Emilie is a great example of what we look for in a summer intern

At Head Energy UP, summer interns have the opportunity to gain valuable experience, while the company gets to know the talent of the future. Emilie is a perfect example: after three rewarding summers with the company, she has now joined Head Energy UP permanently as a Project Engineer specialising in water, wastewater and road infrastructure.

Emilie Erland holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering, specialising in water resources, from the University of Nebraska Omaha and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. During her studies, she gained experience both as an operations technician at IVAR and as a summer intern at Head Energy UP for three consecutive years.

A summer internship that became a career

– I applied for a summer internship at Head Energy UP because I wanted to gain practical experience as a civil engineer and explore the different disciplines within engineering design. The company seemed exciting and forward-looking, and I wanted to be part of that, Emilie says.

She describes her summers with the company as both educational and rewarding:

– I had the opportunity to work on a variety of assignments across several departments, and my colleagues made me feel very welcome. I received excellent guidance and was able to contribute to interesting projects, she says.

After three years as a summer intern, beginning her career at Head Energy UP felt like a natural next step.

– I already knew the people and the way the company works, and I really enjoyed being here. I am now looking forward to being involved throughout the entire project lifecycle, from start to finish, Emilie says.

Why Head Energy UP invests in students

For Eva Esbensen, Managing Director of Head Energy UP, Emilie is a great example of why the company invests in summer interns:

– We want to give students real-world experience while benefiting from the fresh perspectives and future-ready skills they bring. It is also an excellent opportunity for us to get to know talented candidates who could potentially join the company in the future, Eva says.

She emphasises that attitude and motivation are the most important qualities when recruiting students:

– We look for students who are curious, engaged and eager to learn. We want people who are keen to be part of the team, who take initiative and are not afraid to ask questions. Summer interns bring fresh energy to the company, and we are already looking forward to welcoming a new intern next summer.

As a former summer intern herself, Emilie has a clear recommendation for anyone considering applying next year:

– It is a fantastic opportunity to gain practical experience and insight into working life. You get to work on exciting assignments, receive excellent support and become part of a great working environment, she concludes.