- "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 really only going to work for a year to gain 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 and Gymnastics Federation right after the event, simply because I had been a volunteer at "Kollen".
Nice gang
Marianne is now in her 9th year as section manager for accreditation control. She leads the group that looks after the entrances in the innermost part of the stadium, where the media, coaches, support staff and participants go.
- 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 the same people come every year. It's a really nice group and we're very good at looking after each other and the new volunteers.
Hard to quit
This will be your ninth year here. Why didn't you quit after your first year when you had a permanent job?
- Being a volunteer in Holmenkollen is great fun! You make friends for life, you meet athletes, the media and lots of festive spectators, and you get to be part of this fantastic atmosphere. You also gain good skills to take with you. It's hard to give up in this job," laughs Marianne.
