John Christian Valero

“I have the right work-life balance here”

It’s funny how small things can sometimes have a huge impact on our lives. Just ask John Christian Valero. He will tell you how an ad on LinkedIn led to him leaving his home in the Philippines to pursue a future and career in Finland.

–It was actually my girlfriend who came across Rani’s advert for production workers. She thought it sounded perfect for me. I am a trained production engineer with experience working on a casting line in a similar factory back home. The more I thought about the opportunity, the more attractive it became.

The more I thought about the opportunity, the more attractive it became.

John Christian applied for the job, was invited to an interview, and things moved quickly from there. He arrived in Terjärv in June and has now been working in the agri department in Bjölas for a few months.

–There’s a lot to learn, but at the same time, I feel like I have a solid foundation. I believe I’m making quick progress thanks to my experience, and because my mentor and everyone else in the department are doing their best to train me.

Learning about new work routines is one thing; the language is another. John Christian’s colleagues teach him Finnish words and expressions whenever there’s a lull on the line. Right now, they’re teaching him numbers.

John Christian says there are several reasons why he already enjoys his job so much, such as the factory’s work atmosphere, the pay, the working hours, and the fact that he gets days off and the right work-life balance.

–I like what I’ve seen so far, and the best part is that my girlfriend was offered a job here too. I’m excited to explore more of Finland, and I hope we can both stay and build our lives here.

The best part is that my girlfriend was offered a job here too. I’m excited to explore more of Finland, and I hope we can both stay and build our lives here.

One drawback is that he misses his parents and two younger siblings who remain in the Philippines.

–But they have always encouraged me in my choices, and know that I enjoy doing things that challenge me.

Travelling half way around the world to start a new life is not for the faint-hearted. But John Christian says that he’s always been adventurous.

He didn’t know much about Finland at first, but thanks to Google, he learned that Finns are generally quiet, drink a lot of coffee, and love saunas. Another query that he asked the search engine was “How to survive Finnish winters?”

–This will be my first winter here, I’m looking forward to experiencing the snow and cold.

What is the best thing about Rani?

–I think it’s the friendly atmosphere. Everyone is helpful and does their best to make newcomers feel welcome. I also like the fact that everyone is valued equally here, and that everyone has the same opportunity to build a career.

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Who: John Christian Valero.

What: Works in agricultural film production in Bjölas.

Background: Born and raised in the Philippines, and came to Terjärv and Rani in June 2024. He is a trained production engineer, and has previously worked in a plastics factory and call centre.

Likes: Travelling and discovering new places. Visiting Lapland is at the top of his travel wish-list. He’s also looking forward to seeing the northern lights, discovering his new home town by bike, and exploring the woods. He recently bought a Playstation in preparation for the dark winter evenings.