“Turn the answer to your advantage!”

What’s the reason you sought after career guidance? What’s the change you wanted in your professional life?

The reason I sought career guidance was because I needed help to make myself attractive to the job market, and in the process I became more attractive to myself. I’d been in the same place for over 10 years, straight out from my major, and lacked the tools to enhance my skills, my unique selling points, and make it relevant in several job contexts.

What’s the most non-traditional or “different thinking” thing you learned?

I quickly registered, with some relief, the importance of being authentic and genuine because in the course we learned to show ourselves from our utmost personal side when we talk about what matters to us most in a personal and professional context. The personal commitment is a tool for communicating our best qualities, in addition to creating contact. Contact is important for delegating and exercising objectivity, and particularly important in my role as a mediator of arts and culture.

What can distinguish me positively in a job search process, the unique selling points, was an important lesson.

How did the knowledge and methods you gained influence your further professional life?

I received confirmation that it can pay off to think unconventionally. I’ve a concrete example of this from my own experience: I was hired as number two for a job I applied for in communications. When the contact person for the position was going on maternity leave, I sent a message wishing her good luck and enjoy some time off. There was no ulterior motive on my part, but by chance it turned out that the person who’s hired chose to quit and the position was vacant. So then I was offered the position, and it has been an important stepping stone farther in my professional life.

What have you benefited the most from afterwards?

In interviews, as well as in direct communication within groups, I benefited greatly from the ability to turn the answer to my own advantage. In situations when I don’t know what the answer is, I can tell with conviction about other things that are perhaps a little on the side of what’s being asked, but are still relevant. The method opens the door for me to contribute with a bit of other information, which gives a different perspective and insight into a situation. I’m often told that it’s a positive trait. My academic background is humanities, with languages and art history. I’m happy and grateful that I now work at the Norwegian Cultural Agency in Oslo, within relevant fields and with inspiring and talented colleagues. The toolbox that I took with me on the course means that I also know that I’ve important competence that contribute positively to influencing and improving the field I work in.

Ulrikke Thea Berg,
senior consultant, 
Oslo Municipality Cultural Agency