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In our NORMAPeople series, employees around the world talk about their day-to-day work, how they came to the company and what they appreciate most about their jobs.
Dušan Gaćeša has been working as an EMEA Shared Service Center Buyer intern for Capex & MRO at the NORMA Group EMEA Shared Service Center in Novi Sad, Serbia, since August 2022. In this interview, he talks about his experience as an intern at the company.
Dušan, what kind of tasks do you have at NORMA Group?
My responsibility and that of my colleagues, is to support the local purchasing departments in the purchase-to-pay process and to provide time-efficient services to the requestors. My tasks also include catalog administration in the NORMA Store as well as improving the purchase order catalog rate to ensure that the ordering process is optimized in terms of both cost and time.
Are there any routines in your daily work?
There sure are. Routines are important when it comes to balancing my studies and work. I usually start my day by checking e-mails and prioritizing tasks before any meeting starts. Then the regular daily activities begin in order to fulfill the plan for that day.
Do you find it difficult to balance your studies and work?
It is definitely a challenge sometimes. I study industrial engineering at the Faculty of Technical Sciences at the University in Novi Sad. Studying is extremely time-consuming, so I had to learn quickly how to organize my time well in order to meet the deadlines that I face both in my day-to-day work and during my studies.
What aspects of your job do you find particularly important?
Building trusting relationships with my colleagues and suppliers is vital. The processes in purchasing require constant communication with everyone involved – I had to find my own way of approaching people to find solutions that work for everyone.
“Teamwork is the key to success.”
The opportunity NORMA Group is offering me is the first step in my career and a great chance for me to take a step forward. I really appreciate the support that my colleagues provide me with and the opportunity to be involved in all areas of our team’s responsibilities – especially as someone who is still at the beginning of his career.
What is special about working as an intern at NORMA Group?
The opportunity to learn from experienced colleagues and to successfully help shape the company’s processes from the very beginning. I was a regular member of the team from day one and that is something I am very grateful for.
I have been able to apply the knowledge I acquired at university to my everyday work and have gained invaluable practical experience that has helped me to further develop my personal skills. I have a much better understanding of the market as well as the needs of the company and have been able to work on improving my negotiating skills – something that is crucial for a position in purchasing.
And when you’re not at work, what do you like to do in your spare time?
I like to read books and do a lot of sports. I regularly get together with my friends and play basketball.
What are your goals for the future?
I want to gain more experience in purchasing and advance my career in the company. I’m confident that with hard work and a positive attitude I can achieve my goals and maintain a good work-life balance.
