#WeAreICE Jakub Koutník - How You Know You Want to Stay

It starts quietly. You want to experience what real operations look like and see how things work outside of school, so you find a part-time job.

At first, you’re not quite sure what to expect. Then comes the first project, the moment when you connect or install something yourself. Suddenly you realize that others trust you and count on you. Gradually, you’re given more space and more responsibility. You get the chance to travel abroad for projects. And somewhere along the way, it dawns on you that you’re no longer here just to gain experience, you’ve become a full member of the team.

Electromechanic Jakub Koutník followed exactly this path. He joined us in 2022 for a summer job. That was followed by an internship during his studies, a project trip to Sweden, and work on several other projects both in the Czech Republic and abroad. With every new experience, he became more confident and more certain he wanted to stay.

 What do you find most fulfilling about this job?

What I like most about ICE is the people. There are a lot of young colleagues here that I get along with really well, and at the same time I learn a lot from the more experienced ones. Overall, the atmosphere is very positive and you truly feel like part of the team.

I also enjoy the work itself. What we do really matters. Thanks to ICE, I have the opportunity to take part in interesting projects not only in the Czech Republic but also in Germany and Sweden. The mix of different projects and the chance to travel is what I enjoy the most.

 What do you think works really well here?

What I appreciate most is how willing people are to help each other. If I am not sure about something, there is always someone who is happy to give advice or help me figure it out.

Another thing I really value is how more experienced colleagues share their knowledge. They explain things clearly and show you how everything works in real situations. Because of that, collaboration comes naturally here and you never feel like you are on your own.

 What’s different today compared to when you started?

I have learned a lot. When I first came to ICE in 2022 for a summer job, I was basically starting from scratch and I did not really know what to expect.

Over time I gained experience in both mechanical and electrical work, and today I can handle many tasks on my own. I can clearly see how much I have grown here. At the same time, I like that there is still plenty of room to keep learning, improving, and developing further.

 What made you decide to join full time after finishing school?

By that time I already knew the company and the work quite well, so continuing here felt like a natural step. I knew what kind of environment I was going into because I had already spent three summers here and also completed an internship during my studies.

One important experience was the opportunity to travel to Sweden for an installation project. It broadened my perspective not only in the field itself but also in how international projects work. I also enjoy the nature of the work, the team, and the opportunity to keep traveling.

You mentioned Sweden. What do you remember most about that experience?

During one of my summer jobs I was offered the chance to travel to Sweden and work at Scania, and I did not hesitate for a moment.

I spent almost a month there and got the opportunity to try everything from assembly to wiring. It was exactly the kind of work I had hoped for and it was a very valuable experience for me.

Because we communicated in English every day, my English improved a lot and I could see firsthand how international projects work. At the same time I got to know the team better and saw how people from different countries work together. It helped me become more independent and strengthened my confidence in my work.

 How would you describe your job today?

The work is very varied and I get involved in many different projects. Sometimes it can be quite demanding and other times it is easier, but that is simply part of the job. It is not always easy, but that is exactly what makes it a good experience and what keeps pushing me to improve.

Jakub’s story isn’t an exception. Sometimes all it takes is getting the opportunity. And the rest is up to each of us.