A summer job can be a first step, a fresh start or a path to a permanent role
More than 50 summer employees joined Promeco in Kankaanpää and Vaasa in summer 2026, working in both production and office-based roles. Joonatan Saarela, Marlyn Ceynas and Riku Happonen each came to Promeco from very different backgrounds. For one, the summer provided valuable work experience alongside his studies. For another, it was an opportunity to put previous experience to use in a new country. And for the third, a thesis project opened the door to a summer job and eventually a permanent position.
Interest in summer jobs at Promeco was high this year. Hundreds of applications were received for positions in both production and office-based roles, and just over 50 summer employees were recruited in Kankaanpää and Vaasa.
In addition to production roles, summer employees worked in areas such as sourcing, production supervision and production planning. When the summer came to an end, some continued at Promeco in fixed-term or permanent positions.
The experiences of three summer employees show just how different the paths into an industrial company can be.
Gaining first-hand experience in the industry
Joonatan Saarela from Kankaanpää is in his second year of studying electrical and automation technology at Sataedu vocational school. Promeco was already familiar to him: both his father and grandfather have worked at the company, and his uncle still works there today.
As a major local employer, Promeco felt like a natural place to apply for a summer job in his field.
“Promeco is a major employer in my hometown, so I wanted to be part of the team too,” Joonatan says.
During the summer, he worked on a variety of assembly tasks and gained practical insight into what industrial production requires.
“I learned a wide range of assembly tasks and that everything needs to be done to a high standard.”
The summer job also supported his studies, as Joonatan was able to complete a couple of practical assessments for his qualification while working at Promeco. What stood out most to him was the team and the positive working atmosphere.
“The work was even better than I expected, and the atmosphere was great. I would definitely apply again.”
His next goal is to complete his qualification in electrical and automation technology. He is also interested in pursuing engineering studies in the future.
Joining a new work community in a new country
Originally from the Philippines, Marlyn Ceynas now lives in Kankaanpää with her family. She first heard about Promeco through her spouse, who works at the company.
Marlyn holds a Bachelor of Science in Food Technology and has previous experience in manufacturing. At Promeco, she worked in electrical assembly.
At the beginning of her employment, she received training in safe working practices, tools, work instructions, and reading technical drawings and diagrams. In addition to learning new skills, the summer reinforced her understanding of the importance of teamwork.
“Good coordination is important to ensure that a project is completed according to the customer’s requirements,” Marlyn says.
She also appreciated the way she was welcomed into the work community.
“My colleagues are always willing to help and share their knowledge. It is also easy to ask supervisors for advice.”
Marlyn says the experience helped her develop her skills and gain a broader understanding of projects. Looking ahead, she hopes to continue working at Promeco and build her life in Finland over the longer term.
From a thesis project to a summer role with real responsibility
Riku Happonen found his way to Promeco through a different route. Originally from Nokia, Riku moved to Vaasa to study and graduated from Vaasa University of Applied Sciences in spring 2026 with a Bachelor of Engineering in Information Technology. He also has a vocational qualification in electrical and automation technology.
His first connection with Promeco came through his thesis project. After a positive experience, Riku asked whether there might be an opportunity to continue working at the company over the summer.
He went on to work in a production supervisory role in module assembly. His responsibilities included supervising employees, scheduling production and transportation, participating in customer meetings, and resolving issues in production.
“From the very beginning, I was given responsibility and the opportunity to influence both my own work and production activities. What I particularly valued was feeling that my views were listened to and taken seriously, even though I was a summer employee.”
During the summer, Riku gained valuable experience particularly in leadership, customer communication and production management.
For Riku, the job did not end with the summer. Following his graduation, he is continuing at Promeco in a permanent position as a Production Planner.
“It’s great to be able to continue at Promeco as a permanent employee in a work environment where I enjoy being and where I have been given opportunities to develop.”
Building skills beyond the summer
Summer jobs are one way for Promeco to introduce students to careers in industry and find new talent for both production and office-based roles.
This is also supported by cooperation with educational institutions. For example, students from Sataedu have had opportunities to learn about Promeco’s production, complete work placements and carry out practical assessments related to their studies in the workplace. Joonatan’s summer is a good example of how studies and working life can complement each other.
Riku’s path, meanwhile, shows how cooperation can begin with a thesis project and lead through a summer job to a permanent position.
Joonatan, Marlyn and Riku each followed a different path to Promeco, but for all three, the summer provided an opportunity to learn something new and take the next step forward.
Interested in working or completing a work placement at Promeco? Explore our current opportunities.
