Experience That Creates Value: An Interview with Even Bergsengstuen

Even Bergsengstuen

Even Bergsengstuen has dedicated his life to the Norwegian railway.

Now, as a senior consultant at Unstad, he combines retirement with flexible work under a "work-as-much-as-you-want" contract – and enjoys the opportunity to share his unique expertise.

We spoke with Even about job satisfaction, knowledge transfer, and what it means to remain a valuable asset to the industry.

What motivated you to keep working after retirement?

Even felt he still had a lot to contribute, particularly in the construction and commissioning of trains. At his previous employer, there was an upper age limit for employees, but at Unstad, no such restriction exists. Before he officially retired, Erling reached out and asked if he wanted to start working at Unstad — and Even gladly accepted.

How do you experience the flexibility of the “work-as-much-as-you-want” contract?

Even finds the flexibility good, as long as there is a demand for his expertise. Currently, there's slightly less work, and he would welcome more tasks. The onboarding process works well and occurs regularly. His fixed tasks now include participating in departmental meetings and onboarding sessions, as well as offering advice and expertise where needed — especially within his fields of specialization.

What does knowledge transfer mean to you?

Knowledge transfer is something Even sees as absolutely essential. He believes sharing knowledge is crucial for building a strong and efficient team. Keeping expertise to oneself, he says, only creates challenges. By sharing his experiences — especially about older train models, faults, and incidents — the overall competence level at Unstad is raised. This gives employees critical insights into everything from calculations and maintenance to other important technical details.

How do you experience the social environment at Unstad?

Even describes the social environment at Unstad as very positive. He had met several of the employees earlier in his career. Now they meet regularly, every other week, via Teams for departmental meetings and onboarding. In addition, social gatherings and technical meetings are arranged, where additional expertise can be shared and feedback exchanged. These take place mostly over Teams, as Bergsengstuen lives in Bergseng — just a stone’s throw from Bergseng Station.

What would you say to other retirees considering working again?

Even believes the desire to work after retirement is very individual. Some people don’t want to work anymore, while others have both the desire and the opportunity. With a flexible contract, you can set your own limits on how much you want to work per week or month, and adjust your effort to match your lifestyle. This flexibility allows for a good balance between work and personal life.

How do these types of contracts benefit the company?

According to Even, these contracts help secure valuable backup expertise for the company, especially during busy periods. This reduces the need for external training and strengthens internal knowledge. As a result, Unstad is better equipped to handle fluctuations in workload and increases its overall technical capacity.