21.07.2025 08:30
QINWEI WANG | Quotation Engineer, BMH Technology Oy
My connection to Finland started long ago in a very different way—when my mom received her first mobile phone as a gift in 1998. It was a Nokia.
I still remember playing that legendary worm game on that phone. And then my own first mobile phone, more than 20 years ago—was also a Nokia 3220. My first touch-screen phone, a Nokia in 2009, survived a fall from the third floor, breaking into pieces, but after I put it back together, it worked just fine—except for the screen.
I never imagined then that I would one day live here, let alone build my career in a small city like Rauma.
Qinwei Wang. Kuvaaja: Heini Yli-Antola
Student Life, Finnish Style
My academic journey started in Chongqing, a massive city with a population of more than 20 million. I finished my bachelor’s degree in engineering—automation and electrical—at Chongqing University. But I always wanted to push myself further, so I decided to do a Master’s degree abroad. That brought me to Tampere University of Technology.
In Finland, studying felt like a completely different experience. Back home in China, the student is supposed to finish specific courses at specific times within a certain period and quite rigorously. In Finland, student have more freedom in choosing when and what to study during the program. That freedom was exciting and challenging for me at first. I was really on my own here, and I had to learn to manage everything myself in both life and study. For me, it was a way to become a better version of me.
Now I’m working on a second Master’s degree in Aalto University. It’s a lot, but I enjoy learning.
From Thesis Worker to Sales Support
My career in Finland began during my studies, thanks to my thesis supervisor at the university who had connections at BMH Technology. In that year, China was a key focus area for the company, and they were looking for someone to do more research on China market. That is how I started my thesis at the company.
That decision shaped my entire career path. I now work in sales support at BMH Technology. I help prepare sales materials, manage documents, and assist in standardizing our sales and marketing content. It’s a very international environment—both my colleagues and our customers come from all over the world. What’s kept me here is the people. My coworkers have been incredibly supportive, and I’ve always felt like part of the team. I also love that the work we do has a meaningful impact—not just for me but also for the environment.
Life in Rauma: Small City, Big Charm
When I first moved to Rauma, I heard about the Kesäteekkari -campaign through my supervisor. Thanks to that, I got a free apartment for the summer. It was such a warm welcome to the city.
Rauma is small, but it has everything I need. Everything is within walking distance—or biking distance, which is great.
I especially love the Finnish summer and nature. Coming from Chengdu, near Tibet and with similar natural surroundings, where there’s also a lot of nature nearby, I didn’t feel a huge cultural shock. Instead, I found a peaceful rhythm here that I really appreciate.
Cultural Surprises and Fun Experience
Some things in Finnish culture surprised me—especially naked sauna. The idea of being naked with strangers in a sauna was shocking at first. However, enjoying the sauna and palju in the middle of nature is a real pleasure, and swimming in the lake after sauna can be an excellent experience in Finland.
I was also attracted to the guild and ‘haalarit’ culture in Finland during my student time. I experienced the Teekkarikaste as a fuksit – first-year students are dipped into the icy Tammerkoski while standing in a crane basket. My own teekkarilakki and haalarit at home always reminds me of the good time I had at Tampere university.
Advice for Employers in Finland
If I could give employers some advice about hiring international talent, I’d say: attitude is everything. Making someone feel welcome on the team is just as important as their qualifications. Not everyone speaks Finnish, so being patient and inclusive matters – especially in the beginning.
For technical jobs, it’s often easier because English is the working language. But in business roles, it can be more challenging because in most business activities in Finland, Finnish is required.
One great approach is to hire students directly from universities. Enhancing cooperation with university can minimize the mismatch in skill gaps between individuals and company and it gives the company more time to train students in the skills needed by the company. Student projects are also a great way to get to know someone and see how they fit into the company culture.
Finding Balance and Passion
Outside of work and studies, I like to keep myself active. I go to the gym about three or four times a week to improve my performance in hobbies like badminton and tennis. I also enjoy developing my hobbies further-last year I got my scuba diving license! I even tried skydiving, but after 9 jumps, I realized it just wasn’t for me.
Living in Finland has taught me a lot—about independence, about different ways of thinking, and about myself. It hasn’t always been easy, but I’ve found something valuable here. A sense of balance, a supportive community, and opportunities to keep growing.
And to think—it all started with a Nokia phone.