Graduate interview: Heino – Commerce Management

Meet Commerce Management graduate, Heino Johansen and learn about his journey from studying at Cphbusiness to where he is at today.

From which study programme did you graduate?
I have an AP Degree in Commerce Management from Cphbusiness. I graduated in summer 2015.

How old were you when you graduated?
I was 26 when I graduated.

What was your goal when you graduated?
I had a goal of becoming part of a start-up company, where I could use my great knowledge in retail together with my knowledge from my education, and in that way understand the strategic and tactical operations in a company.

I have always had a dream to run my own business and that is still the goal, someday. But before that happens, my goal is to obtain as much knowledge and experience as I possibly can, so that I am better prepared when I do start out on my own one day.

When did you get your first job after graduation?
Towards the end of the study programme I had to find an internship and I was so lucky to find the start-up company eTilbudsavis, where I could use my retail experience and combine it with what I learnt through my studies.

After the internship, I was hired full-time and I ended up staying there for 2 years, before I moved on.

What was the job about?
In the beginning, I was responsible for setting up our sales support. That meant that I instructed our customers (various marketing managers) on how to upload their catalogues in our systems and how they could follow the BIG DATA we delivered to them.

I really liked the job, because I got to be part of setting up an entire department from scratch and had a lot of big decisions to make. Besides that, I quickly developed a great network within the marketing departments of all the big retail chains in Denmark.

How was your first month?
The first month was really hectic, because I had to get up-to-date with the entire company and help build the sales support from scratch.

How long did you work at eTilbudsavis?
I ended up working there for 2 years. First as a Sales Supporter, then as a Relationship Manager and then as a Digital Account Manager.

Was it like you thought it would be?
Yes, it was. eTilbudsavis was, as I said, a relatively newly started company then and it was therefore very interesting to be a part of, and to see the company grow and become an established company.

What are you doing now?
After eTilbudsavis, I was asked to join a new company, where I was in charge of everything digital. However, it wasn’t a match with the company and I, so I therefore decided to terminate my position on 31st of January 2017. So, currently I am looking for a new adventure.

Are you happy with where you are now?
At the moment, I am trying to find out what actually motivates me, so I can use my time doing what I really enjoy again.

It is a hard process sometimes and I was very anxious when I quit my position without having something else on my hands. But I am already working on a ton of new and exciting things, so I’ll probably find the right job pretty soon.

What is your next step?
My next step is, as I said, to find a work place that challenges me in the areas, where I still feel I am lacking a little, and in that way keep building more and more skills, so that I am able to continuously grow.

What is your plan for the future?
My plan is still to become an entrepreneur – and there have been multiple opportunities, where people have approached me and asked if I would like to work with them. But I still think I have a lot to learn, so far I still think that I want to work in a smaller organisation or a start-up company to learn even more.

Do you use the Cphbusiness Alumni network?
Yes, I do. I am a member of the alumni network’s Advisory Board. I feel so lucky being a part of that and I like contributing with developing the network and figuring out what we can do for the graduates.

Do you have any advice for job-searching graduates?
Figure out what unique skills you have and use them. Perhaps you are really good at creating relationships or connecting with other people, which you could use to create a network that can help you find the right job. Think smart and use what you are good at.

Do you have any advice to the students who soon will become graduates?
Make sure to network, a lot! It creates jobs and opportunities in the future. So, set up your LinkedIn profile and start creating your network if you haven’t done so already.