INTERVIEW
FROM GRADUATE TO
WORKING LIFE
A working woman in a man's world
L
“Having structure and a solid plan is crucial to succeeding in
working life after university, and for me, that’s what landed me the
job in the first place”
By Oda Nokleby Sognen
ife after graduation can be
quite daunting and nowadays,
graduates
are
entering
the
world’s
ever-growing
competitive
job market. I speak to Kristianna
Moberg, 23, about her journey so far
and the challenges she has faced.
Moberg went straight from
University into a full-time job at Ticket
Co, where within a year she worked her
way up in an all-male firm, to her current
position as the company’s key account
manager.
Moberg explains: “When I first started
university I didn’t have any idea of what
I wanted to do, I knew I wanted a career
in business but that can be anything
from numbers to PR.
“Choosing my course and
completing it for me was the easiest
part – after you finish, [that] is when you
have to put in the real work to actually
get the job.”
The harsh reality of getting a job after
graduating, is that you are most likely
going to be working a lot of hours, take
on the most challenging tasks and not
get any rewards. However, Moberg
explains that at the end of the day hard
work always pays off.
“It is quite overwhelming in the beginning
but you get used to it. There is nothing
better than knowing you can manage
a hectic job, and the feeling of success
is priceless.”
The challenges of adapting from a
student lifestyle into a working lifestyle
are difficult. “At university, you can
17
manage your own time and you only
answer to yourself,” says
Moberg.
“Working for a big company you have
a lot more people to answer to.”
Time management is key in her
everyday life and to manage both
work and pleasure, having a planner
is important. “My personal plan book is
everything,” says Moberg. “I use that
to figure out when I am free and when
I can take time off to spend time with
friends, and do fun stuff out of work.”
As a businesswoman, Moberg
had to face a lot of challenges other
than time management, that she didn’t
expect to face in a professional setting.
“Working in an environment that mostly
consist of male figures, I would say
the hardest thing for me was being
taken seriously,” she explains. Moberg
explains the hurdles she has had to
overcome due to the male dominance
in her workplace. “Potential clients have
asked me out on dates,” she says.
Moberg explains the hurdles she has
had to overcome due to the male
dominance in her workplace.
“Potential clients have asked me
out on dates,” she says. “When I act
professional and decline they have
refused to answer my emails. It’s very
frustrating for me when I want to build
my career.
“I have learned that being con-
sistent and devoted and not backing
down has gained my respect – so my
biggest advice for all you females is not
backing down.”