Six months in the USA: a trainee’s experience abroad

During their two-year traineeship at TVH, our Global Management Trainees get to embark on one or more exciting international adventures. Under the guidance of their coaches, Niels Rossey (Strategic Market Manager) and Marlies De Bruyn (Strategy Manager), they’re taking part in a one-of-a-kind rotation program. TVH’s two-year trainee program is designed to give participants a comprehensive view of the business. It includes multiple rotations through various departments, each lasting about six months.

Every six months, they start working on a new project in a different department, and one of these rotations takes place in the US. This journey allows them to dive into diverse roles, broaden their horizons, and gain invaluable hands-on experience along the way.

The program offers young graduates the chance to learn extensively and build connections, opening doors for their future. Hanne Vandenberghe had the opportunity to travel to Sweden in addition to her regular rotation in the US. She has since completed her program and taken on a permanent role within the organization. Andreas Hemelaere has been living in the US since September. He’ll stay there for six months. Let’s hear about their experiences and insights during this exciting journey.

ANDREAS HEMELAERE IN THE US

Andreas left Belgium in September to start his adventure in the USA and is currently still there. He will work there until the end of February as part of his six-month rotation. Although the initial plan was to stay until the end of December, his stay has been extended a bit. “I will likely return home briefly around Christmas, but with my visa, I can only leave the country for 14 days”, Andreas says.

“Starting my journey was an adventure in itself! At the border in Chicago, I had some issues with my documents and was even pulled aside by customs. It was definitely not the smoothest of arrivals, but luckily, everything worked out in the end.”

A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE

Andreas is very positive about his stay in the US: “The work atmosphere is a bit different than in Belgium. In the US, for instance, people prefer to socialize over a cup of coffee, whereas in Belgium, lunch is more of a social time. However, the colleagues here have been super welcoming. Two other trainees from the US have been helping me get settled and involve me in activities outside of work.”

“I’m working in the Operations department, focusing on two projects. One is about creating global guidelines for new distribution centers (DCs). The second project looks at how we can improve the handling of the product category seats in Olathe and the DCs in the US to make the operations more efficient.”

In his first weeks, Andreas already got the opportunity to travel to Reno, where a new DC will open in December, and he then flew to California to check out another DC and learn more about the flow of operations there. He even managed to sneak in a weekend in LA, which was a nice bonus!

LIFE OUTSIDE OF WORK

“Outside of work, I’m making the most of the warm weather. I go running regularly, and I’ve already joined a tennis club. I’ve even started playing football with people I found through social media. The sports facilities here are top-notch; I really enjoy that. Belgian colleagues sometimes visit the US, and then we’ll go out for drinks or catch a football game together.”

As someone who wouldn’t describe himself as particularly outgoing, this experience has pushed him out of his comfort zone. “You’re almost forced to meet new people and build a network, which has been great for personal growth.”

BALANCING PERSONAL LIFE

On a personal level, it’s not always easy. Andreas has a girlfriend in Belgium, but they stay connected and even plan to meet in New York for a few days. “Living abroad has been a great experience, but if it were a permanent situation, it would be tough.”

HANNE VANDENBERGHE IN THE US AND SWEDEN

For many, TVH’s trainee program is the perfect combination of an international environment and boundless opportunities for development. That was the case for Hanne, who found both professional growth and a welcoming culture at TVH. “The traineeship offers a unique chance to explore different parts of the company while also growing personally and professionally”, she says.

A LOOK INSIDE THE TRAINEESHIP

Hanne's traineeship began with the Value Realization Office team (S&S). Later, she moved to the Continuous Improvement and Operations EMEA teams. In her third rotation, she worked on a project in the Supply Chain team, and for her last rotation, she joined the integration team for the integration of TVH Nordic AB. These experiences enhanced her skills and gave her a deeper understanding of TVH’s internal processes.

INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

While a rotation in Olathe, Kansas, was planned from the start of the traineeship, Hanne also had the opportunity to work in Sweden. “Sweden was an extra chance that came up later, with the integration of TVH Nordic AB. Being there allowed me to get hands-on experience in an ERP business integration. It was a great learning opportunity to gain deeper insights into TVH and how one of its distribution centers operates.

LIFE ABROAD: WORK AND PLAY

Living abroad offered both professional and personal rewards. In the US, Hanne lived in Overland Park, sharing the experience with fellow trainee Justine Roggemans. “It was amazing to share this experience with Justine. We commuted together, went on trips together… Our American colleagues were also incredibly welcoming: they invited us to all kinds of events!”.

In Sweden, she stayed in a cozy wooden house in the garden of our colleague Mattias Noaksson. “It was such a cozy place, and I truly felt at home,” Hanne shares with a smile. “The Swedish team introduced me to the tradition of fika, and we burned off the calories at the gym.” Friends from Belgium even visited during her stay, making the time abroad even more memorable.

DREAM DESTINATION

Though there are no immediate plans for another international assignment, Hanne has one dream destination. “It has always been a dream of mine to live and work in Australia,” she shares. “If the chance comes, I would definitely jump at it!”

From Belgium to the US and Sweden, Hanne's journey at TVH highlights the diverse opportunities the company offers, both at home and abroad.