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How did I actually end up choosing to take a job in industry? For me it was simple. I was scouted by an employer who was lacking someone with my profile. A young person with a technical education who likes writing and who can get involved and show the depth of the industry. And it was based on those very parameters that I set foot at Gnosjö Automatsvarvning in August 2019, two months after I graduated.
I thought for a long time that I would be an engineer. Why? Because that was the expectation of someone who had studied the technology programme specialising in engineering science. But I’d made up my mind even before my final year of secondary school. I wasn’t going to be an engineer, nor would I study at university either. I don’t know really whether it was a conscious choice or purely out of protest. But I know that I would never have had the same opportunities as I’ve had today had I just bought into people’s expectations, jumped on the university bandwagon and decided what I wanted to do straight away.
However, I made a conscious choice when I accepted the offer at Gnosjö Automatsvarvning. I knew that I wanted to be part of changing the image of industry and to help more people find their place here. I started working towards that as early as my last year of secondary school. My entire secondary school work was based on a simple question; Why don’t more young people choose industry? A subject that turns out was quite close to the heart given that the Gnosjö region is full of exciting industrial jobs. So when I started working in the sector, I wanted to be part of putting industry on the map while also wanting to be the proof that industry is so much more than what many people think.
I made a smart choice when I chose to pursue a career in industry. I’ve had enormous opportunities to develop both my technical knowledge and my communication skills. It’s not always easy to communicate fairly about an industry that is characterised by a lot of injustice. Industry is still blacklisted by many workers and is dogged by past rumours. In my opinion, industry is a clean, exciting and forward-looking workplace with a place for everyone. And having the opportunity to communicate that has been fantastic. What’s especially great is when people, young and old alike, tell me that what I communicate has made them think or even do things differently. In the grand scheme of things, I’m just a tiny cog, just like you, but together we can be part of changing the future of industry.
I made a decisive choice when I decided to be an industry communicator. From the beginning, my goal has been to get more, mainly young people, to view industry as a real option. And I’ll never forget when I met a young girl who was considering her high school options. Just like me, she liked communication but didn’t feel that the social science programme was her thing. She was interested in the technology programme, but didn’t want to be a physicist, engineer or production manager. When I told her about my role, she wanted my job. Without hesitation, she could imagine working in industry. It gave me a rush of happiness, because it’s for that exact reason that I accepted my position in 2019.
If I can only get someone other than myself to dare to choose industry as a workplace, then I’m more than happy. In fact, there are great opportunities to develop and be part of driving Sweden forward. I’m proud to be part of Swedish industry and I hope you will be too. So let’s get better at talking about industry and all the opportunities it offers.
~ Industry greetings from Elin. “My name is Elin Elmersson and I’m an industry and technical communicator at the Gnosjö Automatsvarvning manufacturing industry. I’m also an industry blogger at Brave New Business. Come take a look!”
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