From University to the Working World: Human Resources
Take a look at Sofia's blog to see how she has been getting on here at Atlas Copco in the Human Resources team. She covers what it is like to play a part in recruitment and what the Atlas Copco culture is all about.
Reading time: 5 minutes (950 words)
Working at Atlas Copco Compressors has been a wonderful experience. Right from the start of my Year in Industry, my colleagues have created a great environment for me to learn and develop my skills and made me feel at home. After two months of my Year in industry, I can proudly say that I have not only gained an insight into what Human Resource Management looks like in a real business but also taken real responsibility and challenged myself.
Working within the Compressors Human Resources team is a very exciting, fast-paced role where no day is the same. I have the chance to get involved in many different areas: from training and development to recruitment, and my colleagues are eager to help me every step of the way. It is a very rewarding job that has an immediate impact on the company.
What was the recruitment process with Atlas Copco like?
It is often emphasised that the application process for a job is a two-way process where the candidate learns more about the company and the company learns more about the candidate, and this is exactly what the application process at Atlas Copco felt like. It was not just an assessment of my knowledge or skills but an opportunity to discuss my fit for the company and for me to find out if I would enjoy and excel working in this environment. Every step of the way, there was a strong focus on how I like to work and what I would like to get out of the Year in Industry which made me feel valued as an individual.
I first found out about the Atlas Copco Year in Industry on Indeed, and was immediately drawn by the variety of responsibilities the role entailed. I proceeded to submit a short and to-the-point application along with a CV and Cover Letter. A few weeks later, I was invited to a group WebEx video call. This was not an assessed part of the application process but an opportunity for students to meet some Atlas Copco employees and learn more about Atlas Copco, the Year in Industry programme and the company culture. This session set Atlas Copco aside for me. Up to that point, I had never heard of Atlas Copco before and saw it as a big, mysterious and slightly daunting corporation that was peering over my CV bullet-point by bullet-point. The WebEx session gave me a better understanding of the company and the Year in Industry placement and made me excited for the next stage in the application process.
The final stage was an assessment day where I was asked to make a presentation and sit for an interview. My performance in assessment days has always been clouded by nerves but with Atlas Copco, it wasn’t nearly as bad. Everyone seemed very friendly and genuinely interested in hearing what I had to say which made me feel welcome. The presentation was on a broad job-related topic which called for creativity and strategic thinking and the interview was an informal chat with two members of the HR team who explained more about the role and asked me to elaborate on my experience and my interest in Human Resources. During the assessment day, I attended a tour around the office and met many Atlas Copco employees. Everyone was very friendly and helpful, they seemed very happy to be working at Atlas Copco and I remember leaving the assessment day thinking that I would love to work at a company which such a positive culture.
What do you like best about working at Atlas Copco?
Atlas Copco has a very welcoming and supportive culture that encourages you to do your best whilst supporting you to move forward when you feel stuck. As a Year in Industry intern, I am given important work that is equal to what a graduate would do and has a real impact on the company. Every step of the way, I am supported by my team members and my colleagues who are eager to help me out and answer all my questions. My manager always takes time to listen to my suggestions, ask how I am doing and make sure I am not feeling stressed or overwhelmed. Atlas Copco strikes a delicate balance with its culture where challenging yourself and being innovative is encouraged but never to the point where it becomes stressful. Training and development, cross-collaboration and employee satisfaction are just as important as results. Overall, Atlas Copco has a very positive and progressive, family-like culture which I am very proud of and will definitely miss after my Year in Industry.
What are you most excited about in your Human Resources Coordinator role?
What I enjoy the most in my role as HR Coordinator is being involved in the recruitment process. As a Human Resources Coordinator, I am involved in every stage of this process from posting a job advert to organising interviews and assessment days and assisting with the final decision of determining the successful candidate. Although the recruitment process can sometimes be challenging and requires creative thinking, close monitoring, careful organization and cross-functional communication and collaboration, there is nothing like the satisfaction I get from knowing that my team has found the right person for a job and that this person will become part of the company and take our success to new heights. It is a very rewarding and interesting job that is different every day and shows how big an impact a Year in Industry intern can have at Atlas Copco.