Jonas Holmström is one of the ALTENS employees who changed offices within Sweden. Now he’s returned to his roots and is now working from the office in Skellefteå. For Jonas, this means that he’s had the opportunity to get to know his colleagues very well and to be able to enjoy the proximity to a multifaceted environment.

What do you do at ALTEN?

– I’m a Senior Consultant in Mechanical Engineering. At the moment I’m on an assignment where I am designing sawmill machines for a company.

Why did you start working at ALTEN?

– I joined ALTEN because the work as a consultant appealed to me. It is interesting with varied assignments and challenging tasks. Long before my engineering studies, I actually worked in a sawmill. It’s interesting to see how machines have evolved and how much faster the process from timber to sawn timber is in today’s industry.

What city/office are you based out of?

– I’m based in the ALTENS office in Skellefteå and work mostly with companies in the local area. But it’s noticeable that the pandemic has opened the doors for more remote work, which I think can generate in new assignments that doesn’t need the local connection. I see this as something positive, not least that more people are choosing to work from cities other than the big cities.

What are the advantages of working in the northern parts of our vast country?

– The light in the summer and the proximity to a varied, multifaceted nature. Winter can feel a bit too long at times with seven months of snow. But the “real” winter also means great opportunities for winter sports and only a short period of grey snow slush.

Are there any challenges to working in the northern parts of Sweden?

– There’s not much difference. The main difference is working in a smaller office which means I have got to know my colleagues very well. I’ve worked from other ALTEN offices in Sweden before and it’s very positive that we have an opportunity to move between offices!

What is the most fun part of your job?

– What I enjoy most is the variety of assignments and great colleagues. On my previous assignment I was involved in the development of sensors in Automotive, for example, which is something completely different from what I am doing on the current assignment.

What do you do when you’re not working?

– I like to spend time outdoors. This includes a trip to the mountains during the holidays. We plan to go by car to Abisko and camp there. You can also take the train there, the tourist station is a short walk from the train station. A destination that is closer to Skellefteå is Storforsen, where there are hotels with spa but also camping possibilities and the possibility to swim next to the rapids. A hot summer tip for those of you who are visiting the north this summer!

“Togetherness” is an important part of the ALTEN culture – what does it mean to you

– Having a good relationship with my colleagues and feeling that I can be involved in how the office develops on several levels. We have had some activities outside working hours together as well, like playing padel and just before the pandemic there was a joint bike ride around Skellefteå with home visits to different colleagues, which ended with a barbecue. A fun concept!

How do you see the opportunities to develop within ALTEN?

– There are good opportunities to develop within ALTEN and we have a good process for following up on what is said and decided during career interviews. I see that as something very positive!

What is the most important thing in a workplace and assignment for you?

– I think it’s important that the assignment is interesting in some way. It could be planning tests that need to be done for verification or developing a new product design. It’s important to me that I have an overview of the product and that there is a clear goal and clear requirements.