For Mikael, a first-year student at Aalto University, last summer meant a change of scenery from Helsinki to Rauma as he landed a summerjob at Steerprop. Mikael had applied to several marine industry companies for design roles and was fortunate to secure a position at Steerprop. From the moment he learned he had the job, he was enthusiastic about starting and learning from design experts in the field.
At Steerprop, he was able to explore his long-standing interest in the maritime industry, gain hands-on experience in mechanical design, and see his studies come to life in practice.
Initially, he assumed the office would be filled with older staff, but was pleasantly surprised to find many young, skilled colleagues. “The marine industry turned out to be just as interesting as I had imagined,” Mikael reflects, noting how quickly he felt part of the team.
His expectations for this summer were for work that would be both challenging and rewarding.
My goal was to get my foot into the industry and gain valuable experience already at this early stage of my studies. Both my expectations and my goals were met during the summer, he explains.
Within the mechanical design team, he encountered excellent team spirit. “Employees respect each other and are always willing to help their colleagues,” he says. He made new friends who also became part of his social circle outside work.
The summer offered Mikael plenty of learning opportunities. His tasks centered on modeling and designing parts and assemblies for various projects, but he also got to program and develop tools for internal company use.
“The most exciting part was seeing designs move into the test phase,” he says.
Alongside work, team activities were another highlight. The daily lunches with teammates and a memorable sauna evening created bonds that extended beyond the office.
Looking back, Mikael describes the summer as motivating. He applied and practiced his academic skills every day, and the experience deepened his commitment to a career in mechanical design.
What I learned and the experience I gained will help me significantly in my future career in this field, he says.
Summing up his summer experience, he really wants to recommend Steerprop as a workplace: “There is a good and constructive atmosphere with a strong spirit of doing and learning. Colleagues are helpful and genuinely good guys.”
As he continues his studies in Espoo this autumn, Mikael does so with renewed motivation and inspiration, and with hopes of returning to Steerprop for another summer.
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