During the Christmas rush, cards, parcels and holiday cheer travel to homes through the hands of Posti’s Christmas Makers. Three seasonal employees share why the job brings them joy year after year, and what it’s like to work at Finland’s largest logistics company during its busiest season.
Roope, 23, found his calling in the warehouse and now trains new employees
Four years in the retail sector left Roope Siitonen longing for something new. Logistics appealed to him, and Posti’s warehouse turned out to be the right place. After his first Christmas season, his contract was extended, and he is now in his second season as a voice collector.
”Here one gets to play elf. Many companies store their products in Posti’s warehouse, and we dispatch them based on online orders. Especially before Christmas, it feels good to know the parcels we send out will end up as gifts,” Siitonen says.
A collector’s day starts early. Siitonen begins by processing online orders for his assigned client. As Christmas approaches, the pace picks up — Black Friday and other campaign periods lead people to order gifts early, and the warehouse sees a surge in orders moving through the huge facility.
”I’ve learned how to prioritize efficiently, which will definitely be useful in the future. But Posti also makes sure no one gets overwhelmed. We help each other out, and no one is left alone with their workload,” he emphasizes.
The warehouse shelves are filled with goods as far as the eye can see, and large pallets are often moved using various types of forklifts. Yet natural forklift talent or years of logistics experience are not required to succeed in this job. According to Siitonen, what matters most is the willingness to learn – something he knows well, since he now trains new employees himself.
”I wasn’t a professional when I started either. The training, atmosphere and opportunities to advance are all excellent here, so I can wholeheartedly recommend applying if you’re even considering it. Just come as you are, that’s more than enough.”
Benjam, 33, was surprised by the number of parcels and enjoys the active work at the sorting center
”I had no idea how many parcels move through here daily! All parcels sent via Posti pass through this facility, and the logistics center operates around the clock. It’s impressive how smoothly everything runs, even with such a huge volume,” Benjam Broms says.
The heart of the logistics center is a long conveyor belt snaking above workers’ heads, delivering packages for processing. As a parcel sorter, Broms ensures that they continue their journey to the correct regions across Finland and around the world.
”My tasks include transferring incoming packages from cages onto the sorting machine. From the conveyor, they slide down chutes to different workstations. I scan the barcodes and place the parcels into the right roll containers, which then go out for delivery,” he explains.
Broms applied to Posti based on recommendations from friends. Many had praised the atmosphere and variety of tasks, and he quickly found those to be true. Movement and visible results are important to Broms, who has no longing for sedentary office work.
”I easily reach 10,000 steps a day, and I can see with my own eyes that the parcels end up where they should, safely and intact. That gives my work meaning, especially knowing that many of these are Christmas gifts that will make someone happy,” he says.
For many, seasonal work at Posti has become a tradition they return to year after year. According to Broms, it’s easy to see why, as new employees are warmly welcomed.
”There’s no divide between permanent and seasonal workers. Everyone is equal. When you’re new, there’s a lot to learn, so it’s important to feel comfortable asking anything, from anyone. Everyone helps here, and that’s encouraging.”
Mika, 55, has been a deliverer most of his life because of the concrete and rewarding work
One of the Christmas Makers has worked at Posti for ”more or less his entire life.” Mika Perälä was a full-time mail deliverer from 1993 to 2011. Since then, he has also worked as an actor and musician, but he still enjoys returning to Posti as an extra pair of hands.
”I’ve worked as a deliverer almost every Christmas. As a Christmas Maker, you get to do many different tasks, such as sorting and delivering Christmas cards. My own career at Posti is so long that I often drive delivery routes in a postal van. In the summer season, I ride them on an electric scooter,” Perälä says.
Although machines sort most mail into ready-made bundles, there is still plenty of need for human work. Especially returned shipments, misdirected mail and small parcels require careful, human handling.
”As a deliverer, your work directly affects whether mail reaches the correct address. For example, cards with incorrect or incomplete address information are checked manually using the machine system. And when you know what it feels like to wait for a package yourself, you of course want others to get theirs as quickly as possible.”
Perälä appreciates the independence and clarity of the job. While the tasks may seem monotonous from the outside, he finds them enjoyable, and you can immediately see the results of your work. The work also doesn’t follow you home: when the day is done, it’s done.
”Sorting Christmas cards is a good example: you read the address and then place the card into the correct slot based on the postal code. Once you get into a good rhythm, the work flows smoothly, and the pile shrinks before your eyes. I find that rewarding.”
Career story created in cooperation with Duunitori. Author: Sara Gyldén. Photos: Altti Heinilä.