Pop Culture, July 22nd, and the Development of Professional Interests
Magnus Brandt L?g?yr was ten years old during the summer of 2011, and July 22nd that year made a huge impact on him and his choice of education. Having parents involved in politics in a world that was increasingly changing from the relatively peaceful climate much of the Western world was accustomed to, Magnus developed an interest in espionage, terrorism, and international affairs. Initially, after high school, he considered the Norwegian Police University College, but for various reasons, he chose differently
- The Police University College was my first thought, but if I were to choose that, I wanted to do something else first, like a year in a Norwegian Folk High School (Folkeh?gskole). However, the job opportunities in the Police force led me to choose a different path. I applied for studies abroad with a plan of being there for a year and then move back to Norway.
One year became three, but after completing a bachelor's degree in International Relations and Politics at the University of Sheffield, Magnus decided to move back to Norway, partly to build a network here during his studies
- Since I had studied abroad for my bachelor's, I wanted to come home to build both a social and professional network here in Norway. I was tempted by a smaller program that is known for having a great student environment, in addition to a solid academic reputation – something that PECOS certainly has.
The years as a PECOS student were filled with valuable academic discussions, collaboration, plenty of social interaction, and a high level of inclusivity among the students, many of whom still keep in touch and most recently met at a Christmas party a few days ago
- My class quickly became close-knit and we got through tough methodology courses, R-code frustration, and exams in Silurveien together. Now we have a group chat that we use to stay in touch and get together at birthday parties and other gatherings. Currently, most of us are focused on getting well-established in our jobs, but there is always someone who takes the initiative if it has been a while since we have seen each other– which is nice, he smiles.
In terms of academic achievements, Magnus particularly highlights working on his master's thesis
- I was lucky enough to have ?ivind Bratberg as my supervisor, and I worked on a topic that is directly relevant to the field I wanted to enter after my studies. Being able to really dig into something that you chose to research for almost a year was truly exciting!
- Since my interests were particularly focused on terrorism studies, I would have liked some courses that covered that topic, but overall the study program has helped me develop important academic skills and a methodological approach that I use at my job now.
But why did he end up being interested in these topics in the first place?
- Right – why the particularly cheerful fields of terrorism, espionage, and intelligence? I would say this interest developed gradually during my studies, first in Sheffield and then at Blindern, but if I think back to how I got into it in the first place, I think I must credit part of my interest to pop culture!
The series "24" made a strong impression on Magnus, who brought season after season on disk to swimming training camps during vacations when growing up. This, in combination with a childhood where he was growing up in a home with parents involved in politics, led to a gradual interest in the field
- I was fully aware that “24” was a typical movie version, but the series and the overall theme really made an impression. I also remember extremely well when my mom came home in the days after 22/07. She worked at the Norwegian Parliament and met Labour Party representatives in the hallways. So, even though I was about 10 years old when the attack happened, I think that event still played a role in my choice of career– at least in my subconscious. Now, I even work with the person who received the first call from Ut?ya, and that puts things in perspective.
- I think a lot of people begin their studies in international relations with an idea that they want to work in intelligence – or perhaps diplomacy, and the former appealed more to me. So yes: a combination of pop culture and real-life events, I would say. And the situation we find ourselves in now certainly doesn't make my interest in the field any less relevant- I think there will be a demand for more political scientists in the intelligence and security field in the near future.
From an Internship to a Permanent Position
I meet Magnus at Advansia’s office spaces in Lysaker on a December day, about six months after his graduation ceremony in June. By then, he has been employed for approximately four months and is thriving
- Yes, definitely! It was so nice to come back—I was here as an intern as part of my studies. So, I had a pretty good idea of what to expect, but it was, of course, still exciting to start as a newly graduated and permanent employee, as opposed to a PECOS student who otherwise stayed at Blindern.
Magnus highlights the internship course PECOS4006 as an incredibly valuable experience and one of the reasons he chose the PECOS program
- The internship allowed me to test myself and my skills in practice, and it also gave the employer a chance to see how I could contribute - and whether I suited their needs
- As a newcomer, it's mostly about building skills and experience to become increasingly marketable to clients—building a CV is crucial to landing projects. To get me started, we're working a lot on team composition and suggesting 'packages' of senior-junior competencies.
To secure the internship position, Magnus worked strategically and long-term
- My interest in the field grew during my bachelor's, and I knew that I wanted to work with security and intelligence, but few, if anyone, start directly at places like the Police Security Service (PST). So, I targeted an industry that could provide relevant experience.
