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Even though each step can vary from role to role, these are the most common steps our candidates meet during a recruiting process. However, for the same role, the process will always look the same, to ensure that candidates applying for a specific role go through the same process and are assessed on the same grounds.

The process is as much for our candidates as they are for us, so you can expect to get to know us well along the way. And, since our recruiters have insight on openings across Schibsted, a missed opportunity in one area might be your way into other opportunities within the Schibsted universe.

Screen – a first call to meet & greet. This meeting is most of the time with one of our dedicated talent acquisition partners, who is working closely with a specific part of the business and their specific roles.  The aim is to understand the candidates journey and aspirations, to see if there is an initial match with the open role. It is also an opportunity to get to know the company and ask questions about the role and the further process.

1st Interview – This is a first deep dive into the role, and meet the hiring manager or a team member. As a candidate, this is where you will learn about how the team works, relevant challenges and opportunities. You will gain insight on culture and the day to day life. The first interview is also a good place to highlight what experience, approach and attitude you can bring to the role.

Test / Home assignment – For the home assignment, we are looking into skills connected to the role. This could be a relevant case, a coding task, or looking through your portfolio. The aim is to get a more hands on understanding of your approach and specific skills.

Final round of interviews – Here you will most likely be meeting other important people or functions that you will work close to. This is a talk where diving into topics and areas you will encounter at work is natural. It could also be diving deeper into the task or home assignment that you did to have a discussion and follow up on it, or diving deeper into for example leadership competencies and approach, if the role is as a leader.

How should you prepare for an interview?
Most interviews are conducted as a conversation, and our hope is that both parties learn something along the way. We do not believe in a high pressure environment for interviews, but encourage you to showcase your best self. The recruiter will brief you about the process and the people you will meet, so do your research in advanced. Come prepared knowing who you are talking to, and if there is an assigned topic, be prepared to give concrete examples of previous experiences and learnings. Also, make sure to think about any questions you might have – this is your time to get to know us!

See all open job positions here

On day two of Schibsted Product and Tech festival, we get into nerd mode and work on a dream project, solve a specific problem or come up with new ideas. We’re all excited when it’s time for our legendary hackathon; Hackday!  

There are hundreds of Hackdayians, all with brilliant ideas and creative minds, unique talents and skills. And, we take a lot of pride in forming teams and collaborations across Schibsted. This time we had over 60 teams participating in what is actually the 27th edition of Hackday! The festival ends with an entertaining demo session, where the hacks are presented – and we are all blown away by the amazing projects. The audience get to cast their votes on their favourite hacks in these  categories:

• Most useful hack
• Most creative hack
• Most entertaining presentation

The teams are encouraged to step out of their comfort zone, be fearless, and unleash their creativity. One team that certainly managed to do so was the “WE LOVE STICKERS” team, consisting of Erik, Automation engineer, Karthik, DevOps Engineer, and Henrik, Service Manager User Devices. They did a grand slam and won all (!) categories,  so we definitely had to take a quick chat with the winning team. 

Congratulations on the big win! Can you tell us briefly what your WE LOVE STICKERS idea was all about?

Corporate answer: A cost effective way to label accessories using Schibsted-card – enabling a smooth transition to a hybrid workplace.

Real answer:  An overly engineered technical solution to solve an imaginary problem where we got an excuse to play with a label printer and card reader.

Can we expect the WE LOVE STICKERS hack to be realised in the near future?
Let’s make it a reality! We are currently ordering a couple printers, labels, card readers and 7″ LCD-screens to be shipped to different countries where Schibsted exists.

What can we expect from your team next time?
Who knows what next year brings or how the team will look. One great thing about Hackday is that you are not limited to any specific team or task. But let’s be honest – we had so much fun we might end up together for something new.

What do you think of the P&T festival?
We are thankful that it exists. The crescendo of the festival – Hackday – might be one of the best things since sliced bread.

Do you think you can beat this team, join us for our next Hackday! See all our open positions  here. 

Do you want to read more about the festival? Check out this article. 

Every great idea starts somewhere – and the Schibsted Product & Tech festival has definitely proven to be such a spot! December 1, we’ll kick off yet another edition of our internal festival, which is dedicated to all our 1300 superstars working with product, UX and tech. In this event we celebrate creativity, inject inspiration from world-class keynote speakers and learn from lots of exciting internal cases. 

