Vegard Toska joined GAC Norway in november 2023, but his potential was already recognized when his manager, Tom, had the pleasure of interviewing him. Reflecting on that interview, Tom noted: “I had the pleasure of interviewing Vegard. In my view, the most crucial attributes for ship agents encompass social intelligence, effective communication, and the ability to swiftly learn and adapt. Vegard demonstrated proficiency in all these aspects.
Despite lacking experience in shipping, his candidacy presents an opportunity for us to shape his trajectory and integrate him seamlessly into our team of ship agents at Mongstad. Ultimately, we aim to foster a team environment where each member complements one another as much as possible.
Given the complexity of the shipping industry, particularly concerning dynamics between charterers, time-charterers, owners etc, we always anticipate new agents to face challenges. However, Vegard has demonstrated a remarkable ability to grasp concepts swiftly. In the brief period he's been with us, we've been impressed by his performance. Certainly, there are significant challenges ahead for Vegard, but his optimistic attitude sets a promising tone for his future with GAC Norway.”
Vegard’s ability to quickly grasp complex concepts has continued to impress, and while there are challenges ahead, his positive attitude sets a promising tone for his future with GAC Norway. In addition to his role, Vegard is also an accomplished author with a bachelor’s degree in history, having written the book Hordaland in War – The Year 1940 Seen from the German Side, offering a unique perspective on World War II.
Tell us a bit about yourself and your background.
I’ve had a pretty varied background before starting at GAC Norway, ranging from working with carpentry to becoming an historian. Originally I wanted to work with tourism, but eventually ended up with carpentry, before deciding to find some more stable work long term.
Why did you want to work at GAC Norway?
I have a friend of mine who works as a shipping agent who one day said “you know what, I think you’d love this job”. He described his day to day work, the challenges that came with it and I felt like it could be an exciting opportunity.
You started working in GAC Norway in november 2023. Tell us what the people at GAC Norway have done to make you feel included and welcome in your new job.
Being new to the shipping industry came with its challenges at first, but I eventually settled into it faster than expected. I had the opportunity to learn from a lot of skilled and highly knowledgeable co-workers in a nice work environment, drastically shortening the time of feeling like the “new guy”.
Describe a typical day at work.
No day is the same, so it’s hard to describe a “typical day”. There is a unique blend of challenges and tasks that vary from day to day, but mostly it’s analyzing a large quantity of information and maintaining order. At my office I also do logistics coordination, which gets you out of the office once in a while, allowing me to see both the big and the little picture of what I do at work.
What do you particularly like about the job?
It’s varied and challenging work that has a big impact on the daily. The job comes with a lot of responsibility and you get pretty good at coordinating. In particular I enjoy the boarding clerk work. Being able to visit the tankers on departure and talking with captains and crew of different nationalities is always a nice experience.
Do you have any good advice for young people who want to work in shipping?
It is a great opportunity to learn various new skills, most of all coordinating in stressful situations, I would recommend being open to learning new skills and not to be afraid to ask co-workers for help.
What do you consider the most important qualities for someone working in the shipping industry?
Being systematic and keeping a level head comes a long way.
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