It was Carnival day 2016 and Sinval Junior was partying with his friends in his hometown in Brazil when he got a call that would change his life. Volvo Construction Equipment had offered him a position at their plant in Braås, Sweden. Engineer, two MBAs, Sinval Ferreira de Oliveira Junior has been working in Sweden ever since. Balancing a new culture - that he and his family have enthusiastically embraced - with a certain Brazilian way of being that he gladly carries to work every day, this foreign professional has been a mentor twice and is getting ready for a third go in Mitt Livs Chans this spring.
- I’ve been raised with the conviction it’s up to us to contribute to society the best we can. In Brazil I had worked quite a lot as volunteer and, after moving to Sweden, I really missed that part of my life. So when Volvo promoted Mitt Livs Chans, the mentoring program seemed perfect to fill the gap! When I left Brazil, I knew it would be challenging to approach a new culture and live so far away from home, but my wife and I accepted the challenge because we wanted to grow. The mentoring program is yet another way to do that.
- I think the language is often a big barrier holding them back. There’s often sort of a suspicion that people who don’t speak the language fluently might somewhat be less competent. On the contrary, I think that people who have the courage to put themselves in the uncomfortable position of having to learn a new language as adults and work with that language will eventually learn it if they have a chance to practice it in the workplace, while the strength of their character is a great asset for their company.
- Another big challenge for these colleagues is to stay motivated in front of all that’s thrown at them, which turns into a big challenge for me as a mentor. They face a lot of rejections when trying to find a job, and on top of that the corona crisis makes everything much harder right now. So I try to motivate them to go on, I give them concrete examples that it’s possible to make it, even if it’s difficult.
- I was working in Brazil when I first heard about an opening for the position I now hold at Volvo. I read a post on LinkedIn and said to myself: ”Well, Sinval, you must try!”. So I applied, while also taking contact with someone working at Volvo that I met at an event. I think that showing my curiosity and interest really made a difference and that’s why I tell my mentees that networking is so important. I understand it can be hard to take the initiative and approach new people. At the same time it’s a step out of the comfort zone that can be a real game changer.
- As a mentor I get to see the direct effect of what I do, which is amazing! When a mentee comes to me with a big smile on their face and says ”Sinval, I tried what you suggested and it worked!”, that’s the biggest reward I can get! The mentoring program is the classic win-win situation. I get to do something good for society at large and for these colleagues and at the same time I learn so much! It may be challenging but only by getting to know each other and our differences and accepting them we can become good citizens of a fully functioning democratic society.