In the HögforsGST Career Stories article series, we get to know the company’s employees and their roles. In the first part, we hear from HVAC Designer Jesse Heikkinen, who works at the Leppävirta headquarters and has been with HögforsGST for ten years.
A foot in the door through an internship
Many HögforsGST employees have launched their careers straight from school. Jesse Heikkinen is one of them: he completed his Vocational Qualifications in Building Maintenance Technology in Varkaus, Finland. In March 2015, a mandatory internship led Jesse to HögforsGST for the first time, where he worked in production.
The internship in HögforsGST’s production department went well, and it led to a fixed-term employment contract until the end of 2015. In 2016, Jesse completed his military service, but by December of the same year, he was back at HögforsGST with a permanent contract. He continued in the same production tasks he had learned during his internship.
From production to HVAC designer
HögforsGST offers opportunities for career advancement, and many employees have made internal career moves. Jesse is one of them: as his experience grew, he transitioned from production to the role of an HVAC-designer.
Between 2015 and 2019, Jesse worked on the factory floor, first with UNIS products and later assembling GST substations. Everything changed in 2019 when a position opened in product design. Jesse applied for the position and soon received good news: he got the job and moved from production to the technical department.
Today Jesse’s work involves HVAC design for substations and various product development projects. He also serves as the technical product owner for the UNIS product line and several component groups.
Jesse’s workdays vary widely depending on the projects. Designing large hybrid heating systems can take anywhere from weeks to months. Tasks in product development and daily communication with component suppliers and sales are also an essential part of his routine. Jesse works flexibly in a hybrid model – sometimes from home, sometimes from the office –like many other HögforsGST employees.
Jesse works in a flexible hybrid model.
Ten Years at HögforsGST
Jesse has many positive things to say about HögforsGST – and for good reason, as he has stayed with the company for a decade.
“HögforsGST is a fair and flexible employer that offers great fringe benefits and a strong sense of community. The company also invests in employee development,” Jesse says.
He especially appreciates how meaningful the daily work is. He would warmly recommend HögforsGST to others and encourages applying – maybe even through an internship, just like he initially did.
