Vend on the road: takeaways from JavaZone, UiO and NTNU
Autumn always means the same thing for our talent team: career event season. This year, we made stops at JavaZone, Norway’s flagship tech conference, and the career fairs at the University of Oslo (Dagen@ifi) and NTNU (IT-dagene.
Career
September 22, 2026
Reading time: 2 min
Why we still show up in person
It would be easy to let a job listing do the talking. But nothing replaces showing up at a stand and actually talking to people, answering whatever's on their mind instead of guessing.. Career events give us that, and they give students something too: a direct line into industry, without a CV or an application form standing in the way. That bridge between academia and the working world is exactly why these events are worth the trip.
Meeting all kinds of people
Part of what makes these days so good is the range of people who come by. Computer science students, designers, people switching paths entirely, some with a clear idea of where they're headed and others just exploring. That mix is where the energy comes from, and it's a good reminder that careers rarely move in a straight line.
Standout moments from UiO and NTNU
Both Dagen@ifi and IT-dagene left an impression. The students we met were sharp and curious,asking genuinely good questions about our work, our tech stack and what it's actually like day to day. In a world where technology and the skills we need are changing quickly, we find that curiosity, adaptability and a willingness to keep learning will matter more than ever.
A full-circle moment
The highlight of the season, though, wasn't something we planned for. A handful of former interns stopped by our stand, not to ask about jobs, but just to say hello and tell us how things have gone for them since. Hearing where their careers have taken them was a good reminder that the value of an internship isn't only about where someone works next. It's also about giving people the chance to step away from textbook theory to work on real problems, learn alongside experienced colleagues and build skills and confidence they can take with them. Knowing Vend has played a small part in that journey is the kind of moment that makes this work worthwhile.
To everyone who stopped for a chat at JavaZone, UiO or NTNU: thank you. We'll see you at the next one.
