Linda tarina ENG

Linda, who studied automation and robotics at Aalto University, now works at ABB’s Machine Factory in Pitäjänmäki, where she assembles electric motors for industrial use. The work is not assembly-line based, and each motor is slightly different, and the tasks vary.

“Many people have the misconception that production work is like an assembly line, where you do the same thing all day long. There is no assembly line here. The work is versatile and varied—every ma-chine has its own character, and every worker leaves their own mark.”

A workday might include rotor installation, bearing assembly, making main and auxiliary connections, and performing measurements. Work is carried out in pairs, which creates close cooperation and a sense of community. The job requires precision as well as careful documentation of the process and measurement results.

“From the beginning, it was made clear that if you need help, just ask. The atmosphere is relaxed and caring, you get reminders to drink enough water, and since safety is the top priority, the work is done at a steady pace. It’s nice that we work together, and at the same time, you can chat casually with your partner.”

“It’s been great that I was able to continue working after the summer. As a student, you can’t take it for granted that flexible work opportunities will be available. ABB has been extremely flexible. If I have a busy period with studies, I can adjust my shifts accordingly.”

The work has also supported Linda’s studies, while her studies have provided useful knowledge for the job.

The most difficult part of the work has been learning to remember and master the details of different machines without a detailed step-by-step manual. At the same time, it has been very rewarding.

“This summer, I realized that I can perform work stages independently. It’s been a great feeling to real-ize, wow, I was able to do this completely on my own, even though we are far, far away from something like assembling IKEA furniture.”

The job has strengthened Linda’s confidence and courage to take on new, and sometimes intimidat-ing, tasks.

“The machines are big, and the tools can feel daunting at first. Now they don’t scare me anymore, on the contrary, it feels great to master them. I would never have thought beforehand that, for example, working with hot work tools would be part of my job.”

Linda also has a message for young women considering a career in technology:

“It would be great if there were more of us. I can’t think of a single reason not to apply to this field. The work in these roles isn’t particularly physical or overly technical. It’s more about attitude than strength.”