There is a Greek saying: “Show me your friends and I will tell you who you are.” Well, we could modify it to “Show me your employees and I will tell what kind of company you are,” and it will still be accurate. This week we had an interview with our second Janne, who started his journey as an Intern and is now a Junior Software Developer at Workfellow. Let’s learn about his experience and find out what made him continue after his internship.
Hi Janne! When and how did you join Workfellow and what was your journey like so far?
I joined Workfellow this March after seeing the job ad on TheHub. It seemed pretty interesting so I applied; and surprisingly, it didn’t take much time. In fact, it only took around 48 hours from the job application to signing the contract! I think the speed was one of the key factors why I got really interested in Workfellow and why I chose it over some other companies who were also interested in me. First I joined as an Intern, and then started working as a Junior Software Engineer.
What is your most and least enjoyable part of your job?
Okay, this one is a bit tricky... but let’s start with the good one. Workfellow is a relatively small company, so I don’t need to have many meetings and calls. I can devote my time on things that I really like and was hired to do in the first place. Hopefully, this kind of attitude and vibes of a “small family” continues further now that we’re growing.
One of the things that I don’t like that much about my work is that things can change so fast. It’s reasonable because we’re a startup, but priorities might change drastically so fast that it gets hard sometimes.
How do you handle hybrid work? Which mode of work do you personally prefer?
Both have its pros and cons to be honest. I like the office because it has AC, which we need especially during this summer. Also, it definitely helps me focus on work and makes me more efficient. On the other hand, I like remote work because commuting takes so much time and resources. Home is comfy ;) Besides, I have everything set up for convenient work at home, so I don’t have to go to the office for a monitor or other things.
All in all, during the summers, I would go to the office quite often, but during the winters you probably wouldn’t see me there.
What is Janne Kavander’s work day like?
I wake up quite late these days, at around 9 am. When I have Chile with me (my parents’ dog), I walk her in the morning, get some fresh air, and prepare myself for the day. I usually start with the daily standup that we have everyday with the Tech team, and after that focus on my own work, except for 1-2 hours in total of meetings. Basically, work days pass super fast. I love taking longer lunches, so that I can cook and relax a bit. In the evenings, I do some basic stuff - watching Netflix, taking a walk outside or playing some games with my friends. Sometimes, when I feel like it, I study some new stuff related to technologies and development.
- You mentioned cooking as a way to relax; what is your favorite cuisine then?
- Any food that is not so Western. I really enjoy Asian cuisine, so I quite often make some Vietnamese or Chinese food, or at least make it in an Asian style.
How would you describe our company culture?
It’s cozy and transparent. Although I’m in a tech team, I’m at the very least aware of the things going on in other units too. Everyone is super friendly and eager to help each other. Also, I can talk to anyone directly without having to worry about the titles. Making changes even as a Junior is super easy.
What would you advise future workfellows?
Don't be afraid to express your opinion, because it might be very valuable. If you have any ideas on how to improve something, just speak up because people really listen to you here. Even some stupid idea might turn out to be a very good idea, so go ahead and share it!
