Interview: Niklas Terkelsen, Ceciliea Poulsen og Sofie Degn.
Are you pursuing a vocational education? Or are you a business owner considering creating apprenticeship opportunities? We spoke with former and current apprentices to find out why they chose pensopay for their training.
At pensopay, we’re fortunate to have had several apprentices. Currently, we have Niklas, along with two former apprentices, Ceciliea and Sofie, who are both now full-time employees. Niklas, Ceciliea, and Sofie have each shared their perspectives on what their vocational education has given them.
Niklas is studying office management and sales at EUX Business at Campus Vejle, working daily in pensopay's sales department. Sofie graduated from EUX Business at Campus Vejle, specializing in office administration, and currently works in pensopay's administration and accounting department. Ceciliea also graduated from EUX Business at Campus Vejle, with a focus on trade and sales, and is now part of our onboarding team.
EUX, Ecommerce and pensopay
Niklas, Ceciliea, and Sofie all agree that it has been great to combine theory and practice during their education. With relevant elective courses, they have each gained knowledge through their studies that they can now apply in their roles at pensopay.
"E-commerce and online shopping have grown significantly in recent years, making the industry very attractive. I interact with a wide range of people every day—both Dorte, who is 70, and young Mikkel, who just started his own webshop. I generally talk to many different people, and I think that's really exciting!" says Niklas.
Sofie and Ceciliea agree, adding that they believe the e-commerce industry will continue to grow in the future, which means job security at a company like pensopay.
A World of Opportunities
Niklas works in sales, where he not only sells pensopay's payment solutions but also handles customer support and post-purchase experiences. He follows up with pensopay's customers to ensure they are satisfied with the solutions recommended to them. Niklas will complete his education in August 2024, after which he hopes to remain in the industry—ideally with pensopay, if the opportunity arises.
Ceciliea works in the onboarding team, where she approves new customers for payment solutions and ensures they are set up in the systems. In addition to her practical tasks, she also handles legal aspects such as anti-money laundering and verification. Her future plan is to remain in the e-commerce industry, which she has always been passionate about. "I've always liked this field—pensopay and the e-commerce sector as a whole are growing. As e-commerce grows, so does pensopay."
Sofie manages the numerous customer inquiries we receive. She also handles invoicing, cancellations, and follows up with customers who do not always pay on time. Sofie envisions an exciting future with many opportunities. "There is plenty of room to improve my skills in accounting and office work, which is what I do daily. For example, I’m determined to take courses and pursue further education in the future to keep my knowledge up to date," Sofie adds.
From Classroom to Career
Niklas believes he can impact the industry because he often finds himself on the other side as a customer, gaining constant experience and knowledge about what it's like to shop online.
"I want to help improve the final shopping experience for customers on e-commerce sites. I would like to share my suggestions and experiences to influence the industry," Niklas Terkelsen, pensopay.
Ceciliea explains that she believes she can influence the industry through customers. "We have other businesses as clients, and many reach out to us to inquire about what’s trending in the market—like preferred payment methods or current trends. By responding and assisting, we can impact the industry through our customers with our knowledge. Sometimes we’re also asked about integrations, invoicing programs, shop systems, or other topics. In this context, we can make recommendations to our clients, which ultimately affects the cardholder," Ceciliea Poulsen, pensopay.
The Strength of Being Skilled
Niklas, Ceciliea, and Sofie all agree that being skilled is a significant advantage. They have each filled their backpacks with experience from both school and the workplace. They also concur that what they have learned during their education can be translated into practical application in their careers. "Being skilled is important for enhancing your CV and gaining overall experience. Pursuing an education is never wasted effort," adds Sofie.
We asked all three of them to share some valuable advice for anyone considering becoming an apprentice:
Three Essential Tips
"Always ask yourself: what’s the worst that can happen? Take the leap. Remove the barriers and dive in. Don't be afraid to fail—it's the only way you'll learn," Niklas Terkelsen, pensopay.
"Always remember that you won't become an expert overnight. Take it one step at a time. You won't learn everything at once. I still learn new things every day—complex and legal aspects of pensopay. You don't become a hundred-meter champion all at once. Take it easy, work hard, and don’t expect to know it all right away—learn from your mistakes," Ceciliea Poulsen, pensopay.
“Don't be too hard on yourself if you make a mistake. Embrace all the challenges you can—you’ll only improve, even if you need to ask for help multiple times before you succeed. Take on every challenge and task available. If you have the chance to explore other departments and see what the rest of the company is doing, go for it," Sofie Degn, pensopay.
Why did you choose a place like pensopay?
When you're enrolled in a vocational program, like Niklas, Cecilie, and Sofie, you often get opportunities to network with potential employers. Companies come to the school, giving students a chance to explore different options and get a feel for what’s out there. During one of these events, Niklas quickly came across pensopay, which immediately caught his attention. He explains that he approached pensopay because they really stood out from the crowd.
"I attended a job fair at Campus where many companies were represented. Ceciliea, Danny, and Pierre stood out in their pensopay hoodies. I was quickly drawn to the company's style and could really see myself working there. After a week-long internship, I decided to apply, even though they weren’t actively hiring trainees at the time. I started part-time in the shipping department, and things went well. I kept knocking on Danny and Pierre's doors, and eventually, we created a trainee position in sales, which is where I am today," Niklas says with a smile.
Ceciliea adds that she also attended a job fair back when she was in school. However, nothing there fully captured her interest. She even considered continuing her studies. Then, one day, her teacher mentioned that pensopay wanted to give a presentation because they were looking for a trainee.
Sofie originally started her trainee position in the finance department of another company. Since Ceciliea and Sofie were once classmates, they talked before both ended up at pensopay. Sofie had mentioned to Ceciliea that she was looking for a new internship. One day, during a casual conversation with Pierre about internships, Ceciliea brought up Sofie’s search for a new position. Pierre encouraged her to apply, and Sofie began her new internship at pensopay on January 1, 2021.
Freedom with Responsibility
To wrap up, it was interesting to hear why the trainees chose to stay with pensopay. Niklas hasn’t completed his education yet and is still a trainee, but he hopes to stay with the company because he finds the industry exciting. Besides being a fan of the company overall, he explains that he also appreciates the young average age at pensopay and the great vibe within the team.
Ceciliea has been with pensopay for a few years now, giving her a front-row seat to the company’s growth. “I like that I can shape my own workday. At pensopay, I feel there’s a lot of freedom with responsibility, which I really appreciate—that’s why I decided to stay after finishing my trainee program,” Ceciliea Poulsen, pensopay.
Sofie explains that one of the main reasons she stayed was the positive work environment and the informal tone, which she values highly. “We can all come together for lunch, there are plenty of activities and events, and in general, the company really takes care of its people. On top of that, I’ve learned so much over the past few years during my trainee program—it’s great to finally put it all to use,” Sofie Degn, pensopay.
Thanks for the insights, Niklas, Ceciliea, and Sofie. We’re happy to have you on board!
Team pensopay
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