Jouni's story: A country boy’s journey to a building services expert
In comprehensive school, my grades were usually average. We lived in the countryside, and our grades were based on the size of our families' farms. My first qualification was as an HVAC technician. During my vocational education and training, I really became enthusiastic about studying. I competed in the Taitaja competition in plumbing and heating, received some scholarships and graduated at the top of my class. I got my first summer job as a construction cleaner when I was 15. I have also worked alongside my studies and during summertime as a yard worker, an HVAC technician and a telemarketer.
After my year in military service, I started my studies at Oulu University of Applied Sciences and graduated early as an HVAC engineer. Alongside my work, I completed upper secondary school studies in the evenings and took the matriculation examination. I also have Master's degrees in technological competence management, business (Master of Business Administration) and building services engineering, and I have acquired pedagogical qualifications at a school of professional teacher education. My entire career in building services has essentially led me from an HVAC technician to a project manager. I have worked in the private sector in contract work, in the public sector and in the industrial sector. The projects have varied from detached houses to large sites. Most of this time I have worked in result-oriented management.
Building the world's smartest hospital
I got my current job at Aro Systems Oy in the OYS2030 project when a headhunter contacted me at the right time. I started working in the project in October 2019, and the business area of my previous job was discontinued in February the following year. The co-operation negotiations and poor financial situation of my previous workplace allowed me to make certain predictions, and changing jobs was a fitting choice as I was offered an interesting new role. These days, it is more difficult to commit to long-term employment relationships in working life. I have personally experienced the bankruptcy of one employer and had one fixed-term contract. Sometimes there are also interesting opportunities that are worth taking.
Successes in working life
I think my greatest accomplishments in working life so far include my appointment as Project Manager of the year at YIT Kiinteistötekniikka Oy in 2010 and managing to turn a loss-making profit centre into a profitable one. In addition, I learned a lot from my involvement in the progress of a high-growth company. Another great accomplishment is on its way as the current hospital project is about to be completed.
Challenges in working life and advice to others
My perhaps biggest challenges in working life have been related to finances and scheduling. Challenges consist of several different factors. I would advise young people to choose the studies that interest them the most, so that they can have the motivation to complete them properly. However, they should also check the employment situation in their chosen field in advance to ensure that they can find jobs after graduation. I would advise those who have more experience to study alongside their work and seek new jobs or roles if they do not feel satisfied in their current work. The unemployed, on the other hand, should consider their opportunities more extensively, also look for jobs that do not match their educational background and use their period of unemployment to study new things.
Childhood dreams and youthful wishes for working life
When I was a child, I dreamed of driving a race car and for this reason even planned on becoming a car mechanic. I talked about it to a taxi driver who had worked for years as a heavy vehicle mechanic, and this conversation ended my dream. I also considered work in the security sector and a career in the army at some points. After my military service, I have actively participated in reservist activities as a sergeant and I still work as a security steward from time to time.
My favourite task and important lessons during my career
It is difficult to name my favourite job, but my current task as the responsible HVAC project manager in the hospital alliance has certainly been challenging, especially at the beginning, but also rewarding through successes. In working life, I have learned that one person's resources do not suffice indefinitely. Instead, you must know how to build a good team and be able to guide them and delegate work.
Free time
These days I spend a large part of my free time in my holiday house near my birthplace in Kokkola, Central Ostrobothnia. The size of my holiday house is 120 m2 and the size of the site over 2,000 m2, so there is plenty to do. I also do things like swim, visit parks, go to the cinema and have barbecues with my family. I have three children of my own: Three girls aged 7, 10 and 12. Our family also includes a 13-year-old boy and an 18-year-old young woman. Although I have lived in Oulu for more than 3 years now, I still enjoy being in the countryside. I also dabble in investing and serve as the chairman of a housing company's board of directors. I support my well-being by spending time in nature as I go hunting in my free time. I also read many traditional books on different topics. Studying alongside work has also taken up a lot of my time.
Jouni Kakkuri