“I have completed two secondments with Sandvik. For the first one, I felt nervous as I wasn’t sure it was the right path. It was very rewarding when I said yes. The second was the Circumference secondment (the one this article references), and I was eager to complete it. Additionally, I had to follow up to ensure it was put in place for my development. I want to encourage everyone to say ‘yes’ to new experiences.”Courtney shares with us the top five ways the Circumference secondment initiative has enhanced her time at Sandvik – and why we should all start saying ‘yes’ more in our careers!
1. Experience the thrill of stepping outside your comfort zone.
Taking a chance has always been a part of Courtney’s career journey. Though she acknowledges finding the right chances to take can sometimes be a challenge:
“Since starting with Sandvik, I have always put my hand up for new experiences and challenges. I would say the challenge has been choosing which path is right for me (sometimes outside my comfort zone or where I thought I would be), and this is where Sandvik excelled in my case. Sandvik has created unique opportunities for my growth and development (such as this program), and senior management has supported my growth. Being encouraged to get out of my comfort zone and be open to opportunities well suited to me has created new exciting pathways at work.”
Sandvik’s secondment program allows employees to experience first-hand what it’s like working in other roles across the business. Accepting a place on the scheme has boosted Courtney’s career options, helping her advance professionally.
The program has also enriched Courtney’s life in unexpected ways:
“It’s had the added benefit of some incredible personal experiences too, including gaining confidence in myself and traveling to new places, which would never have happened without the secondments.”
2. Learn from others and grow a supportive professional network.
Working alongside skilled colleagues in other divisions has enabled Courtney to expand her network of experts across the company and at all levels—whom she knows she can always call on.
“I have developed a strong network of supportive and encouraging stakeholders within Sandvik. And the secondment placements have meant I’ve created a strong rapport with them, so I can draw on their knowledge and best practices when faced with complex problems.”
Not only does her network provide support during day-to-day workplace challenges, but Courtney knows her extended list of contacts will also benefit her career in the long term.
“The network created through this experience – and my deeper awareness of the unique challenges faced by other areas of the business – will be extremely beneficial as I progress through new roles and collaborate across divisions.”
The Circumference secondment initiative is just one of the many ways Sandvik supports career growth and personal development.
Find out more about how Sandvik encourages its employees to succeed.
3. Opportunities to be at the forefront of innovation.
Collaborating on projects across departments has also helped foster more creative ways of thinking, bringing together the best minds in the business.
“We have many extremely talented people at Sandvik, and the secondment program has given me the opportunity to meet subject matter experts across the divisions.”
This collaboration has benefits reaching beyond Courtney’s career development, resulting in new ways of approaching and meeting broader business goals.
“Enhanced collaboration between divisions has inevitably created better, more innovative outcomes for our customers as we draw on a wider range of skill sets to solve problems.”
4. Challenge yourself through learning new skills.
One of the primary benefits of participating in Sandvik’s secondment program has been gaining new skills and a more comprehensive range of experience. Sandvik takes continuous support in career development and progression seriously for all its employees, from its leadership programs to training, coaching, and internships.
For Courtney, this focus on continued development is one of the main reasons she loves working at Sandvik:
“Success to me is always being challenged and engaged with what I contribute to Sandvik and our customers. There are great people at Sandvik who have continuously supported my growth and development – in fact, my favorite part of my working here is the ongoing opportunities for growth and new learning.”
5. Creating cross-company connections
Experiencing firsthand what it’s like working in different divisions and understanding the challenges faced by her colleagues has increased communication between departments.
“The network and connections made during the Circumference secondments have resulted in clearer two-way communication. We’ve realized we need to engage in more open communication – both for knowledge-sharing best practices and to overcome specific challenges.”
Courtney’s best outcomes from the scheme have been the new relationships she has formed outside of her department and the work she has done with colleagues across divisions:
“If you’re considering joining the Sandvik program, I want to emphasize that it’s as much about the incredible people you meet along the way as it is about the technical skills you gain.”
What’s stopping you?
From feeling apprehensive at the start, Courtney has now become a vocal advocate of Sandvik’s Circumference initiative – and for being more open to new life experiences in general!
“I encourage and support everyone to say ‘yes’ to new opportunities and experiences whenever possible! What have you got to lose?!”
