Michaela changed careers – and loves her job as an assembler at Daloc

When Michaela changed careers and started working in manufacturing, she was a little worried that the work might feel monotonous. But she quickly realised that she couldn’t have been more wrong! Her job is social and varied, and above all, the regular working hours make it much easier for her to find a good work-life balance and prioritise what matters most: spending time with her family.

Michaela Karlsson previously worked in retail, but she wanted a shorter commute and a better balance in her everyday life. So she decided to take the leap into a completely new industry: manufacturing.

“I was actually quite sceptical about working in manufacturing at first. I enjoyed working in retail, especially because of all the people I got to meet. I had this idea that working in manufacturing would be very monotonous and not very social. It turned out I was completely wrong!”

Today, Michaela works as an assembler at Daloc in Töreboda. The company is a leading developer and manufacturer of security doors. She describes her work as both varied and rewarding.

“We work on a production line with different stations. But every door that comes through is different, so what we do at each station varies all the time. We also switch stations after every break, which naturally adds variety to the working day. And it’s very social and enjoyable working with my team. There’s a really great atmosphere at work.”

More free time and time with the family

Another important factor for Michaela when she decided to move into manufacturing was the working hours and being close to work. With two young children, it was important for her to have a short commute and plenty of time for family life.

“I live in Mariestad, but my commute to work is only 15 minutes. It gives me peace of mind knowing that I can get home quickly if, for example, one of my children gets sick during the day. I also don’t want to spend a lot of time commuting. It takes away from the time we can spend together.”

When Michaela compares the working hours in her previous job with those she has now, she is more than happy that she made the change. When she worked in retail, she worked many evenings and every other weekend. With young children who go to bed early, that meant missing out on a lot of valuable time together.

“My working hours now are perfect for me! We start as early as six in the morning, but that means we finish at three in the afternoon. I pick up the children, and we spend some time at home before doing something together. Having more time in the afternoons means I can spend time with my family without feeling stressed. It has also given me the opportunity to get back into horse riding, which is one of my own interests.”

Easy to get started

Changing careers was a big step for Michaela and meant a lot of changes. But it didn’t require years of training. When she started, she completed a course to get her forklift licence. After that, she was ready to get to work.

“I come from a family of carpenters, so I’m used to working with tools. But my colleagues come from all kinds of different backgrounds. As long as you can use a screwdriver, you’ll be fine. You quickly learn what you need to know if you’re willing to learn. And there’s always someone you can ask if you need help.”

Besides the working hours, Michaela sees many other advantages to her new industry, and especially to her new employer, Daloc.

“There’s a really great company culture and a strong sense of teamwork between management and those of us working on the factory floor. The cooperation with the unions works really well, and there’s a warm, friendly atmosphere throughout the company. I also appreciate the opportunities to develop and grow within the company. If you want to try something new, that’s always seen as a positive thing. It’s a great place to work!”