Read the interview with Nikita Maslennikov, ICON’s president, Student Assistant at Arla Foods and Co-owner of By Bang. He moved to Denmark from Russia in 2018 and is currently studying Digital Business Management at Aarhus University.
What were some of the defining moments during your studies that shaped your career?
For me, the defining moment was when I went to my exchange, where I decided to take one class about management consulting. That’s where I learned how interesting and exciting it is to work on projects in groups of very passionate people.
Where did you find guidance during your studies?
I’ve gotten a lot of help from students who are older than me because they […] have already had some student jobs, worked at those companies that I wanted to apply for, or maybe they’ve already tried student activities like case competitions. It was pretty helpful to get advice from them. There were also people who work at the companies where I could see myself. It was great to have them as part of my network […] because then I could ask them the questions that were most concerning to me.
How did involvement in different organizations impact your career choices later on?
I think being active and trying something outside of my classes helped me see the bigger picture of the business world. It expanded my network and allowed me to meet people with more experience and different perspectives. It also made it easier to understand Denmark better and grow my circle.
"Having different perspectives has really broadened my view and shown me different opportunities that students have."
Since we are already in the career topic, what types of jobs did you pursue here, and which ones would you say contributed most to your growth?
Like many other people, I started out with cleaning, when I began my bachelor’s. Those are funny moments to think about right now. Some more interesting, study-related jobs I had were in marketing at smaller companies. I was also an assistant here at BSS for a year. That was very interesting for me, because it gave me a good look into the world of academia. And right now, I’m working at Arla. So, I switched between a small company, academia and a big company, and having different perspectives has really broadened my view and shown me different opportunities that students have and what I could do in my life.
What do you think stood out in your applications that turned out successful?
There are so many applications sent out to recruiters, and as international students, we are also competing with local students here, who might know the market better. I think that in my application it was my passion and experience, but also the attitude and work ethic that I tried to highlight in my motivation letter, matching it with the description and the company I was applying to.
During your job search, did you find any mistakes that are quite common among students when applying for jobs?
The common mistake is not exploring all your options when you’re applying for jobs, as it doesn’t end on sending a CV. Often, the job announcement includes the name of the hiring manager, but many people don’t reach out. And I think reaching out, having this small talk, coming for a coffee, or just speaking to the hiring manager on the phone, really sets you apart from the crowd of similar people who are applying for this job. If you try it for most of the jobs that you apply for, it will help you get the one you want.
Now let’s talk about a thing that brings us all together, which is, of course, ICON. What was the motivation behind starting ICON?
I think that when coming to Denmark, a lot of international students, although they’re very eager to look for job and get the experience, lack information about the job market – especially compared to local students. They have their parents working here, […] some connections and knowledge of the Danish market. And I thought that taking the experience of senior international students, collecting it all together, and then uniting to help each other, would be the best solution. That’s why I reached out to a few motivated, very passionate people I knew, and together, we founded ICON to connect new students with the companies who are hiring internationals.
There are many organizations supporting international students. What makes ICON different, and why do you believe it can make a change?
I think we have an advantage because no one knows the pains of international students better than international students themselves. We have already been through a lot of things, we have acquired that experience and understanding of the challenges, and we can give that knowledge further on to the new students who are coming here. I think that’s our biggest advantage.
"Taking the experience of senior international students, collecting it all together, and then uniting to help each other, would be the best solution."
Out of all the things you’ve done since you came here, what would you say you’re the proudest of?
I have had the chance to take part in a lot of cool things since I came here. The thing I am proudest of is finding friends, rebuilding my circle, and learning the language. Taking steps in these directions was very important to me because it helped me find my role in this new foreign country. I’m very proud of that, and I think every international who succeeds in this should be proud of themselves.
Do you think the Danish language is a game changer?
It might not be that crucial for your career since there are plenty of jobs where you speak English. But it really makes a difference when you can exchange a few phrases on the street or when someone approaches you in Danish, and you don’t have to ask them to switch to English. I think it’s really just important for yourself, and it was important for me as well.
Have you experienced burnout in the past couple of years or how do you prevent it?
I did. I think it’s hard to avoid when you’re keen on doing many things. One mistake people make, that I also made myself, is thinking, ‘I have enough time, I just need to push a bit more’ when there’s already a lot on their plate. Then, I felt really tired, needed to step back, cancel some things, recover, and then continue. But now I know that about myself, that I tend to be very passionate, so I know that there are limits of what I should take on.
"The most important thing is not to stress out from the beginning just because you haven’t landed the job you really wanted."
You always come very prepared to the meetings, and you spread your positive energy. How do you do it?
I think it’s because I have a lot of support in my life. It’s also about priorities, understanding what’s important to you, and planning your time ahead each day. I have a ‘to-do’ list that I go through, which helps me accomplish big things in smaller steps, one by one. That’s how I get things done.
To conclude the interview, I’d like to ask you for a piece of advice. What would you recommend to people who are just starting their job search?
The most important thing is not to stress out from the beginning just because you haven’t landed the job you really wanted or feel like you can’t apply for certain positions due to a lack of skills. It might take time, but it will suddenly come. If you break it down into steps, day by day, you can achieve those goals. You can, for example, take an online course or take part in volunteering activity – things to help both your career and personal growth. My advice would be not to stress out. It will come.