When the dust has settled, many have gotten new acquaintances, and we have tons of new cool projects and ideas from our employees. So, where did the idea of this festival start, and what can we expect in the years to come? To shed some light on this, we’ve taken a chat with one of the initiators behind the festival, Magnus Tholin, who works as a Community Manager for Product & Tech in Schibsted.

What exactly is the Schibsted Product & Tech festival?
It’s a biannual, three-day festival packed with tons of inspiration, networking, and great fun for all our amazing product and tech colleagues, working across 50+ brands, and in five different countries!

Cool, and what is the story behind it? How did it all start?
It all started back in late 2019! Marty Cagan, a godfather within the product development space, had released the second edition of his book Inspired – How to Create Tech Products Customers Love (which I can really recommend btw). The book created a lot of engagement among top executive managers across Schibsted, and rather quickly, four of them, Kaija Ommundsen from FINN.no, Laila Dahlen from News Media, Nicolai Høge from FINN.no and Sven Thaulow from Data & Tech, started to talk about getting Marty Cagan to Oslo. As an Event Manager in FINN.no, back then, I was set on the task and started working on the event, booking an amazing venue. And as you all know – Covid-19 happened! It was pretty frustrating, but Marty is a cool guy and offered to do it virtually. This sparked some new opportunities for us – as we, after all, are present in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Poland and Norway. 

We turned around quickly and with the help of some brilliant colleagues, we hosted a successful first festival only a few months later. The feedback made us realize that this was something that we should do more regularly.

Magnus Tholin, Community Manager for Product & Tech in Schibsted.

How has the festival initiative evolved?
It’s been SO much fun and an incredible journey! We started out with 300-ish participants back in May 2020, then in November the same year, we almost doubled that amount to 500, and in our third edition of the festival in May 2021 – we had 900, which is really cool.

Numbers are numbers, but more importantly, I want to say that the main reason behind our growth is the project group, which consists of nine amazing colleagues, who all contribute heavily, on the side of their daily responsibilities. We also have a great steering committee of executives from all of Schibsted’s business areas, giving us support, helping us get the attention of the employees, and of course: funding for all the fun.

At the first festival it was just a couple of hours with inspirational presentations. But in Schibsted there are so many cool grassroots initiatives, so we figured out that we needed to bring one of them – the legendary hackathon Schibsted Hackday, under the umbrella. So at the moment, the festival consists of three elements: an inspiration day, a hackathon, and a demo day where we showcase all the cool stuff that we’ve made!

For the fourth edition, it’s still a three-day festival, but now you have the opportunity to either watch it remotely or in person, together with your colleagues. There are a lot of talented former Schibsted employees, so we invited a few of them to the festival, to come and share their journey, and what they are working on now.

Why do we need a festival for product & tech? What is your goal?
You know what they say, when you put people in a room, magic things happen – and that goes for both physical and digital rooms!

I think a festival, like this one, is a great way of interconnecting Product & Tech employees in the group. After all, we’re 1300 people across five countries and 50+ companies. They are all extremely talented, and by networking and sharing cool stuff that they develop or work on, they inspire each other. I believe this initiative contributes on top of all the great stuff that all our brands are doing locally, making Schibsted and all its brands an amazing place to work.

As for the goal, we want to create a European-leading Product & Tech environment and culture. And we do this by making sure that Schibsted and its brands are places where you can solve hard and complicated problems, grow and build a career, but most importantly, have tons of fun whilst you’re here!

If you want to participate in our next festival, why don’t you check out our career opportunities here. Join the Schibsted Product & Tech family! 

To celebrate young talent and reward work of public interest, Schibsted is establishing a thesis award for outstanding master students researching responsible AI.

The term Artificial Intelligence (AI) represents a set of technologies with enormous potential to impact people and the planet. Leveraging them in sustainable ways requires diverse perspectives and bright ideas, and at Schibsted we want to celebrate those contributing with new perspectives in the field. We are therefore excited to announce our first ever Thesis of the Year Award in Responsible AI! 

The purpose of the thesis award is to stimulate and grow interest in practical implementations of responsible AI in the media and/or digital services field. The  award will go to the author(s) of the best master thesis in responsible AI written at a Swedish university during the academic year 21/22 (fall and spring semester).

Students are welcome to nominate themselves or peers for the Thesis of the Year award through this online nomination until August 15th 2022. We welcome nominations from domains including but not limited to computer science, philosophy, law, business and management, and art. 

