Engine assembly-worker Alexander Wasberg was looking for a new challenge when he applied for Scania's reskilling program. In three months, he completely changed his career direction.
- I am incredibly grateful that I had the opportunity to change my career in this way. It feels fantastic, says Alexander Wasberg.
We meet him at Scania IT's premises in Södertälje, half an hour's drive from Stockholm. Scania, which is one of the world's largest suppliers of trucks, buses, and other transport solutions, is headquartered here. Around 16,000 of the 53,000 employees in Scania work in Södertälje, and they make up a significant part of the city's residents.
I wanted to learn new things. For me, it was a wonderful opportunity.Alexander Wasberg
Alexander first wanted to be a sailor, and he studied in Gothenburg to become a captain. But after meeting his current fiancée, he decided to drop out of school and move in with her, a short drive from Södertälje.
Therefore, it was not unnatural that he got his first job at Scania.
- I got a job as an engine assembler on the assembly line. My task was to screw different parts onto the engines, and we also ran some tests on the engines before we sent them on, he explains.
It was a physically demanding job, where he often worked night shifts.
Alexander used to work as an engine assembler at the factory in Södertälje. Photo: Scania
- I wanted new challenges
After three and a half years as an engine assembler, he saw that Scania was looking for participants for a new reskilling program. Out of a total of 160 applicants from all over Scania, he was selected as one of the 12 who got a place.
- I wanted new challenges, and I wanted to learn new things. For me, it was a wonderful opportunity. Going back to university is not so easy when you are established with a house and have bills to pay. So, I am very happy that Scania gave me this opportunity, he says.
The reskilling program in Scania aimed to train employees from different parts of Scania to become IT developers. As in most other industries, technology is playing an increasingly important role in the production of vehicles, and recruiting sufficient IT skills is not easy.
In collaboration with Noroff Accelerate and Experis Academy, Scania put together a program where the participants went through an intensive 12-week boot camp and then had practice in various teams in Scania IT.
The program was a great success, and all 12 participants today work as IT developers in the business.
- Now I am a front-end developer. In my team, we build and maintain Scania's websites, and I make sure that they look good, both on desktop and mobile, says Alexander and smiles broadly.
He says he was excited about what he would get out of the program.
- I had done some programming in high school, but not at any advanced level. I remember I thought it was exciting, but I was a different person back then, so I chose a different direction when I went to university.
It was fast-paced and I learned a lot. The teacher from Noroff Accelerate was very good.Alexander Wasberg
- I hoped that I would learn enough to be able to become a front-end developer during these months, but I had no experience with accelerated learning before, so I did not quite know what I was in for, he says.
- It was fast-paced and I learned a lot
When the program started, he thought it was challenging, and he liked it.
- It was fast-paced and I learned a lot. The teacher from Noroff Accelerate was very good. He was always available to help us, but instead of giving us the answer, he gave us just enough information so we could solve the problems ourselves. That is the best way to learn, I think, says Alexander.
Alexander with his colleges at Scania IT. Tina Tizro (left) was also part of the reskill program.
- Don't look down on yourself
Alexander and the other participants started by learning HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, before learning about servers and frameworks such as Vue, React, and Angular. After the boot camp, they started working in various teams in Scania IT, and through practice, Alexander has continued to learn every day at work.
Don’t look down on yourself because you don’t have a degree. If you are motivated and passionate about what you do, then it should be no problem.Alexander Wasberg
- In my previous job there was a lot of repetition, and I knew exactly what to do. Now I learn a lot every single day. It was a transition from a physically tough job to a job where I sit mostly in front of the computer, but it helped when I found out that I could stand upright to work, he says.
He has clear advice for others who are considering changing career direction through reskilling.
- Don't be afraid to challenge yourself. Don’t look down on yourself because you don’t have a degree, because that shouldn’t be necessary. If you are motivated and passionate about what you do, then it should be no problem. And if you are a quick learner, like me, you really should be ok, he says and smiles.
He is happy that Scania gave him the opportunity, and that they see the value of developing their employees rather than just hiring new people.
- I feel very lucky to work for a company that invests in its employees by educating them. It creates good diversity in the company when people from different backgrounds work together in teams. I have a different perspective as I come from production, he says.
Read more: Reskill program gave Scania 12 new developers in twelve weeks.
Looking to upskill? Noroff Accelerate offers flexible, part-time online bootcamps, designed for working professionals.
