At the Service Centre, customers often receive assistance from staff who are active students. Student workers make up a unique resource in the company, and the job is often a springboard for their own careers. Meet Amanda Forslund who has gone on to become a property appraiser, and Alexander Gahnström who has continued to work within AF Bostäder.
Student workers help out when required, for example at the start of semesters and during the summer. As active students, they have an important role. They strengthen the customer perspective in daily operations, constitute an important link to student life and act as ambassadors for AF Bostäder.
“As a student worker, you work mainly on answering questions and helping customers,” says Alexander Gahnström. “But you also get an insight into how the entire organisation works and contribute your knowledge in various projects. You also become a part of the social side at the company – from going to the gym with colleagues to staff activities.”
Alexander Gahnström studied criminology and psychology and got a tip about the job at the Service Centre via his partner, who had seen a post on LinkedIn. The job interview went well and, after an introduction, he worked at the Service Centre about one day per week and for longer periods in the summer.
“I really enjoyed it, so when my studies were to end, I applied for – and got – a full-time substitute role,” says Alexander Gahnström. “It soon became a permanent position with greater responsibility. Now I handle things such as agreements, certificates and transfers, and I am also involved in long-term projects within the company, such as helping out with IT development.”
Amanda Forslund moved to Lund to study a Bachelor’s programme in Politics. Towards the end of her studies she changed direction, making a new start in surveying. She was now in need of an extra job to help with her finances, preferably with a connection to property.
“An acquaintance had been a student worker at AF Bostäder and gave me a tip that they needed people,” says Amanda Forslund. “It sounded perfect, and I got the job. I worked on aspects such as key handling and manning the “hatch” – the Service Centre’s reception during the pandemic. The hatch was my favourite, helping the students with large and small matters that they wondered about. I have never actually liked talking on the phone but here I had to dive in and chase solutions for so many exciting things that I grew into the role. Today, I never hesitate to make a call that involves a difficult conversation.”
As Amanda studied surveying, which includes a lot of tenancy law, she also assisted in the rental process for various projects. Towards the end of her studies, she was offered a job as a property appraiser at Svefa in Malmö. At the same time, she applied for one of the vacant places on the board of AF Bostäder and has been a board member ever since.
“I got valuable help with references in the transition from AF Bostäder to Svefa,” says Amanda Forslund. “Being a board member is a good way to stay in touch with colleagues, and also an opportunity to contribute to the organisation in the long term, both with experience from student life and the knowledge I possess as a property appraiser.”
Latest update June 13, 2024