The winner will be selected by a Schibsted jury. The following criterias will guide the selection process:

• Relate to the topics of fairness, accountability, sustainability or transparency. The research should be about or clearly relate to these topics.
• Iluminate emerging opportunities, trends, or issues. The research should be forward-looking and offer new insights into opportunities or risks related to responsible AI.
• Focus on people’s daily lives. The research should focus on responsible AI as applied in everyday products and services.

A selected group of finalists will be invited to present their research at Schibsted. The winner will receive a stipend of 10 000 SEK to further their interests in the field of responsible AI, e.g. by taking a course or financing a field trip. They will also be paired with a mentor working with AI at Schibsted who will offer coaching and advice to the student(s). 

Are you researching explainability in AI systems? Studying AI ethics guideline implementations? Creating a new tool for bias audits? We are eager to learn about your work and hope to see your thesis nominated! 

You can upload your thesis here. Please note that we will only accept theses which have been approved by their home universities.

For questions about  the thesis award, please contact Agnes Stenbom (Responsible AI Specialist, agnes.stenbom@schibsted.com)

 *taxes and local regulation applies

In Schibsted, we know the value of knowledge sharing. That’s why we have created our mutual mentorship program, Schibsted Connect, where we connect students with one of our colleagues. We had a chat with two former participants Ingrid and Viggo, to find out how they experienced being a part of the program. 

Ingrid is a student at the Norwegian School of Economics. When she heard about the program, she didn’t hesitate to apply; she was interested in Schibsted and curious about the opportunities that we offer. She also figured it would be a great way to meet people from different departments and locations of the company and get to know one of the biggest media groups in the Nordics from the inside. 

What have you learned from joining Schibsted Connect?
– Firstly I have learned a lot about Schibsted and all they offer. I have also gained more knowledge about their industries and projects. Most importantly, I have learned a lot about myself during the mentor meetings.

What has been the best thing about the program?
– The best thing about Schibsted Connect was the mentors. My mentor was amazing, and we had great conversations about Schibsted, leadership, and finding your own path. We have also been in touch after the program ended, and I hope we can meet again soon!

What would you say to other students who are thinking about joining the program?
– I would really recommend this program for anyone who is creative, wants to meet inspiring people, and get to know a dynamic organization.

Viggo is a student at Uppsala University  who wanted to learn more about how his knowledge from university could be translated into the real world. He  saw Schibsted Connect as an excellent opportunity to broaden his horizon. 

What have you learned from this experience?
– I have learned a lot about the challenges of product management, but also how your career can be different depending on what you want to learn and experience.

What has been the best thing about Schibsted Connect?
– I was given a buddy that works with exactly what I want to work with when I graduate; product management. I learned a lot about how it is to work with this at Schibsted. My buddy also mentored me about my career choices and what I should focus on in the future. We have stayed in touch, and hopefully, I can continue to get her support in the future as well. 

What would you say to other students who are thinking about joining the program?
– I would definitely recommend Schibsted Connect to other students! It is a great program, and the mentor that you get is really there to support you and teach you about how you can prepare yourself for when you go out into working life.

We are now looking for ambitious, curious students to join Schibsted Connect. Read more about the program and find out how to apply here. 

If you are interested in joining the Schibsted family through our trainee program, both former and current trainees agree: The application process is tough and demanding, but definitely worth it. Read on for information about how to apply and what you can expect through the interview rounds.

Your first step towards becoming a part of the trainee program is to send in your application. The application has to be in English and should include transcripts of grades from high school level and onwards. You need to be a citizen of a country within the Schengen area to be eligible. Because the program includes possible placements in all of Schibsted locations, you should be prepared to relocate for a period of time during your traineeship

– The Schibsted Trainee Program is a unique opportunity to not only learn new skills and meet new people – but some of our trainees also get to live in different countries for part of their traineeship, says Kristina Gribaleva, Talent Program Lead.

Ability and personality tests and assessment center

If your application makes the cut and you get through the first selection round, you will receive an invitation to the further process and a link to ability tests. Based on their score on this test, selected candidates are invited to a video challenge. Should you make it past this step,  you will be invited to complete a personality test and to participate in a one full day assessment center in Oslo.

– The goal of the application process is simply to find the candidates with the most potential to grow through our trainee program – and who will challenge us by seeing things from a new perspective. We are not looking for fully developed workers but instead try to find those candidates with the magical mixture of both talent and passion, says Kristina Gribaleva.

