Everyone I have met has been incredibly helpful, which made it much easier for myself to adjust to my new role
Starting a new position at a new workplace can both be exciting and intimidating at the same time. There are many new things that you need to learn and take on – from tasks to a completely new culture. Therefore, it is so important that you are off to a great start with a comprehensive onboarding process.
Suvi, our HR specialist for Finland and the Baltics, is one of the newest additions to the DANX team, joining us back in April. With a rich background in HR, B2B, and customer service, Suvi brings a fresh perspective to our team and shares insights into her role, her first impression on joining DANX, and what working in HR might look like.
First Impressions in a new industry
For Suvi, coming into her role as an HR Specialist at DANX also meant joining the logistics industry for the first time.
“I manage HR for Finland and the Baltics, which is great because I get to work with different countries. My background is in HR, B2B, and customer service, but logistics is a completely new field to me”.
Despite logistics being a new field to her, the tasks she takes on at DANX are quite similar to what she has done in the past and, luckily, her first impression of joining the company has been positive.
“From the very beginning, I felt welcomed and supported,” she recalls. “The initial days were a mix of excitement and curiosity. I started in April, and a lot has happened since then. The first impression I had was how well-organised and supportive the environment is. Everyone I have met has been incredibly helpful, which made it much easier for myself to adjust to my new role.”
A well-organised onboarding experience
Giving our people the necessary tools to adjust to their new role is a priority at DANX. The onboarding can vary from role to role but we always strive to provide new hires with a structured onboarding experience, making sure our they feel welcomed and providing them the resources needed. Suvi’s onboarding process was no exception:
“I spent my first day going through documents to understand the company’s policies and values etc.,” Suvi explains.
“Then, I spent four days in Sweden with my manager and the Swedish HR team. The onboarding was carefully planned, and I was kept up to date with what was happening and what was coming up.”
A notable aspect of the onboarding was shadowing a driver, which provided hands-on experience in logistics for Suvi.
“I did a day and night shift with one of our drivers who has been with us for seven years. It was a deep dive into the operations and a break from the usual office work, giving me insights into our core service offerings.”
Traveling has also been a part of Suvi’s onboarding experience, offering a better understanding of the different offices and cultures and how we work across countries at DANX. She explains:
“I have visited a couple of the sites in other countries and it’s been a great way to get a broad view of our operations and the people who work in it – which is crucial for me to gain insights on as an HR Specialist.”
Key competencies in HR
When it comes to the essential skills for an HR role, Suvi emphasizes the importance of interpersonal abilities.
“You need to genuinely enjoy working with people and be approachable with any problem or question,” she notes. “I make it a priority to visit the terminal, have lunch with employees, and be present. I want the employees to feel comfortable in reaching out to me if they need to – so I try creating a good work environment by being present and showing that I am there for them.”
Another skill Suvi mentions as being useful to have in the role is the ability to adjust to new tasks.
“I handle everything related to HR, from development and recruitment to daily tasks – so having the ability to adapt to new things and shifting tasks is definitely useful in this role.”
A stopgap that became a career path
Lauren’s journey into the logistics industry was not planned, but rather by chance. She explains:
“I was actually supporting a family friend’s logistics business and was doing general administration for them. That company was then acquired by Carousel, and that’s where my journey within Carousel began.”
With a degree in healthcare, Lauren initially considered logistics as a temporary stopgap, but fell in love with the industry’s dynamic nature and decided to stay and make it her career.
“Now I have been here for nine years. I believe people often think about logistics as a stopgap and that they won’t stay for long – but they often end up getting that love for it and staying which is very special.”
A workplace that aligns with personal values
The inclusive and caring culture at DANX is something that particularly stands out to Suvi.
“I really enjoy the international environment and the fact that the company genuinely cares about its people, regardless of their position. This aligns with my own personal values, and it’s wonderful to see that the company is constantly striving to improve the workplace.”
“I also just want to thank everyone for making me feel so welcome, especially since this role is new. The support so far has been incredible.”
