Summer at Metso: Trainee reflections from Metso’s Distribution Management

A great mix of learning, doing, and connecting

Sanni Jaatinen joined Metso as Quote & Order Management Trainee in the beginning of summer, and the experience has already made a lasting impression.

“Everything is still quite new and exciting. You have to be ready to learn something every day,” she says. Her first weeks were structured around shadowing colleagues, independent learning, and diving into casework as a group. “It’s worked really well – the variation helps keep you focused and energized.”

Recently, Sanni and the other new trainees have begun handling their own cases from a dedicated ‘new trainee’ folder. “There are still a lot of questions, but it feels great to be getting hands-on experience,” she says.

Outside of work, the social side has also been a highlight. “There’s always something going on – after works, summer parties, board game nights. And the team? Incredibly friendly and fun to be around,” she highlights.

Multicultural teamwork and complex supply chains

For Elias Lamminmäki, this trainee position marked a shift from his previous summers as an entrepreneur: “I wanted to try something new, and I’ve really liked my time here.”

Elias, who studies his master’s in technology, finance and business management at the Tampere University, has been introducing Metso to others on three different aspects: multiculturalism, organizational structure, and supply chains. “Our team includes people from all over the world, and English is the common language. It’s a great way to improve communication skills and learn about other cultures.”

He has also been impressed by the scale of the organization. “In the beginning, Metso’s structure felt like a bit of a maze, but with time, it’s become much clearer. Now I know whom to turn to, how teams operate, and how things move across the supply chain.”

As someone with a study background in industrial engineering and management, Elias has appreciated seeing how different components move from manufacturing to customers. “Although the scale is huge, everything works – and that’s thanks to all the teams working together for a shared goal.”

Balancing part-time work with full-time studies

Katri Kujala is now in her second summer at Metso. She’s worked with Metso part-time also during the academic year and wants to talk about her role as a part-timer outside summer months.

The biggest benefit for her at Metso? Flexibility. Katri can choose her workdays and hours based on her schedule, and remote work makes it easier to manage everything. “If I want to take time off for exams or a trip, I can. And when I have more time, I can work more. Helping hands are always appreciated in our team.”

Part-time work has also helped her stay updated on bigger projects, like the SAPphire implementation. “I joined a major project’s training sessions in the spring, which made it easier to jump into full-time work during go-live in May.”

And the perks? “Free gym at the office, lunch benefits, occupational health, and a new leisure time accident insurance, which I had to test out after breaking my ankle earlier this year,” she laughs.

It’s not always easy to juggle work and studies. “Sure, I’d graduate faster if I didn’t work – but this way, I can pay rent, eat more than oatmeal, and build my career at the same time. And honestly, the people here make it worth it. I’ve never had so many fun coffee break conversations in any other job.”

Finding the balance with hybrid work

Lauri Kontinen has been working in the team since March 2025 while he also studies industrial engineering and management. This is his first role working in a hybrid model, and he has found both sides have their own benefits.

“Remote work brings flexibility, especially with a busy student life. I usually start earlier on remote days and can head straight to other activities afterwards,” he says. With similar equipment at home and in the office, the work itself flows smoothly – but there’s a trade-off. “Remote days can feel lonely. Teams calls help, but it’s not quite the same as face-to-face.”

Office days, on the other hand, bring energy. “We have a large team, so there’s always someone to chat with during coffee or lunch breaks. And yes, our floor has the best coffee in the whole Tampere plant.”

Office work also makes learning easier. “It’s faster to ask or offer help in person. We trainees often gather to talk through cases and learn from each other.”

His takeaway? “To get the most out of hybrid work, you need to find the right balance. But if I had to choose just one, I’d always pick office days, because the people make all the difference.”

From onboarding to hybrid work, part-time flexibility to international teamwork, each of these trainees has brought their own strengths and learned something valuable along the way. But one theme stands out across every story: people.

Whether it’s getting support from experienced colleagues, laughing over coffee breaks, or learning through hands-on cases together, it’s clear that the Quote & Order Management team has made this summer one to remember.