“After the last interview, I thought to myself: “Even if I don’t get the job, I have been given every opportunity to show who I am”. I actually learned quite a lot about myself in the process.”
– Karsten Gutterød Hauklien, former trainee.

The final round

Based on the results from the assessment center, finalists are chosen to participate in the final interview. This last stage takes place in Oslo and will help management narrow the candidates down to the final candidates that are offered a place in the Schibsted Trainee Program. But even if you’re not one of the lucky few you will still get a thorough candidate report so you can learn from the process. Kristina Gribaleva feels it is only fair to give candidates a pointer to what areas they could benefit from working on.

– There are only a few spots available in the program and the selection process is tough, but we know applicants appreciate the opportunity to learn from the experience even if they don’t make the cut.

Application guide – step by step

• The Schibsted Trainee Program is open for registration of applications from mid-September. The application must be in English and include transcripts of grades from high school level and onwards.
• Selected candidates will receive an invitation to the further process and a link to the ability test.
• Based on the score on this  test, selected candidates are invited to a video challenge.
• Successful candidates are exposed to the personality test and are invited to the full day assessment center in Oslo.
• In the last step, the candidates are invited to the final interview with one representative from executive management and the Head of Schibsted Trainee Program in Oslo.
• The new trainees are welcomed to the Schibsted family and prepared for the trainee program.
• Our ambition is that we will complete the recruitment process before the end of February. 
• The program starts in August 

Timeline

CEO of Schibsted, Kristin Skogen Lund, is convinced the company benefits from people that dare ask questions, aren’t afraid to try a new approach, and can bring a new perspective to the table. She is passionate about the trainee program, and believes it gives Schibsted both an edge and an advantage in the market.

– The trainee program is and has been important to us. We see former trainees filling key roles – either within our organization or at other companies where they become enthusiastic ambassadors for Schibsted, she says.

Skogen Lund highlights curiosity and an open mind as key characteristics the Schibsted trainees should possess, and wants people to dare to raise their hand and voice their opinion. New perspectives and input are highly valued by Schibsted’s chief executive and is the reason that trainees are included in teams from the get go. – In my experience the trainees are highly competent people and they contribute throughout their traineeship. At Schibsted there are no desk exercises, and trainees are given responsibilities and proper tasks on real projects from day one.

Skogen Lund is convinced that this approach is key in giving the trainees a sense of achievement – and perhaps a stronger vision of the career path they want to take. – When you are given the opportunity to test different areas it can give you a better sense of what you enjoy doing, and what direction you would like to take. The trainees are stationed in four different parts of the Schibsted organization through their traineeship, which can be a great way to navigate their own path.

Schibsted seeks diversity and wants to be challenged

The CEO of Schibsted wants to give people room to grow and to voice their opinions – especially if they do not agree with the status quo. She feels this is one of the biggest differentiators Schibsted has to its competitors. – In the Schibsted culture we seek diversity, we seek counter-perceptions, we genuinely want to be sharpened and challenged. This means that there is room for many different personalities and some peculiarities as well.

Key to having a successful traineeship lies in not feeling you must meet a set of expectations, but rather shape those expectations yourself, Skogen Lund says. – I think each and every one of our trainees bring something unique to the table and that they should take ownership of and shape their role. I would rather have someone that breaks the boundaries of what is expected, then someone that is constantly afraid to not meet the expectations they think lies on them.

You would be forgiven for thinking that the CEO of a large company like Schibsted would look at the numbers first and foremost. Kristin Skogen Lund certainly expects everyone to help the company do well. But when it comes to developing new products she believes that there needs to be something more than a calculation involved.

– Much of what we do has an element of, if not art, then a flair. If you want to develop good products, you can’t solely use your calculator – you must have a sense of users and market, and have almost an artistic flair. To do this you must of course attract that kind of people, and then you have to give them free rein. I think Schibsted is good at that.

The value of a good mentor

The Schibsted Trainee Program offers a world class mentorship for its participants. The value of someone to push you forward and help you gain the courage to speak up, is perhaps the most important tool a trainee can have, says Skogen Lund.

– Throughout my career I have had people who have meant a lot to me, and I have been fortunate to have had bosses who gave me the confidence to move forward. It is important to have what I call “yes you can” people surrounding you, who make you try when you may not have the courage to do it yourself. The Schibsted Trainee Program offers that type of support to our trainees, and is in my opinion a reason to apply on its own, she concludes.

Read more about the trainee program here