- I already had contact with Advansia before starting at PECOS, as I tried to secure a spot there the summer before I started. But they informed me that they, like other similar companies, didn't have enough activity during the summer. Once I began my studies, I reached out again, indicating that during the next semester, I would have the opportunity to work full-time for them for several weeks, and I persisted until I got a yes, he laughs.
The Security Section hadn't had any student interns before, but the experience was indeed positive, and it led to Magnus writing his master's thesis on the PST's challenges when communicating about threats to the private sector. He was also offered a permanent job after his studies, while he still had a year left
- I took a bit of a risk by choosing such a specialized topic, but it turned out to be worthwhile in this case: a few weeks after completing my internship, I was offered a permanent position once my master's was complete. I signed the contract in September the year before I submitted my thesis, which provided great security as I worked on the project.
A Day at Work
Magnus is one of roughly 50 employees in the security section, and much of his job involves interpreting what the PST and other security and intelligence services' is trying to communicate, and to share that information to various business stakeholders. His master's thesis is therefore directly relevant
- I spent almost a year evaluating different parts of the PST's communication with various stakeholders. So, understanding that relationship and the dynamics within it has been extremely useful.
This fall, Magnus was invited to the PST to elaborate on his findings, which he did with a good dose of reverence.
- Standing in front of a number of professionals and highlighting how they could and should improve was a bit strange, but also very exciting. They took it well, even though I highlighted several points of criticism. My master's thesis definitely didn't end up in a drawer, he states.
When Magnus isn't presenting his findings to key societal actors, his job consists of a wide range of varied tasks
- It’s very cliché answer for a consultant, but: I do a lot of different things! Sometimes I'm dedicated to a task for an extended period, while other times I handle multiple tasks in short succession. Right now, I'm working a lot with Statnett, and before that, there were tasks related to the Norwegian Police. Sometimes, I might have to conduct a risk analysis or threat assessment that keeps me occupied from 8 to 4, and other days can be completely consumed by external meetings with clients, courses, conferences, or on the job training.
The advantage of sitting in an office filled with expertise is the opportunity to be proactive and collaborate with others to gain varied and valuable experience
- I may not always contribute beyond giving feedback on the text, but I learn a lot from reading others' assessments. And that's what the job is essentially about: reading about or predicting the likelihood of various threats, whether sabotage, terrorism, espionage, or other crimes, and then suggesting solutions on how to counter or avoid these.
In other words - what Magnus’s tasks entail, depends on the client and the project
- Exactly. Sometimes we assess the security of existing buildings, like 'Do they have adequate doors, and should we maybe add another surveillance camera?' Other times, it's more like, 'Okay, roughly, what should we consider as likely challenges or threats?' to an upcoming project—before the building is built.
Much of what Magnus works on/with is confidential, and when asked, "What is the most exciting project or task you've been allowed to be part of so far?" he finds it a bit difficult to single out just one
- Oh! The most exciting? Well, that's tough, but giving a lecture for the PST definitely stands out as a clear milestone this fall. I spoke in front of 30-40 people, including the communications director at the PST and all the PST's local offices on stream, about what I discovered in my master's thesis. It was truly exciting! Otherwise, I think just being allowed to participate in a lot of varied tasks should be highlighted—like for example conducting a mock hostage exercise.
Magnus describes his workplace as an exciting place with a great working environment, despite them dealing with topics most people prefer to think about as little as possible
- Much of what we deal with is quite brutal—imagining various worst-case scenarios and then figuring out ways to prevent them. Like, 'What is the consequence if someone tries to sabotage X?' or 'How many lives can be lost if Y?' You need to stay focused and have a strong stomach for this kind of work, but it helps that people are friendly and willing to share their knowledge and experience, he says.
There's a broad range of age and experience within the staff, and Magnus admits that sometimes he feels the so-called imposter syndrome creeping up on him
- There aren't many newly graduated folks in their 20s here, and you can sometimes get a bit overwhelmed by the massive expertise the company and this section hold. There's a former Air Force chief, and three people who served in the PST for 20+ years before coming here—so you can easily get a bit overwhelmed coming straight from university! Fortunately, those of us who are relatively recent graduates of various types of studies get good support from the more experienced individuals, and we also try to exchange experiences as recently graduated consultants.
Utilizing Competence
So, what skills does Magnus feel he brings with him from his studies and other experiences?
