Do you remember your first day at NOKIA? If yes, why?

Dear Aileen,

Thank you very much for your follow-up question! My first day was not very memorable — I was staying at home as it fell on a national holiday in Hungary. So technically, my first actual working day was the day after. 😜

Jokes aside, what I remember most vividly from my first days (and weeks) at Nokia was the incredibly welcoming atmosphere. My team showed remarkable patience in helping me navigate through everything new — from systems to processes to tools. This kind of supportive environment really helped ease the transition from my previous role at a much smaller company.

What made my start particularly interesting was that I joined to work on a greenfield project. This actually turned out to be quite beneficial for me as a newcomer — since everyone was learning aspects of the project together, I didn't feel like the 'odd one out' who knows nothing. While more established projects usually have well-defined onboarding processes and documented best practices (which is definitely an advantage!), there was something special about being part of building something from the ground up, where we were all figuring things out together.

If I could give advice to myself on that first day, it would be: don't feel overwhelmed by all the new processes (and yes, in a company of Nokia's size, there are quite a few!). Focus on what's immediately relevant — your teammates will guide you through the essential ones, and the rest will naturally fall into place as needed.

I hope sharing these memories from my early days at Nokia gives you a glimpse of what starting here might be like. Whether you end up joining an established team or a new project, I'm confident that with your research background and enthusiasm for innovation, you'll find plenty of opportunities to make meaningful contributions. The supportive environment I experienced back then continues to be a cornerstone of Nokia's culture today.

Thank you for your positive and realistic answer. I appreciate authenticity and this question has helped me as a researcher understand that every challenge I face is new and it's ok to have something new on my plate and be overwhelmed. It's normal and we will get through it. I hope one day NOKIA will allow me to serve them. Until then, I will make sure that I overcome any challenges with a mindset of learning something new, contributing back to the company, and taking steps to better humanity.