Hi Oskari! Would you kindly introduce yourself and provide some information about your background?

I'm Oskari Kotajärvi born and bred in Oulu, Finland. My professional background is quite diverse, ranging from customer service work and miscellaneous jobs (such as factory work) to my current role in software development at THS. I have always been interested in technology, and as a hobby, I sometimes even build keyboards in my spare time. In addition to this, I enjoy playing video games, snowboarding, riding downhill bikes, and occasionally skateboarding, though not as much as before. Of course, I also enjoy fiddling with software. I studied information processing sciences at Oulu University, but I have yet to graduate.

Could you please tell us about your professional journey at Topcon Healthcare Solutions? How has your work evolved over the years?

I started at THS in December 2020 as a junior software developer consultant. I joined THS through a 'code match' program arranged by Buutti, which aimed to provide starting developers with their first software developer jobs. After working as a consultant for three months, THS hired me in-house. I have now been at THS for a little over two years. 

For the first 1.5 years, I worked in the RDx team, where I also served as the Scrum Master for a period of six months. During my time in the RDx team, I learned a lot from my co-workers and found my footing in software development. In October 2022, I moved to a newly founded team with four other people, including our PO and QA. In this team, we have been able to create a new architecture, introducing a new level of responsibility for the work I do. 

When it comes to how my work has evolved over these few years, I would say a gradual increase in responsibility and trust would fit it the best.

What do you find most rewarding about being part of the THS team?

I think the most rewarding thing about working at THS is the proactive encouragement to learn and try new things. It's also good to know that if something is going wrong, either in a professional sense or personally, it's taken seriously from the get-go. Career advancement is, of course, a significant thing for everyone, and at THS, I feel like that is tailored individually, with new possibilities popping up as the company grows. 

What currently excites you the most about your work, and which skills would you like to develop further?

What excites me currently is the ongoing process of creating something new and eventually seeing it delivered. The reason this excites me is that it offers a great opportunity to learn new things about the lifecycle of software development on a deeper level. Some things I would also like to develop further from a professional perspective are DDD, TDD, SOLID, and architecture design, among others.

Could you please share with us a nice memory from your time at THS?

Last spring, I spent two months in Japan as an expat, visiting our Tokyo offices. During my time in Japan, I was able to find new communication channels and learn from our Japanese co-workers. I must say that this experience ranks among my top three best memories at THS. 

Of course, there are numerous other great memories that I've shared with my co-workers. As much as it may sound like a LinkedIn cliche that has been repeated a million times, I can honestly say that THS has some of the best people. Being surrounded by like-minded, forward-thinking individuals who strive to do their best is incredibly helpful for personal and professional growth.