INTRODUCTION OF PROCUREMENT ENGINEER LAURI SÖDERHOLM
In the spring of 2021, Lauri Söderholm joined Kospro's staff and shares his journey to Kospro and what it's like working there.
"Hi,
I am Lauri Söderholm and I work as a procurement engineer at Kospro. I joined Kospro in the spring of 2021 when a recruiter contacted me about a job opportunity. I had graduated with a Master's degree in Economics in the summer of 2020, after which I worked in procurement tasks at a construction company. Kospro offered me a position to develop myself in a versatile manner and to get involved in various projects.
While working at Kospro, I have gained a lot of additional experience and expertise in procurement tasks within the construction industry, and I have been able to think about it from the perspective of process development and strategy. In addition, I have been quite involved in marketing/content production tasks, investigating information technology tools, and creating table templates. I have also participated in tasks related to seeking funding, which brought price monitoring maintenance into my job responsibilities. At Kospro, it is good to take responsibility when you are ready for it. However, taking responsibility does not mean that the entire work community is not there to support you when needed."
"In my opinion, the best thing about working at Kospro is the flexibility and the opportunity to influence the company's operations. In a small company, each employee's role is emphasized, and one can participate in decisions affecting the entire company and perform a variety of tasks beyond their primary job description. The significance of one's work is also more clearly visible in the company's development and results. Flexibility, on the other hand, is evident in the fact that the work style (e.g., remote or on-site) is largely very free as long as the tasks are completed well."
"At Kospro, you can and should take responsibility when you're ready. However, responsibility doesn't mean that the entire work community isn't always there to support you when needed."
Can you brainstorm and develop things at Kospro?
"You are allowed to brainstorm, and the company listens to ideas. We are constantly looking for ways to make our operations as efficient as possible and create more value for the customer. For example, based on my idea, the company tested and eventually implemented a task management system, which has brought a lot of clarity to the internal division of labor and task management within the company.
At Kospro, you can participate in development work, and you are encouraged to do so. My opinions are genuinely and concretely taken into account. I feel that I have played a significant role in many internal development projects, and the time I have spent on them has truly made a difference for the company."
What is the work community like at Kospro?
"I find the work community to be very good and open. Jokes fly around and things are discussed openly among the entire workforce. The community is not rigidly hierarchical; for example, you can ask for help from any other employee or manager."
Where have you improved while working at Kospro?
"I have developed in various stages of the procurement process, from reviewing plans to drafting contracts. In addition, my skills in using different IT platforms and programs that assist the company's operations have significantly improved."
Perhaps the most memorable experience was our business trip to Tallinn to discuss potential cooperation with a local company. It was my first business trip and as an experience, it was very interesting and educational. For the first time, I was able to actively participate in the sales process and see how potential business cooperation is built in practice.