- Good question! In fact we talked about that at the Christmas party I mentioned earlier: 'What skills do we have and what can we “PECOSians” do?' We concluded that it's actually quite a lot, but that it’s not always easy to see when you’re at Blindern surrounded by people studying and learning the same things as you. You need to experience it 'out here' first—everything from what are for us simple efficiency tricks in different Microsoft Office tools, to how you structure a task or project over time. Not to mention how you write to best communicate what you want to a specific recipient and summarize information in a precise and understandable way. Being able to write well is invaluable!
In terms of more field-specific skills, he highlights developing niche expertise in various areas, based on individual interests
- For example, knowledge about relations with Russia or China, how aid workers are exposed to danger in war, factors that increase the likelihood of radicalization, uprisings and civil war, or in my case—how to work communication threat assessments.
Magnus also points to various other experiences that prove useful beyond the academic bubble
- I served as the PECOS representative on the Program Council, and both the experience of preparing and presenting my own proposals on behalf of the students there and arguing against others' proposals effectively have provided valuable training. This has transferable value, for instance, in professional discussions with clients where it’s crucial that I choose the right words and have a coherent line of argument—especially if we disagree.
- To best facilitate the client's choice of the solution we believe is best, being able to present the basis for our assessment and understanding is important, and this type of work has given me valuable experience. The same can be said about my experience in politics—that has also been very beneficial.
Last but not least, as a political science student, one gains a understanding of systems that one might take for granted as if "everyone has it," as well as a methodological and analytical approach
- Indeed! Understanding how society works and how the state is structured, or what to address in which forums and where you have influence—is invaluable in the workforce. To be able to explain something well, you need to understand it yourself, and this is especially useful when facing complex problems.
- You must figure out what our responsibilities or tasks are, and then break it down and decide for how to address the issues best. Should I read something? Interview someone? Collect more data? It fits right into the method we learned—even though I must admit there hasn't been much R-coding here yet, he laughs.
Rome Wasn't Built in a Day – Think Long Term!
When asked what students should focus on concerning future job prospects, Magnus emphasizes the importance of thinking long-term and building step by step to reach your goal. Hence, it might be wise to start broadly and narrow down as you gain more experience
- I knew during my studies which field I was interested in, but also that the likelihood of going straight into the PST is pretty much impossible. So, I had to find another point of entry—a point I am very happy to currently be at. If you start with the idea that the only thing that will satisfy you upon the completion of from your studies and life afterwards is going straight into a specific advisory position in a particular company or being employed in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I think you may end up being unnecessarily disappointed.
- I have been incredibly lucky to secure what is more or less a dream job for me, but most don't do that right away. Often, it takes a little time before you even know what your 'dream job' is, so it might be wise to think along the lines of 'the path will become clear along the way,' and perhaps focus more broadly on the kind of work you want to do rather than the specific position you want to have. This can make the “fall” a bit less difficult to deal with, if nothing else.
Magnus mentions that many of his fellow students have landed exciting jobs, but that many of them are likely thinking in a similar way
- I believe a lot of us are thinking, 'We're here now; it's exciting, and we're making the most of it and learning as much as we can, but long-term, I might want to be somewhere else.' It's a journey, and yes, I'm very satisfied here, but I would like to work at the PST at some point. It feels very strange to say as a 24-year-old in full time employment, but life is long, and it's going to be okay, he smiles.
ADVICE FOR STUDENTS:
- Internships! Take advantage of the opportunities available to test out a field you're interested in and show an employer what you're capable of! Hiring the 'wrong' person is costly for an employer, so you might get a chance in a place that is otherwise quite closed off at an early stage of your career.
- Think carefully about your master’s thesis topic! If you can pitch in a job interview why what you worked on in your thesis is relevant to an employer, the specific grade matters less. Although, of course, you want it to be as good as possible.
- Make sure to have fun during your studies too! If you choose things solely based on what looks good on your CV and not what you’re passionate about, it's often obvious that you might not have a genuine interest for said field. Consider whether some volunteer/student body roles or similar might suit you.
- When you start working: Take your job seriously, but don’t take yourself too seriously. Be yourself, and don't be afraid to have a bit of self-irony about being the youngest/newest/least experienced. Everyone has to start somewhere, and you'll benefit from being your “true” self.
Magnus Brandt L?g?yr
Study program: Master i Peace and conflict studies
Graduated: 2024
Job title: Security Adviser
Employer: Advansia (part of AFRY)