Become one of us
Serdar Sari,
Team Manager at Protos AB
Is the meat industry a place where you can develop?
– Absolutely! I never thought it would happen so quickly. I started as a probationary employee eight years ago and now I’m the manager of two departments.
Do you need to be fluent in Swedish to work at Protos?
– No, but there are great opportunities to learn the language at work. I’m living proof of that, my Swedish has improved hugely here!
What does your job mean to you?
– I’m proud of my work and what we produce. Everyone needs food and we are actually part of Sweden’s preparedness, which feels amazing!
Hanna Kalinichenko,
Food production worker at KLS
What has work meant for you?
– When I arrived in Sweden from Ukraine I was tired, stressed and didn’t speak Swedish. Work has been a way for me to enter society and a place where I get to practise the language every day.
What was it like in the beginning?
– It was hard not to understand and I was scared of making mistakes, but it’s been fine. I learn as I go and a lot can be communicated with body language even when we don’t speak the same language.
What advice would you give others who are applying for work?
– There’s no need to be scared, you can do it too! The people here are really friendly and will help you.
Ayub Mousa,
Butcher at KLS
Were you fluent in Swedish when you started working at KLS?
– No, I wasn’t. I took Swedish lessons at SFI once a week when I first arrived in Sweden. But I learned most of my Swedish here, on the job.
What do you like most about your job?
– I’m learning new things all the time and developing my skills. There are great opportunities for advancing at the company if that’s what you want. My dream is to one day be the boss!
How did you get into this industry?
– I’ve always been very interested in food and was curious about working in the industry. So, I applied for a job as an apprentice at KLS in Ugglarp and spent 5 months training.
Chonlada Thongphot Zander,
Laundry worker at Gudruns
How did you get a job at Gudruns?
– I got a tip from a friend that they needed someone at the laundry to manage and wash all the work clothes. So, I contacted Gudruns and submitted an application. I’ve been working here since 2016.
Did you receive on-the-job training?
– Yes. I got a licence to drive a forklift. It was a 2-day course that involved both theory and driving. It worked out great and was a lot of fun!
What are the most important skills and personality traits for working in the meat industry?
– You need to be detail-oriented and committed. If you don’t understand something, it’s important to ask. There is always someone willing to explain and help you figure it out.
Peter Beniyamin,
Production line manager at Hilton Foods
What is your role at Hilton Foods?
– I’m a production line manager for Team Sliced, with responsibility for around 80 people year round. We slice all the meat – chops, sirloin, fillet of beef and flank steak. We also make the minced meat and burgers.
What do you like most about working in this industry?
– I like that you can grow and develop as a person if you want to. We always work in teams too, with different types of people, which I really like!
What has your journey been like at Hilton Foods?
– After high school, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. But I wanted to work and earn some money. I applied for a job at Hilton Foods and I’ve now been working here for 18 years. I really like it!