Tatu Pääkkönen works as a maintenance mechanic at the Terrafame mine where he maintains everything from haul trucks to excavators. Since he was little, he's been repairing vehicles from mopeds to his own cars and tractors. The interest in heavy machinery has risen naturally, and still, he spends his free time tinkering with his machines.

Clearly, an interest in machines is required in this field. Tatu moved to heavy earthwork equipment after his military service. He graduated from vocational school as a car mechanic, but since then has completed a course as a heavy equipment operator. After the course, he moved to Hartikainen's Terrafame mine first for an internship and then for an apprenticeship alongside work to become a heavy equipment mechanic. My initiative has meant a lot in this, ”I didn't want to be just a driver, I specifically wanted to become a mechanic,” Tatu Pääkkönen explains his choices.

”There are no identical days in this job. The amount of work, as well as the nature of it, varies. That's nice,” names Tatu as one of the perks of the job and continues ”My job here at Hartikainen is quite seamless. We have a workshop that was built one year ago, and there's no need to repair machines in the cold or on a gravel floor. During the same time, we got all the kitchens and changing rooms to use. Everything is working great,, this is the finest workshop where I've worked in.”

Tatu is reducing prejudices of dirty and unpleasant work in many ways.

Tatu also tells us that there's no stand-alone education for this kind of job, but you learn by handling mining equipment. There's a genuine opportunity at Hartikainen to obtain a degree by apprenticeship, but you also learn in the hands of expert mechanics. ”Taking the initiative is very important. If you just drag along a more experienced mechanic and don't ask questions or do anything yourself, the motivation of the instructor is easily on trial. You need to have the courage to ask out loud a lot,” Pääkkönen describes the workplace learning and what is required from newcomers. So there has to be an interest in machinery, the willingness to learn and some initiative.

Tatu has stayed in the job and at Hartikainen for a long time. There are several reasons for that in addition to versatile work and great team spirit. ”The rhythm is a bit different in this kind of work than in the office, we are working for four days and have four days off consecutively. It is easy to consider your plans this way. And you always know which weekends you're working and when you're free. We work in two shifts. I think this is a very good rhythm, there's absolutely nothing to be afraid of and no reason to not apply for this kind of position,” encourages Tatu also the younger people. ”

”What's even more positive is that every day you take so many steps that the day's exercise goal is easily achieved without noticing. You could say that I have a varied and wholesome job” Tatu goes on to explain the positives of the work description. He also values the safety of a big employer, there's always going to be sites to work in, and mechanics are in constant demand. One more reason to gravitate toward the job.

Working at the mine is seamless because people are getting along well with each other. The workplace practices are established, the knowledge travels between shifts, and there's no need to take work home. Tatu enjoys his job but adds that if he liked to work in a management position, it could be possible to proceed in that at Hartikainen as well. ”I find that it would be easy to ask if there were other possibilities within the company. Here they value their employees,” explains Tatu.

Tatu is a local living in the Sotkamo area but says that it's worthwhile to apply for a job at the mine even from a little further away. There are new apartments for out-of-town workers at Hartikainen, housing is not something the worker has to trouble themselves with. ”You have nothing to be afraid of in this work, it's completely the other way around. And if you're willing to learn, then you'll most certainly become a good mechanic and have plenty of work to do,” urges Tatu the people who consider the trade as an option.

Text by:  Sanna Valkeejärvi