What kind of soft skills have you developed since you joined the firm?

Thank you for your question about soft skills development at Nokia. It's an interesting topic to reflect on!

First, I should mention that I'm still relatively new at Nokia, having been here for only two years. So, I believe I'm still in the process of developing and refining new skills. That said, I can share some insights from my experience so far.

Before joining Nokia, I had already worked in the industry for several years, which helped me develop some important soft skills. These included working in and leading teams, discussing ideas with non-technical stakeholders, and explaining concepts to audiences with varying levels of expertise.

However, joining Nokia, a large multinational company, presented new challenges that required me to improve in a few areas:

• Self and Team Promotion: In a smaller company, visibility often comes naturally. But in a large organization like Nokia, I've learned that you need to consciously work on marketing yourself and your team. If your team develops a good solution to a problem, it's crucial to ensure other teams know about it so they can use it or learn from it. This skill involves effective communication and networking across the organization.
• Cross-Cultural Communication: Working in Nokia's multicultural environment has been eye-opening. I've realized the importance of being aware that people from different backgrounds think and express themselves differently. They may also interpret your words and actions differently than you intended. This diversity is a key to the company's success, but it also requires openness to learning and adapting your communication style.

These are the main areas where I've noticed my soft skills developing since joining Nokia. However, I'm certain there's still room for improvement in these areas, and there may be other skills I'm developing that I haven't fully recognized yet.

The journey of skill development is ongoing, and one of the things I appreciate about working at Nokia is the opportunity to continually learn and grow in a diverse, global environment.

@Andras L.: please share your experience too

Hi,

Let me share my perspective on this subject. As a Hungarian saying wisely puts it, "A good priest learns until his death"—a truth that resonates deeply, regardless of one's field. Approaching my 26th "Nokian birthday," I've amassed a substantial repertoire of skills and experiences within the company. Having originally graduated as a teacher of mathematics and computer sciences, joining Nokia was a profound shift into a new world for me. From my journey, I'd highlight three paramount skills: effective teamwork, a relentless capacity for continuous learning, and mastery in coding, debugging, and implementing software solutions for cloud-native environments and network automation using modern programming languages.

Effective teamwork isn't an innate skill. It requires finding your unique role within the team, learning to collaborate seamlessly with colleagues, knowing when to ask for help, and readily offering a helping hand. This relational learning differs significantly from mastering technical "profession" knowledge. In the dynamic telecommunications landscape, continuous learning is not just vital; it's imperative. This extends to mastering new programming languages, development and testing tools, evolving environments, and embracing novel software development and testing methodologies, alongside various management disciplines. Therefore, one must cultivate an open mind and, perhaps surprisingly, an open heart, to drive both personal growth and the company's advancement.