When Juhani first got a summer job with Arnon three years ago, he was put in charge of checking purchase order confirmations. He quickly proved his worth as a hard worker and cleared the backlog of confirmations that had built up during the coronavirus pandemic.
– I could have spent the rest of the summer just sitting around twiddling my thumbs but decided to ask for something else to do, which led to an opportunity to learn about operational purchasing. Coming back the following summer, it was easy for me to step in to cover for Arnon’s buyers, Juhani says, talking about the start of his relationship with the company.
Juhani has learned to appreciate being able to influence his own job description and ask for more responsibility.
This past summer has again introduced Juhani to a new building block of the industrial organization: production planning. He started in a design role and worked his way up to his first managerial position as a production foreman, which he feels was an opportunity to leverage his strengths.
– As well as keeping the machinery running, the foreman is responsible for the workers’ wellbeing. I like people, and my people skills are one of my strengths. It has been incredibly exciting to get to know everyone and to learn about the dynamics of workplace relationships. There were naturally also some stressful times and challenging situations, but I generally saw these as opportunities to grow. I feel like I have learned enormously, Juhani says, thinking back to his most recent summer job.
Powerful values
Juhani’s varied responsibilities have given him a chance to grow close to many of Arnon’s people over the years. Getting along with his co-workers is important for Juhani, but he finds that the atmosphere at work also plays a big role.
– I have been allowed to learn at my own pace without anyone breathing down my neck. I have been made to feel like a valued member of the team and not just a ‘vacation assistant’. There is a strong culture of mutual trust at Arnon, Juhani says.
According to Juhani, this people-centric ethos and the belief in equal opportunities are also reflected in Arnon’s values: winning, personnel, and partners. For Juhani, the most important of these is people:
– Everything we do is ultimately down to human ability and expertise, which is why I consider ‘people’ to be by far the most fundamental of Arnon’s values. Winning and growing the business is obviously important, but that, too, depends on people.
Juhani sees the multiculturalism of the company as an additional benefit.
– Every summer I have also had an opportunity to work with Arnon’s people in Poland. A multicultural working environment breeds fascinating conversations and brings new perspectives to problem-solving, Juhani says.
Future plans
When Juhani began to map out his career trajectory after high school, he was looking for a versatile and rewarding industry with good earning potential. He decided to pursue a university degree in industrial engineering.
– As I got more into my studies, I became more and more convinced that I had chosen the right field. With just my master’s thesis left to write, and having seen enough of the practical side of the industry, I now know for sure that this really is my calling.
As well as having variety in his work, Juhani also likes being adventurous in his spare time. Through his university he has the opportunity to try new sports, which he fits in around his favorite pastimes of hiking, weightlifting, and running. Juhani loves to travel and is always looking for a good deal and new countries to visit.
And could he see himself building a career at Arnon after his graduation?
– I can absolutely see myself working with these people again. I would also enjoy having a longer-term perspective on my work: Coming up with ways to do things differently excites me, but one summer is too short a period to implement my ideas. Having a permanent contract would mean having the time to properly analyze our processes and try new approaches.
