Intro to the graduate
My name is Nikolaj, and I hold a master’s degree in economics from Aarhus University. During my studies, I held three different student positions—starting in the power industry, then moving to IBM Business Consulting, and finally returning to the power industry by joining MFT Energy during the last year of my studies.
The first eight months of the graduate programme, I was part of the Treasury team, and I am currently part of one of the US power trading teams.
When did you first hear about the Graduate Programme?
Before becoming a student employee at MFT Energy, I saw ads for the newly launched graduate programme on LinkedIn. This was a big factor in my decision to apply for the student position, as the programme sounded like a great opportunity to gain deeper insights into an exciting business after graduating from university.
What made you apply to the programme?
After being with MFT for six months before the graduate programme application deadline, I was already familiar with the people, the values, and the entrepreneurial spirit of the company—qualities I greatly appreciated and still do to this day.
I chose to apply for the graduate programme rather than a regular full-time position because of the opportunity to structure the rotations in a way that makes sense commercially. This allows me to learn about the business in greater depth and explore paths within MFT that align best with my skills, interests, and the company’s needs.
What has been the highlight of being a graduate so far?
As a graduate at MFT, you are assigned a mentor from day one. This has been a great success for me personally, as it provided a person and forum to discuss various personal and professional topics—ranging from transitioning from student life to full-time employment to balancing professional and social life.
Another highlight has been the amount of responsibility you are given as a graduate. This has been a huge motivation for me to continue putting in effort, as you feel that your colleagues value your input and trust your ability to find solutions to problems.
What has surprised you the most about working at the company?
The people make MFT such a great place to work. There’s a perfect balance between having fun and learning from highly skilled colleagues. As a graduate, you get the chance to interact with various people across the company, and they are always willing to take the time to answer any questions you may have.
Personally, it makes learning more enjoyable when I can complement the knowledge I’ve acquired through independent study with the experience and insights shared by my coworkers.
What has been the biggest challenge you have had to overcome as a graduate so far?
As a more introverted person, stepping out of my comfort zone to engage with colleagues I don’t work with daily has been challenging. It remains a focus for me to embrace these situations. My mentor and discussions with my direct supervisors have been a great help in this regard, helping me step out of my comfort zone and realize how common these feelings are.
MFT also organizes many social and professional events, such as International Week, Friday bars, and summer and winter parties, which make it easier to socialize with new people and expand your network within the company. These events help foster relationships that make professional collaboration smoother, as you’ve already built a connection in informal settings.
What advice do you have to other applicants that are considering applying for the programme?
If becoming a graduate sounds interesting to you, my biggest piece of advice is to apply for the programme at MFT Energy. You’re given a great deal of ownership in structuring your graduate journey according to your interests and skills.
The power industry is a dynamic and exciting field to work in due to the complexity of the markets and the importance of contributing to the green transition. By joining MFT Energy, you become part of one of the leading forces in the industry, where you can gain deep market understanding and learn from some of the best.
If you’re invited to an interview, it’s your chance to showcase who you are—not just in terms of competencies but also, and just as importantly, your values. While it may sound like a cliché, my advice is to be yourself throughout the process, as my impression is that values are highly regarded when selecting the right candidates.
