Sofie works as a consultant at Ramboll Management Consulting

Interview from 2021

Where are you working now and what is your current position? On a typical day (or week) in this position, what do you do?

I work as a consultant at the Social and Economic Impacts department at Ramboll Management Consulting. Ramboll Management Consulting is part of larger Ramboll, a global engineering and consultancy company working to create socially, economically and environmentally sustainable societies. At the Social and Economic Impacts department, we help clients make evidence-based decisions by evaluating and analysing services, policies, programmes and organisational structures locally, regionally, nationally or with international institutions. My work consists of conducting evaluations and analyses of various types of initiatives or programmes, mostly on behalf of actors in the public sector. I often work in areas such as labour market, integration, competence development and growth, with a focus on qualitative methodology. During a normal working week, I participate in meetings with colleagues and clients, conduct interviews, workshops and other forms of data collection, write reports and give presentations for various audiences.

What was your first job after graduation?

My first job after graduation was at Ramboll. I did an internship at the Social and Economic Impacts department during the last term of my studies. At the end of my internship, I was employed full-time as an analyst at the same department.

To what extent is what you learned during your studies in Political Science at Uppsala University applicable in your current job?

I have had use for everything that I learned during my studies in one way or another. During my studies, I for example developed analytical and methodological skills that have been valuable in my current job. I have also had great use of the last term’s internship, since it was through the internship that I first came in contact with Ramboll.

Why did you choose the Master’s Programme in Political Science at Uppsala University?

I had a great experience from my bachelor’s studies at Uppsala university. I have always appreciated the high standard and competence from both teachers and fellow students, as well as the closeness to research at the university. I also have quite a broad interest in political science and wanted to pursuit a master’s programme that reflected that. The combination of high standards and a broad focus made it easy for me to choose the master’s programme at Uppsala University.

What is your best memory from your time at Uppsala University?

In hindsight, it is impossible to pick one. My best memories are a collection of highlights from my bachelor’s and master’s studies. I particularly remember the first day in class (when one of my new classmates had finished reading Plato while I still had not bought most of my books, which made me nervous to say the least), going for dinner with friends after long days of studying, and the almost unreal feeling of handing in my master’s thesis.

What advice would you give to current and future students of Political Science?

Perhaps a cliché, but my advice is to study what you enjoy. For a long time, I tried to make the most strategical choices of education, including which courses to take, based on some idea about what I thought would be the dream career of a political scientist. When I realised that I wanted to do something different than what I had always imagined (and what others wanted, for that matter), I felt free to focus on what I was actually interested in. Thanks to that, I now have a job that I love!