Alex Benjamín Bjarnason is a newly qualified chef and has just returned from an internship in Gothenburg, Sweden.
He completed his journeyman's examination in January 2026 and will receive his journeyman's certificate this March. At the beginning of the year, he travelled to Gothenburg where he stayed for six weeks. He worked at the restaurant Project, a well-known establishment in the city where great emphasis is placed on quality, precision, and creative cuisine.
Alex says his main motivation for doing an internship abroad was the desire to improve in his profession. “To better myself in the field, gain more experience, and help me decide what kind of restaurant I want to work at,” he says when asked what motivated him to go abroad.
By working in a new environment, people get the opportunity to see how different kitchens operate, how organisation and work methods are implemented, and how workplace culture can differ between countries. Such experience can help young professionals shape their own vision for the profession and their future within it.
When asked if he noticed a big difference in the reception he received in Sweden compared to Iceland, Alex says the difference wasn't significant. However, he did notice that people were generally very helpful and friendly.
This positive experience made it easier to adapt to new circumstances and learn from his colleagues. In professions like cooking, where teamwork is crucial, good collaboration and support from colleagues can have a major impact on both the learning process and well-being in the workplace.
After his stay, Alex feels it's important to share certain lessons with others who are taking their first steps in the profession. He says the experience reminded him of the importance of building experience in a diverse environment.
“It's important to build experience in a diverse environment and learn to approach tasks from different perspectives,” he says. Such experience can help people develop new methods, become more flexible in their work, and gain a deeper understanding of the profession.
Working at the restaurant Project also had an impact on Alex as a professional. There, he gained insight into how much work goes into maintaining high quality standards in the restaurant industry.
“As a professional, the experience helped me understand the amount of work that goes into maintaining a Michelin standard and that you need a good team behind it,” he says. This requires organisation, precision, and good cooperation from everyone working in the kitchen.
Personally, the stay was also very enjoyable. Alex says it was especially fun to get the opportunity to get to know a new city in another country and experience a different culture alongside his work.
When Alex is asked to describe the experience in three words, the answer comes quickly: learning, collaboration and hard work. These words aptly describe the experience he gained during his stay.
Finally, Alex has simple but clear advice for those who are considering going on an Erasmus student exchange or traineeship abroad.
“Just go for it, all day long, at least once,” he says. This is the second time he has gone abroad, and both times the experience ended with him making good friends.
Such an experience can therefore not only strengthen professional skills but also open doors to new connections, friendships, and opportunities that can follow people far into the future.