In Tornio, the day is already bright, even though it’s not yet seven in the morning. Days have grown longer in Finland since Aleksandros Delhas last visited five months ago. At that time, he had just completed his first six months working as a daytime foreman at the Skouries mine for Tapojarvi Hellas – a role where language and cultural skills are just as essential as technical know-how.
“I’m half Greek, half Finnish. I lived in Greece until I was 12, after which my family moved to my mother’s hometown, Kemi. When I arrived in Finland, I barely spoke the language. Within a couple of years, I had learned Finnish and found a group of friends in Kemi,” he shares his story.
A Leap into Engineering
Delhas ended up in engineering somewhat unexpectedly. After completing his military service, his dream job was to become a nurse, and he applied to nursing school. At the same time, he also applied to study mechanical and production engineering—and was accepted. That was the beginning of his engineering career.
When he started his studies, Delhas had no prior technical experience through hobbies. He has acquired all his expertise through education and work. He says that doing things—and especially asking questions—helps in gaining new skills.
“If I don’t know something, I’m not afraid to ask even ‘stupid’ questions. While doing my thesis, the older operators at the steel plant explained to me why things were done a certain way. I asked them to break it down for me. That made them reflect on the processes more deeply too,” he says, summing up his learning path.
Broadening Skills in the Mining Industry
“I worked at the Outokumpu steel plant in Tornio from 2013. First, I did internships and temporary work alongside my studies. I graduated as an engineer in 2018 and got a permanent position at Outokumpu’s cold rolling mill,” Delhas explains.
When he heard about the opportunity to work for Tapojarvi Hellas in Greece, he immediately seized it. Returning to his second homeland and working for a Finnish company there had been a long-time dream of his.
Delhas had never worked at a mine before, so the work environment changed completely with the new job. While his previous work focused on maintaining the production line, his current role steps toward the beginning of the production process. It focuses on supporting operations.
“My role is very versatile. My main tasks are to ensure the facilities and provide everything needed for the work. Thanks to my language and cultural skills, I am involved in most of the things going on at the site,” Delhas says.
His broad skillset fits perfectly with the multifaceted nature of the job. In Tapojärvi Group, employees’ diverse backgrounds are valued and seen as a strength. As the group grows internationally, language and cultural competences are key assets.
Freedom to Work in Your Own Way
Delhas feels that his career transition has been a success. The mining industry teaches him a lot, and his language skills continue to develop through work. The cultural differences between Finland and Greece are significant, and in addition to language, he bridges the gap with his cultural understanding.
“In Finland and in Greece, people do things differently. Since I know both cultures, I can explain the other perspective and why things are done a certain way. I’ve noticed it helps people to understand each other better,” he explains.
Along with the new work environment, his way of working also changed when he joined Tapojärvi Group.
“At the steel plant, I worked in a clearly defined area with predefined procedures. At Tapojärvi Group, I have more freedom to use my own ideas. My team trusts me, and we decide together on the best solutions. Work runs smoothly when you have the right balance of freedom and responsibility,” Delhas says.
Seizing Opportunities
Delhas says that he needed to think about moving to Greece. Starting a new job and building everything from scratch was a big decision. But he knew that such opportunities don’t come around every day.
Even though people close to him and his summer cabin stayed behind in Finland, he is happy with his choice.
“Greek lifestyle is relaxed, and people know how to enjoy life. Our team in Skouries has good team spirit. I’ve gained 90 new friends through this job,” he sums up his experiences after the move.
In the future Delhas hopes to continue working for Tapojarvi Hellas.
“My team encourages me to grow and take initiative. Even though the worksite is busy, my supervisor always takes time to ask how I’m doing. I’m treated as a member of the team, and my work is appreciated,” Delhas explains while reflecting on his future outlook.
