Dear blog readers,
Many of you who are considering to apply for one of the graduate programs might wonder what it is really like to be a graduate at Novo Nordisk and what a “life-changing career” is all about. With this first blog post I want to take the opportunity to present to you my first three months as a graduate and how this short period of time at Novo Nordisk has already changed my life.
When I received in July the description of my first rotation “Marketing & Sales Excellence, Digital Marketing”, I thought to myself ironically “Great! Of all the graduates, they chose the biggest technical idiot to work in the Digital Marketing department”. At that point in time I was still fiercely fighting the digital development and held onto my Nokia 5110, proud to be retro and able to play snake on my phone while others were supposedly saving the world through their smartphones. How was I supposed to work in the department responsible for the digital content, web sites, and digital marketing strategy of a company like Novo Nordisk? Never mind, I like to be challenged, challenge accepted!
It turned out that I would work on the most innovative and biggest IT project ever put forward in Global Marketing. The iSelling project, which is the global implementation of a common platform on the iPAD to be used by the sales force. Very simply put, this means that the brand teams around the world will use one common technical solution to develop and distribute their brand apps and sales reps will use the iPAD in their sales calls to detail these apps to the health care professionals.
After the first challenge of understanding how an app is build up and what html, CQ5 and components are all about, I quickly came to understand the incredible scope and value of this project. Being involved in the organizational change management and responsible for the system and sales force training, I am in close contact with our global and regional brand managers, IT leads and sales managers. This gives me a broad understanding of our business processes, not only the internal ones but also those happening across borders. Further, working closely with external vendors on the system and sales force training, I am developing my stakeholder management skills on a daily basis.
I feel truly privileged to be part of the iSelling project in my first rotation. It gives me unparallel exposure to the company, development and learning opportunities, and the possibility to work on an exciting project with inspiring and bright colleagues. When I talk with friends and fellow graduates about system functions, edetailing and app configurations, I notice how much I have learnt in only this short period of time in Novo Nordisk. Time that has already now changed my life which I realize while looking at my new smartphone and the iPAD I am writing this post on. And I can’t wait to have more of these unexpected life-changing experiences in the upcoming 19 months! Follow me on this exciting journey and share with me what a “life-changing career” means to you!
Looking forward to hear from you,
Tatjana
4 Comments to Life Changing Career Vol.1
Hi Tatjana,
Nice post.”Never mind, I like to be challenged, challenge accepted!” I believe that attitude and confidence is very much required for the “life-changing career”.
Hi Deepthi,
Thanks, I am happy you like my post. And yes, you are very right. In order to have the experience of a life changing career you have to be confident (and also enjoy) to take on challenges and push the envelope constantly.
All the best,
Tatjana
Hey Tatjana, that sounds amazing! I am so gonna follow your blog from now on! I am sure you will be providing me with good advices ;-)
I think its actually the best mentality to have, anything tough and challenging in life requires courage and confidence and ultimately an innate longing to want to LEARN new skills outside one’s preferred comfort zone. Thanks so much for this down to earth account of your on-the-job experiences.