Stereotypes related to engineering sciences are still present in society – the belief that people who graduate in this field do uninteresting, monotonous jobs, cannot communicate properly, or that engineering work is dull and lacking in creativity. The one that tops them all is that engineering is not suitable for women.
A great example debunking this myth is Karolina Kairiene, a graduate of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH) and the head of the Technical Support Department at "Teltonika Telematics." She discovered engineering in high school and has been specializing in this field for almost a decade. Although her career path was not easy and she faced criticism from those around her, she did not give up. Today, she acknowledges that it was one of the best decisions she’s made.
Engineering – a field without a routine
According to K. Kairiene, ironically, while studying in high school, she devoted much time to artistic activities such as music and dance, so stage was a part of her daily life. However, after finishing high school, she wanted to acquire a serious profession. When setting on the choice of engineering studies, she faced criticism from those around her. Even though there were only few instances, they did stay in her memory for a long time.
"Any negative comments with a prejudiced assessment formed an even greater ambition to go the chosen path. I wanted to show everyone what I am capable of and become one of the best students in my course," notes the representative of "Teltonika Telematics."
She says that today, working as an engineer, she feels like participating in a logical game with a variety of constantly emerging new tasks. To solve them, one needs not only to possess the knowledge, creativity, analytical thinking, but also patience, motivation, and consistency.
"One of the main challenges I face is the constant change in technology, requiring engineers to adapt and learn new skills. The constant challenge for an engineer is navigating between optimistic customer expectations and the technological, financial, human, and other resources of the project. This is required in order to create an innovative, reliable, high-quality product or solution that serves the well-being of society," emphasizes the VILNIUS TECH graduate.
Career start – while still studying at the university
K. Kairiene reveals that while still studying in the final, fourth year, she sent her resume to "Teltonika Telematics" to apply for a sales manager position. At that time, she didn't dare to apply for an engineering position, thinking that she had too little knowledge for that. Luckily, as soon as she came for a job interview, the HR representative acknowledged woman's education and offered to discuss the candidacy for the technical support engineer position. She reassured that every newcomer gets a full training, so the most important thing that a candidate should ‘bring to the table’ is motivation.
"That's how I became not only an engineer but also a true 'Teltonika' fan – for the past 7 years, I have been leading the Technical Support Department of 'Teltonika Telematics.' From the very first days at work, I realised that the saying about university providing only theoretical foundations rarely applied in practice is a real myth. Without the knowledge gained at university, I definitely would not be where I am now," points out the woman.
The purpose of the Technical Support Department team, according to K. Kairiene, is to create a positive experience for customers using the GPS solutions developed by the company. The assistance with its global implementation is carried out in high quality, with flexibility and responsibility. To achieve this goal, more than 100 engineers worldwide are focused on performing a wide range of tasks: providing technical assistance to customers, coordinating ongoing projects, preparing technical documentation, and ensuring the quality of manufactured products.
"Teltonika" investments in young talents are long-term oriented
The "Teltonika" group of companies has been successfully developing its business for more than 25 years. Its representatives realized quite early that to keep up with technological progress, they need people with new ideas and a dynamic approach to business.
That is why more than 7 years ago, "Teltonika" opened IoT and B2B academies – spaces where students can try out engineering and sales professions, intern, and get a close look at how new products are created as well as get familiar with how international business operates.
Another initiative aimed at attracting young talents to the engineering field is "Teltonika" scholarships. For the third year in a row, the company allocates 3,000 euros in annual scholarships for the most talented students studying in the fields of engineering and information technology.
"Teltonika's" investments and initiatives are long-term, so their return will be seen in 5-10 years, in the career paths chosen by existing students. About 100 young talents join "Teltonika" on average every year, who either start working when still studying or straight after graduating from university. The company strives to create the environment where students can start their careers according to their field of study rather than making compromises and looking for unqualified jobs during their studies or after graduation.
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