From Preconceptions to Reality: How the Internship Exceeded Expectations for Business Students Jenny and Filip

“I often associated internships with doing the tasks that employees don’t want to do—like printing papers or handling simple chores. Of course, I wanted to gain insight into how a real company works, but to be honest, my expectations were pretty low,” says Filip. 
Even before the internship started, it became clear that this would be something else. 
“We were told that our internship project would actually have a real impact on the company,” says Jenny. Their assignment was to develop a warehouse strategy aimed at increasing inventory turnover and reducing tied-up capital. 
By analysing the company’s product and customer structure, they created a model to identify ways to make the warehouse more efficient. 
“This is incredibly valuable for us. We don’t always have the time to prioritize this kind of analysis in our daily operations, so it’s been great to get new perspectives and concrete suggestions. I hope more companies in our region see the potential in collaborating with Mid Sweden University through internships and thesis projects—it benefits both students and businesses,” says Maria Åslin, CEO of GB Verkstads- och Industrivaror and the students’ supervisor. 
The work was challenging, especially in the beginning. But with dedication and a clear plan, Jenny and Filip managed to learn the business system, analyse data, and generate insights that will form the basis of the company’s future warehouse strategy. 
“This is nothing like the fictional examples we work with in school. Here, we got the chance to work on a real case and make a difference,” says Filip. Jenny adds: 
“We’ve learned so much—not just about economics, but also about how important it is to understand the bigger picture of a company.”