25.06.2025
What’s the Best Thing About Endomines? – The Truth from Our Summer Workers
As the trees began to bud and nature turned green, summer workers arrived to brighten our days at Endomines. This summer, we’re employing 15 enthusiastic summer workers in various parts of the organization – the mine, the processing plant, maintenance, the laboratory, and administration.
At Endomines, summer workers don’t just clean storage rooms or watch from the sidelines – they get involved in real tasks and apply what they’ve learned in their studies. Their fresh perspectives and energy bring new ideas – and most of all, joy – to our summer.
We asked a few of our promising young talents what they think about working at Endomines. Their answers warmed our hearts – and even surprised us.
(A bunch of our summer workers in the picture, from left to right: Ville Peltonen, Siiri Olenius, Aada Hurskainen, Juha Hilonen ja Ville Pelkonen)
Siiri Olenius: “The coolest thing is holding a real gold nugget in your hand – something you helped produce.”
Who are you and what do you study?
I’m Siiri Olenius, 20, and I study chemical engineering at Aalto University. I’ll be starting my second year in the fall.
What kind of things are you doing at Endomines this summer?
I work in the laboratory analyzing ore concentrate samples. I measure gold concentrations and perform XRF analyses, which identify elemental compositions using X-ray radiation.
Does the summer job support your studies?
Absolutely! I’ve learned a lot of practical skills that we’ve only covered theoretically in school. I’ve also learned hands-on techniques that we haven’t even touched on in class yet. For example, I’m already getting experience with process technology before that subject even begins in my curriculum.
Why did you apply to Endomines?
I visited Endomines on a company tour with the Vuorimieskilta and was immediately interested. I sent in my application right there on the bus – and got an interview invitation the next day! The atmosphere was welcoming right from the start. I felt this would be a great place to begin a career in metallurgy – and I’ve been really happy with my decision.
Has anything surprised you?
The precise scheduling of the workdays. For example, sample drying or analysis has to be planned around other tasks. I’ve learned a lot about time management.
Would you recommend Endomines to others?
Absolutely! You can focus on your own work while learning a lot about different areas. The work is never boring – you learn something new every day. And it’s pretty awesome to enrich and purify a gold sample yourself and see the final result: a real gold nugget in your hand.
What’s the best thing about Endomines?
• The people – the work atmosphere is warm and colleagues are approachable.
• Getting to work in your own field already after the first year of studies – incredibly valuable.
• Preparing acids and removing silver from gold – and ending up with a shiny, pure gold nugget!
Ville Pelkonen: “I’ve learned a lot about practical maintenance work – and the work community is really nice.”
Who are you and what do you study?
I’m Ville Pelkonen, 22, studying mechanical engineering at Karelia University of Applied Sciences. I’ll be starting my third year this autumn.
What kind of things are you doing at Endomines this summer?
I work in the mechanical maintenance team at the processing plant as a mechanical fitter. I wanted to see real industry in practice – and this job supports my studies well.
What does a typical workday look like?
The day starts with a team meeting in the break room where we go through the day’s tasks. The workday consists of maintaining and repairing equipment, either as needed or according to a preventive maintenance plan. The work is very varied.
How does the summer job support your studies?
Very well. It’s been valuable to see what maintenance looks like in practice. If you want to work in the field, it’s important to know how to do maintenance work with your own hands.
Why did you apply to Endomines?
I wanted to gain work experience relevant to my studies, and this job matched my expectations perfectly. I’m originally from Ilomantsi, so the location was also a plus. Although I now live in Joensuu, it was great to work near my hometown.
Has anything surprised you?
Not really – I expected to see large-scale industry in action, and that’s exactly what I got.
Would you recommend Endomines to others?
Definitely. You learn a lot of hands-on skills here, and the work community is really welcoming. New employees are quickly made to feel part of the team.
What’s the best thing about Endomines?
• A great team.
• Hands-on work and the chance to come up with your own solutions.
• A unique and special work environment – there aren’t many mines in Finland!
Aada Hurskainen: “I get to make an impact on environmental issues – that makes the work meaningful.”
Who are you and what do you study?
I’m Aada Hurskainen, 22, studying for a master’s degree in environmental engineering at LUT University. I just completed my bachelor’s degree, and I’ll be starting my fourth year in the fall.
What kind of things are you doing at Endomines this summer?
I work as an environmental specialist trainee in the HSEQ department. My job includes sampling, analysis, and environmental monitoring – mostly working with water samples and daily environmental matters related to the mine. We have our own lab, where we measure things like pH, conductivity, and suspended solids. I also process data: for example, we create trend graphs in Excel to monitor environmental changes related to water management.
How does the summer job support your studies?
It’s exactly the kind of practical experience you don’t always get during your studies. This work provides a strong foundation for my future career.
Why did you apply to Endomines?
I’ve worked at Endomines for two previous summers, so my good past experiences with the team and the interesting variety of tasks influenced my decision. Here, you don’t just sit behind a computer or wander the forest all day – the work is a perfect balance of office and hands-on tasks. I can work independently and I’m given the right amount of responsibility.
Has anything surprised you?
How interconnected everything is. Understanding the big picture is important – even small things can be part of something larger.
Would you recommend Endomines as a summer job?
Yes! If you’re interested in mining or process industries, this is a great place to be. You actually get to influence environmental issues – and in a smaller organization, it’s faster and easier to make changes. Mining is a future-focused industry in Finland, too.
What’s the best thing about Endomines?
• A good work atmosphere.
• Varied tasks.
• A low threshold for asking questions and collaborating across departments.
