Ali Owinat’s path in IT had taken him through many years with the same employer before joining Netox. Over the years, the work, the organization and the ways of working had become familiar, but gradually he began to feel that the next step could be found in an environment where he could use his expertise more broadly.
“I have always been a self-driven person who likes to bring in ideas, develop things and work in a versatile way, so I was looking for a place where I could really spread my wings. Netox kept coming up on LinkedIn, where there was a lot of hype around the company. It also gave me a really good feeling about the company,” Ali says.
When a suitable role opened up on the networking side at Netox, Ali did not apply completely blind. He already knew a colleague who had moved to Netox, so before applying, it felt natural to ask what kind of place it really was.
“He spoke very highly of Netox. And this is someone who doesn’t sugarcoat things, so I strongly believed it was a good company. Then I applied, and here I am.”
The colleague’s promise turned out to be true
The colleague’s message had been clear: at Netox, you get to do things, learn and move forward if you have the drive for it. During his first months, Ali quickly noticed that the description was accurate.
“In a way, the sky is the limit here if you want to learn and take responsibility. In just six months, I’ve already seen how much responsibility you can get if you want it,” Ali says.
There has also been plenty to do.
“I’ve had the chance to design and develop customer networks, troubleshoot incidents, take part in customer projects, productization work and internal development projects. Perhaps the most concrete sign of trust has been getting responsibility for renewing Netox’s entire network monitoring system.”
Certification and self-development are also actively encouraged. During his first six months, Ali has completed three industry certifications, for which Netox has rewarded him financially.
At Netox, getting things done does not stop at team boundaries or tightly guarded areas of responsibility. Help is easy to ask for, and people share a common will to move things forward.
“There are no silos here. You can ask anyone for help, and people have a strong can-do attitude. I haven’t once come across someone saying that something is not their responsibility.”
No two days are the same
As a Senior Network Specialist, Ali is responsible for customers’ data network connections. At the heart of his work is ensuring that customers’ networks are secure, reliable and developing in the right direction.
His workdays consist of things like problem-solving, customer meetings and customer projects. No two days are really the same.
The importance of the work becomes especially clear when the customer operates in critical infrastructure. Network connectivity is not just a technical detail, but something that can have a very concrete impact on the customer’s operations.
“If a customer’s network is not working, the consequences can be quite serious. We have customers in critical infrastructure, and if their network goes down, it can easily end up in the news. That’s why the most rewarding thing is being able to prevent or solve a problem before it causes bigger harm.”
A relaxed atmosphere, serious work
One of the biggest surprises for Ali has been Netox’s culture. The atmosphere is relaxed, but the work is done with a clear professional mindset. Things are not slowed down by unnecessary processes. The focus is on solving issues in an agile way.
“There is a relaxed working atmosphere here, but things are still taken seriously,” Ali says.
The low hierarchy is visible in everyday work. According to Ali, at Netox you can reach out to practically anyone.
“You can even talk to the CEO with a low threshold, share ideas and go for lunch.”
Coming from a larger organization, the difference has been clear. Where things in a larger company could get stuck inside the machinery, Netox is able to make decisions more agilely.
“There are no rigid processes here. At Netox, decision-making happens where the best expertise is, so decisions can be made quickly. That feels good as an employee, and it also shows to the customer.”
Netox’s size also came as a surprise. The company’s strong visibility had made it seem larger than its headcount eventually suggested. At the same time, that is exactly what makes everyday work interesting: the company is still agile, but its pace of growth and level of ambition are clearly visible.
“Netox is a smaller company than you might imagine from the outside, but it is growing fast.”
Ali believes Netox is a good fit for people who want to combine a relaxed working atmosphere with ambitious work. Here, you do not have to wait for someone else to open the door to the next step.
“If you want a relaxed atmosphere, but also a real opportunity to learn and develop, I definitely recommend Netox.”
