A summer job can be a decisive factor in shaping future career choices. For Chalmers student Sara Gryte, a few weeks at Stena Teknik became the final piece of the puzzle that convinced her to pursue a future in the maritime industry.
The aim of Lighthouse’s summer job programme is to attract more students to marine engineering education while helping companies strengthen their future talent supply.

Sara Gryte spent five weeks of her summer break at Stena Teknik. During that time, she gained a wide range of experiences. First, she analysed and wrote a report on the possibilities of electrifying Stena Line’s ferry routes. She then joined an ongoing project before taking part in a cavitation test in Hamburg.

“I got a very positive impression of the maritime industry. The experience has definitely influenced my choice of master's programme. I’m in my third year of Mechanical Engineering at Chalmers and have now set my sights on Mobility Engineering with a specialisation in Naval Architecture. It was during my time at Stena Teknik that I discovered this field,” she says.

This is exactly the kind of impact Lighthouse’s summer job programme aims to achieve. Swedish shipping faces major challenges. Technological development is moving rapidly, the need for qualified engineers is increasing, and at the same time the recruitment base has shrunk, according to Emil Cerdier, Engineering Manager at Berg Propulsion.

“We have noticed that there are fewer and fewer students available to recruit. Many of those enrolled in the programmes are exchange students, and a large share of them leave Sweden after graduation. That leaves us with a fairly limited pool of candidates. Several companies in western Sweden are competing for the same people, so increasing interest in maritime education is important. We want to contribute to that effort, and Lighthouse provides a great platform for doing so,” he says.

Berg Propulsion has participated in the summer job programme since its launch last year. This year, FKAB Marine Design, Stena Teknik, Wallenius Marine and Oversea Fleet Support also took part. In simple terms, Lighthouse promotes the opportunities, manages applications, screens candidates and forwards suitable applicants to participating companies.

“For us, it is a very convenient way to recruit summer interns. Lighthouse helps identify students with a genuine interest in the industry and who see a future career in the sector. We receive a very strong pool of candidates to choose from. The students who applied to Berg Propulsion had us as their first choice, and it is clear that they genuinely want to be here,” says Emil Cerdier.

For Berg Propulsion, the initiative has become a way to both identify future employees and get support with important development projects.

“It is an excellent way for us to get to know potential future employees while also receiving help with tasks that might otherwise remain unfinished. It creates value for both the company and the student.”

The students have worked on projects including mechanical design and the development of digital tools related to the company’s propulsion and propeller systems.

“We always try to give them meaningful assignments that lead to tangible results. That is far better than simply having someone sit alongside and observe. The students get the opportunity to develop their skills, while we benefit from their contributions,” says Emil Cerdier.

Sara Gryte has now set her sights on a future in shipping and naval architecture, although she has not yet decided on a specific career path.

“I had two marine engineers as supervisors at Stena Teknik and was able to follow their work within the machinery group, which was very interesting. At the same time, I learned more about ship design, hull structures and onboard systems. That opened my eyes to several different areas. I haven’t quite decided which direction I want to take yet.”

What left the strongest impression, however, was the people she worked with.

“The best part was interacting with my colleagues. I had countless questions, and they always took the time to answer and explain things. I would definitely recommend other students to apply,” says Sara Gryte.

Read more about Lighthouse’s summer job programme