"I see this programme as a perfect entry-ticket for the job market"
Veronika Sárik works as a railway consultant with challenging and exciting projects in Sweden. She is a graduate of the master's programme in Transport and Geoinformation Technology.
What made you decide to start studying at KTH?
I first came to study at KTH as an Erasmus student in the fall of 2015. I was enjoying my time so much here that I decided to apply for the entire Master's programme in Transport and Geoinformation Technology, starting the fall of 2016. I was a little unsure, if it is the right programme, as I did my Bachelor in Civil Engineering, but I wanted to deepen my knowledge in different aspects of railway engineering, and I saw an opportunity for this in the programme.
What do you see as the greatest aspects of your programme?
I appreciated the flexibility of the programme the most, as it allowed each student to deepen the knowledge in their respective preference fields while giving opportunities to learn about entirely new engineering domains as well. I even got the chance to take online courses from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, as the KTH Railway Group and the UIUC RailTEC has an agreement on online education.
What does your current job involve?
I have started to work as an intern at one of the leading consultancies in Sweden and Europe already during my master's, and after my graduation, I got offered a full-time position at the company. I now work as a railway consultant, with challenging and exciting projects such as the East Link, the first high-speed railway line in Sweden, the Central Station reconstruction and design of new metro lines in Stockholm and the West Link, an underground railway tunnel in Gothenburg.
How do you use the knowledge and skills you gained during your degree?
I believe that KTH has given me a lot that helps me today in my work, both in professional knowledge and soft skills, such as the ability to work in teams with international people and be open to entirely different viewpoints from the ones I have.
What kind of career opportunities are available in your field?
I see this programme as a perfect entry-ticket for the job market, as both transport and geoinformation technology are domains that are experiencing an immense development today. The need for engineers in these fields is hard to fulfil, both in Sweden and in Europe, meaning excellent opportunities for graduates, especially from respected and well-known universities as KTH.
What five things would you like to advise future students?
I would say: dare to start new things, ask all your questions, meet as many of your fellow students as possible, find the field that you are passionate about and of course enjoy your time at KTH!