Dear reader,
As a business student at OsloMet, I had the opportunity to join Sperre Air Power as an HR intern this summer. After two years of studying economics, accounting, and organizational theory, it’s been eye-opening to see how these ideas play out in the real world.
It’s one thing to read about corporate structures – it’s something else entirely to put on your office clothes, walk into a company, and become part of a real workplace community. Every day brought new names, new faces, and a growing understanding of how each person contributes to the whole.
During my internship, I’ve worked on improving HR processes and making everyday tasks smoother for both new hires and long-time employees. I’ve developed onboarding materials, helped update employee portraits for internal and external use, assisted prior to recruitment processes, and joined discussions about employer branding. I also contributed to structuring employee development talks to make them more comfortable and meaningful for everyone involved.
But the most valuable part? Being welcomed into the culture.
From day one, people greeted me in the hallway even before learning my name. The lunch staff made sure there was allergy-friendly food just for me. My mentor was cheerful and supportive every single day. On my second day here, coworkers were knocking on my door at 11:30 sharp to go to lunch together. In my first week, I was invited to join the company’s internal football team. By the second week, a team arranged a summer party for the whole company – a perfect chance to connect with colleagues from across departments.
Although the HR role often involves independent work, I never felt alone. My mentors were always there to guide me, and I quickly learned that asking questions is part of learning. And when I forgot who Jann Peter was for the sixth time, people smiled instead of laughing.
Starting a job surrounded by experienced professionals can feel intimidating. You start to question whether you’re skilled enough, whether you belong. But even though my role at Sperre was small, I gained insight into how the company operates as a whole. I saw how logistics connects departments and keeps everything running year after year.
Just being part of such a complex, well-functioning organization has taught me so much.
Sincerely,
Caroline Sofie Garcia de Presno
Business Student at OsloMet.
Passionate about inclusion, structure and learning by doing
