What happens when curious students, exciting technology companies, and a whole lot of career opportunities come together? At Workation Career Day in Trondheim, we got a pretty good idea. And if this year's event is anything to go by, the future looks bright!
Not your average career fair
On Monday, October 19th, we attended Workation Career Day at the Britannia Hotel in Trondheim. Even before reaching the event area at the back of the hotel, you could hear it: the buzz of hundreds of students chatting, laughing, and connecting with companies.
Now, I have to admit something. When I was a student in the Netherlands (quite a few years ago), career fairs were a completely different experience. They were more of a formality. You walked around, pretended to be interested in what companies had to say, collected as much free merchandise as possible, and called it a productive day.
But this Career Day was a completely different story.
Of course, there was plenty of merchandise. And Workation certainly knew how to attract a crowd, with prizes ranging from AirPods to day passes for the NEON music festival. But what really stood out was that the students seemed genuinely interested in the companies themselves.
They came prepared with questions, wanted to understand what different businesses were working on, and were actively exploring opportunities for summer internships.
The free merchandise was a nice bonus, but the real prize was potentially landing a summer job that could kick-start their careers.
Summer internships in Norway: a different approach
One thing I've come to appreciate since moving to Norway is how seriously summer internships are taken here.
In Norway, summer internships are often structured as paid, full-time positions lasting several weeks during the summer holidays. Especially in engineering and technology, companies use these programs to give students hands-on experience with real projects, while students get the opportunity to apply their knowledge, develop new skills, and experience what working in the industry is actually like.
For many students, it's also a way to discover potential future employers. And for companies, it's a fantastic opportunity to get to know the next generation of talent.
That's quite different from what I remember growing up in the Netherlands.
Back then, internships were often mandatory parts of your education, frequently unpaid, and not necessarily something you looked forward to. You completed your required hours, gained some experience, and hopefully learned something useful along the way. If you were lucky, you got to work on something genuinely interesting.
Of course, times have changed, and there are great internship opportunities in both countries today. But the enthusiasm surrounding summer internships in Norway is something that still impresses me.
And at Water Linked, I've seen firsthand why students get so excited about them.
At Water Linked, interns don’t just watch, they build
Over the past three summers at Water Linked, I've had the pleasure of documenting our interns' experiences through photos and videos. What stands out every year is how much they actually contribute. From sensor fusion and experimenting with SLAM to improving data collection from our Sonar 3D-15 and DVLs, our interns work on real engineering challenges that matter to Water Linked.
And that's exactly what they appreciate most. The feedback has consistently been positive, especially when it comes to having meaningful responsibilities and knowing their work will be built upon long after summer ends. After all, it's pretty motivating to spend your summer contributing to the future of underwater technology!
Three summers of innovation, learning, and fun
Curious about what our previous summer interns have been up to? We've documented their experiences, projects, and adventures over the years.
Take a look at what they've been working on:
- Summer Internship at Water Linked 2024
- Summer Internship at Water Linked 2025
- Summer Internship at Water Linked 2026
Each summer has brought new people, fresh perspectives, interesting technical challenges, and plenty of moments worth capturing.
Serious projects, seriously fun summers
Of course, a great summer internship isn't just about the work. One of the things I love about Water Linked is our inclusive culture. Our summer interns quickly become part of the team, joining colleagues for social activities, company events, and everyday office life.
And this is where Workation adds another dimension to the experience. Workation connects students with exciting summer internship opportunities at Trondheim's technology companies. But it's about more than just work! Through social events and networking activities, interns get to meet new people, build friendships, and make the most of their summer in Trondheim.
Looking ahead to summer 2027
One of the best things about Workation Career Day is that it really works. Some of our previous summer interns were people we met at Career Day. What started as a conversation at our stand eventually turned into a summer of solving real engineering challenges. That's why events like this are so valuable. After all the interesting conversations we had at this year's Workation Career Day, we're already excited about the next generation of students who might join us.
I'm certainly already looking forward to welcoming our 2027 interns, seeing what challenges they'll tackle, and document all the adventures along the way.
See you next summer!