Trusted from day one

Panu Eronen. Software developer. Started as a trainee in 2025.

What has stood out to me most at Reaktor is the combination of high competence and genuine approachability. People set a high bar for quality, and that expectation shows in everyday discussions and decisions. At the same time, the atmosphere is relaxed and collaborative. Questions are encouraged, ideas are challenged openly, and there’s room for humor and enjoyment alongside serious problem-solving.

When I started at Reaktor, I had just graduated and suddenly found myself surrounded by people who clearly knew what they were doing. It was hard not to feel a sense of impostor syndrome creeping in.

I assumed that the biggest challenge ahead would be proving myself.

I would need to be exceptionally smart, fast, and flawless in what I saw as an elite group of professionals. That feeling became very real during my first week. After getting my work laptop and going through the initial onboarding, it was on me.

I was given both the freedom and the responsibility to decide what to do next.

There was no micromanagement, no one hovering over my shoulder. I was trusted to figure things out on my own. Being handed that level of trust as a freshly graduated engineer felt both exciting and slightly terrifying.

It took me a while to realize that nothing had gone wrong. I wasn’t left out of a mailing list or being tested in some secret way. This was simply how things worked here. I was expected to ask questions and figure things out as I went.

Once I understood that I wasn’t expected to know everything from the start, the pressure eased. I could focus less on whether I was doing things “right” and more on learning.

Over time, that culture translated into real trust. I was given meaningful responsibility on an interesting and important project. I never received the “just a trainee” treatment. My ideas were heard, discussed, and taken seriously, which made the work feel genuinely shared rather than something simply handed down.

If there’s one thing I’d want to say to all the future trainees out there, it’s this: you don’t need to know everything.

It’s okay and expected that you don’t know. Come in with an open and curious mind, and the rest will work itself out.