– Volunteering at the Biathlon World Cup in Holmenkollen gave me the experience I needed to be called in for an interview, says Marianne Halberg (34)
Marianne has been a volunteer at Holmenkollen Skifestival since 2016, but was only supposed to work one year to get some work experience.
– After my studies, I found it very difficult to be a job seeker. I wasn't called in for interviews and lacked relevant experience. Then an opportunity came up! I actually got a job at the Norwegian Gymnastics Federation right after the event, simply because I had volunteered in Kollen.
Nice bunch
Marianne is now in her 9th year as section leader for accreditation control. She leads the group that manages the entrances to the innermost part of the stadium, where media, coaches, support staff and participants enter.
– Here, we greet the athletes in the morning and say good evening to the media in the evening. I'm really looking forward to meeting my team again this year. Many of them are the same people who come every year. It's a really great group, and we're very good at taking care of each other, and those who are new as volunteers.
Hard to quit
This will be your ninth year here. Why didn't you quit after the first year when you got a permanent job?
– Volunteering at Holmenkollen is great fun! You make friends for life, you meet athletes, media and lots of festive spectators, and you get to experience this fantastic atmosphere. You also gain good skills to take with you. It's hard to quit this job, laughs Marianne.
