Returnees – 2/2: Return to the Rocket

We asked the two Rakettitiede returnee developers how they first ended up at Rakettitiede, what made them leave and, most importantly, why they decided to step aboard the Rocket again. The concluding part of the series reveals why the code wasn’t green enough on the other side of the fence. 

Part 1/2: Greener on the other side? 

In the first part of the blog series, we got to know our two boomerangs, Edvard Majakari and Jyri Juujärvi, heard about their careers and explained why they left Rakettitiede. This section cuts to the chase and sheds light on the reasons that eventually brought the developers back to the Rocket. 

Why return to the Rocket?

Jyri knew he was going to come back to the Rocket at some point because Rakettitiede has "great people, nice clients and good salary". The return was also speeded up by an interesting client project and a functioning remote work possibility.

Being the witty soul he is, Jyri likes to keep it short and sweet: “I knew I was going to come back at some point even when I began my start-up journey. The pandemic was a real downer for the start-up, which never really managed to get its telework act together. At the same time, the possibility for a really interesting client project opened up at Rakettitiede. My team had just completed a big project, so there were no loose ends to tie up as I changed the landscape.”

Ever since leaving Rakettitiede, Ed was left longing for a certain kind of professional pride.

“One late professor once began his lecture by saying that creating software is a folk tradition, an art and a science – the last-mentioned often least of all. In other words, it’s a highly creative industry, but, unfortunately and contrary to what you might expect, people often seem to have an indifferent attitude towards the thing that lies at the very heart of software production: software design and coding.”

He clarifies he doesn’t consider people in the field to be unprofessional or lazy. He’s happy to have known people who have been able to teach him new things in all the jobs he’s had and says he hasn’t really encountered any colleagues he hasn’t got along with. 

“We just sometimes seem to lack that special something that an Italian nonna has when she cooks for her family, that extra effort that’s present in how a samurai who closely follows the bushido code treats his sword or in how the engineers at Aston Martin sign their engines after inspecting them,” Ed says.

In other words, software production is about nurturing a certain kind of culture and caring about the code you write. 

“The people of Rakettitiede seem to share this mindset. I like the company’s approach to solving problems and thinking that the code forms only a small part of the solution. Usually the problems are far more complex. People need to have the courage to lay it on the line when necessary or to make an effort to create a desirable development culture.”

The colleagues at Rakettitiede are sharp and competent. “They’re not content with what they know, they just keep on learning new things all the time, the bastards,” Ed laughs. “I wouldn’t last a single second in a company where people think they already know everything there is to know. If you’re interested in personal development, Rakettitiede is the place to be.”

What Ed appreciates the most in Rakettitiede is the sharp and genuine colleagues. According to him the salary and having the possibility to choose one’s assignments also matter a lot. "Being able to do things you really want to do is a win-win-win for the client, the consultant and the Rocket", says Ed.

How about now – is everything okay?

The return to Rakettitiede evoked positive emotions in both developers. 

“It was a mixture of relief and most of all joy, even happiness,” Ed muses and continues: “As clichéd as it may sound, it felt like I was coming back home.”

Jyri adds enthusiasm to the list of feelings and continues: “I also felt excited because the client was brand new and the project was ambitious.”

But now the honeymoon’s over – how’s your love life now?

“I was a little tired of struggling with certain technical issues but, as often is the case, they came back in another form in my new assignments. It’s good to be reminded that you shouldn’t escape from your problems but that you should try to solve them,” Ed sums up.

He continues: “I can talk directly to management and others about anything and trust that things will get sorted out. It’s ridiculously important, and it’s really hard to put a price tag on something like that.”

All’s well with Jyri, too. “Client projects take centre stage and the Rocket knows how to keep the work appropriately simple. The sales situation and being interviewed by new clients can be a bit stressful, but that’s the nature of the business. Generally speaking, I have nothing to complain about in that regard.”

A workplace for adults

Both developers consider the strengths of Rakettitiede to include a unique culture, smart colleagues, interesting clients and a great salary.

“Salary and having the possibility to choose one’s assignments matter a lot. Being able to do things you really want to do is a win-win-win for the client, the consultant and the Rocket,” Ed says. 

He also gives kudos to the company for not being embarrassingly pompous or rigid. 

“People here are genuine. You don’t have to be best friends with everyone, but it’s really easy to get along with people because no one seems to feel the need to put up a front. Things aren’t done for the sake of doing them but only if they make sense. Rocket scientists are damn clever, but still just ordinary people. The fact that you don’t have to create some alter ego or pretend that you’re something you’re not means that the company’s doing quite a few things right. There’s none of the usual ‘I wonder if I can ask this – they’ll probably think I’m stupid’ attitude among the people here, and that’s pretty rare.”

Jyri chimes in: “Great people, nice clients, good salary. Rakettitiede is a workplace for adults, as it should be.” 

We won’t bite

The interview may be drawing to a close, but that doesn’t stop Ed from saying his piece and raising one more important point: “We may have lots of hardcore professionals, but you shouldn’t be afraid of them – they won’t bite. If you are wondering whether you should drop by for a chat, I highly recommend it! And even if you get turned down for some reason, we will still give you pointers on your career or tell you how you may still become a rocket scientist at a later stage.”

Looking for interesting projects, competent colleagues and a good salary? Click here to read more!

Read more:

Returnees – 1/2: Greener on the other side?

Stocking up on shares – many Rocket Scientists are also shareholders