Maija’s story

Hey guys!

Here is Maija’s story, this time on writing.

We hope you enjoy and and get inspired by her story!

Who are you?

I am Maija a 35 year old woman who is living and working in Helsinki.

What did you want to do when you were little?

In general I never had any big dreams regarding what I wanted to do as an adult. At some stage I wanted to be a candy shop owner, but that idea did not last for long.

Where do you work?

I work at a HR consultancy company as a consultant

What did you study and how did you end up to your current position?

I graduated from Laurea polytechnic, with a bachelor level degree in business administration in year 2003. I landed to the world of HR by a chance; I happened to notice an opening within a HR department of a retail store chain and got the job.

Describe your career shortly?

After Laurea I worked for a short period of time as an office assistant. Then I found a position in a HR department of a company in Espoo where I first worked as an assistant and afterwards as a HR specialist. Then I joined my current workplace where I started to work as a junior HR consultant. During the years I have worked in different positions/roles. I have worked for example as a functional (SAP) consultant, as a service delivery manager and project manager. Nowadays my title is senior consultant.

What are the highlights of your career?

Successful implementation/set up of a local payroll/HR system, basically alone, for a customer in Finland.  In general I find that good feedback from customer is always awarding.

What is your next step?

I moved to another department within the company. Time will tell what kind of changes the move will bring. I am also currently studying in Laurea in a Master’s degree program within business administration.

Tips for the students

Flexibility is highly appreciated in working life, and although it is highly appreciated, do not forget the importance of time off from work! Good attitude towards work and will to learn more can open many doors, even if you are not experienced.