Position: Interior purchaser within Cockpit and Climate. Interior is a part of Direct Material which is one of five sections within the business area Purchasing.
Department: Interior Purchasing
Age: 34
Education: Bachelor in chemical engineering at the Chalmers University of technology
At Volvo Cars: For 9 years
”A cup of black coffee and then it gets rolling”
Tell us about your background?
I grew up in Goražde in Bosnia Herzegovina. It’s perhaps the most beautiful town in the region and I go back there every summer to visit my parents. I studied in a technical high school but during the Balkan war in the early 1990s I fled the country and came to Sweden as a 16-year-old. I finished the science programme in Norrköping and in 1997 I moved to Gothenburg to study at Chalmers. I immediately fell in love with the city and I appreciate the mentality and openness on the Swedish west coast.
How did you come to work for Volvo Cars?
At Chalmers I got a tip from a professor about an internship at Volvo. It’s a good way to enter a company and get some work experience. Then I got the opportunity to do my thesis work for Volvo Cars and after that I was hired. When I first got employed I told my boss that I didn’t want a permanent employment because I thought it sounded so boring. I had no idea at the time how great the development opportunities are and that I would stay for the company for so long. Eventually I got a permanent job and now I’ve had five different positions within Volvo Cars.
How does the purchasing department function?
We are about 400 persons within Purchasing. Our main function is to secure the supply of materials and services – to the right cost, quality, quantity and on time. Purchasing is ultimately responsible for the selection of all suppliers. We act globally and have offices located throughout the world. 70 % of the material value of a car is purchased from external suppliers so Purchasing has a big impact on cost and quality of the car.
What are your work responsibilities?
I work within the area Cockpit and Climate and I am responsible for purchasing the dashboard with mounted electronics. That is everything behind the steering wheel you could say. A purchaser is a spider in the web between product development, production, design, marketing and suppliers. My responsibilities are to choose suppliers, negotiate, update our systems with correct prices, order material and put out the fire if a crisis comes along.
Describe a working day
After a cup of black coffee with my colleagues we have internal meetings and negotiations with suppliers till noon. Sometimes during lunch we have an activity in our “Fun agenda”, for example a treasure hunt! After lunch I check my mailbox and then it’s time for the next meeting. Sometimes there are emergencies and then you have to put everything aside and focus on solving the problem. Around 16 in the afternoon, after meetings, it’s time for e-mail, ordering and checking up on things that turned up during the day.
What’s the best part of your work?
That it’s unpredictable! Every day is different. We have a lot of work but also lots of laughter. It’s fun to work at Purchasing and we have a lot of common activities.
What are your best qualities at work?
That I have commercial thinking, that I am flexible, analytical and driving.
How are the career opportunities within the company?
I think they are unlimited and only your mind sets the limits. I think women have to get better at grabbing opportunities. I was offered a project about a year ago. It was about internal offshoring and when I got the offer I was very flattered but then started to doubt myself. Was I able to lead a project from Sweden with colleagues in Asia? I contacted a female section manager at Purchasing who pepped me and literally said “Don’t be such a girl now – think as a man!”. I accepted the offer and it turned out to be my best professional choice.
Do you have any career tips?
The company encourages job rotation and development but you have to be clear to your boss about your wishes. Sometimes it’s hard to figure out what you want to do since there are so many choices and positions. But of course you get guidance from your boss or mentor if you have one. An opportunity to discuss your career choices is the annual development discussions.
Where do you see yourself professionally in five years?
I would like to work with strategic purchasing. The long-term plan is an important part of your career planning, but if something interesting turns up I will definitely grab the opportunity. The dream scenario is to combine my background with my knowledge within purchasing.
How do you spend your spare time?
I spend time with my family and friends. I like working out and have a fitness instructor diploma but nowadays it’s just a hobby. I also paint, acrylic painting, and love colour, both in paintings and in interior decoration. I’m only an amateur painter, but I’ve actually had an exhibition.