, taxes, transfer pricing, reporting and legal requirements. You also need to coordinate with many different stakeholders from different departments and countries, as what we do in Finance is never done in a vacuum and always has to meet the needs of the business. In general, this has been super exciting to work on so far, but also very Demant-ing (sorry for the dad joke ????).
Advice to other applicants?
My first piece of advice is to find out what you value in an organization and in a job before you start looking for your first full-time position. Is it important for you to earn a high salary and work at a prestigious company? Do you value not having to work long hours or being able to work flexible hours? Is it important for you to work with a lot of young people and that the Friday bars are super cool? Making a prioritized list can help you evaluate different companies and job opportunities and make you more aware of the trade-offs you are making (because you will have to make trade-offs!).
My second piece of advice is that when you have found a few companies you are interested in, reach out to people who work at these companies. Look for people on LinkedIn in roles that you could see yourself in within a few years. Ask them for their experience with the company and how they got to where they are today. It’s even better if you know someone who already works at the company, as they will be more inclined to tell you what they genuinely think about the company. This will enable you to test whether the company’s values align with your own values and whether you would fit into the organization.
➔ Hiring! Demant are hiring graduates right now. Click here for more details on the programme.
