The Right Skills for a Key Role

Stranda AB, a family-owned contract manufacturing company in Mönsterås, needed to recruit a technical business manager. The role required an unusually broad skill set: technical understanding, business acumen, and the ability to build trust in multiple contexts simultaneously. We at Unik Resurs conducted a quality-assured process and recruited Anton Aldentun, someone with the ability to see the big picture—from customer relationships to production and profitability.

A family-owned business with extensive experience and high standards

Stranda AB was founded in 1988 and has since grown into a well-established contract manufacturing company specializing in machining, welding, and assembly. With about 20 employees, a modern machine park, and short decision-making chains, it is a company where team spirit is central and relationships are built for the long term. Anna Isaksson is the CEO and leads the business together with the management team.

A role that required more than just a job description

On the surface, the assignment was to find a technical sales representative. But the reality was more complex. The role required someone who could move naturally between client meetings and the production floor, who understood blueprints just as easily as they built relationships with purchasing managers, and who thrived in a company without rigid processes. It’s not a specialist we’re looking for in situations like this. It’s a generalist of a kind rarely seen.

In addition, the management team had somewhat differing views on what the role actually entailed. Reaching a consensus was part of the process before the recruitment effort could get underway.

Here’s How We Conducted the Recruitment Process

The assignment began with a requirements-profile meeting in Mönsterås, where Johanna Hermansson, a recruitment consultant at Unik Resurs, met with Anna, Sören, and Ewa.

“The most important factor for success was understanding early on what Stranda was actually looking for beyond the formal job requirements. The core challenge was to find someone who could combine technical expertise, business acumen, and the ability to build trust in a variety of contexts.”
Johanna Hermansson, Recruitment Consultant, Unik Resurs

Based on the meeting, we developed a job profile and a job posting that reflected the role and culture at Stranda. The process included competency-based interviews, personality and intelligence tests, the presentation of final candidates with recommendations, and ongoing dialogue with the management team all the way through to the final decision.

Anton—a generalist with exactly the right range of skills

Anton Aldentun was hired as Technical Business Manager and is now a member of Stranda’s management team.

With a background as a sales manager and production and marketing manager, Anton has moved seamlessly between business development, production, and customer relations throughout his career. That is exactly the skill set Stranda needed.

“What I saw in Anton was his ability to see the big picture. He understood the client’s business, the realities of production, and how profitability is created in between. He not only met the job requirements, but he also demonstrated the curiosity, drive, and business acumen that Stranda needed to move the business forward.”
Johanna Hermansson, recruitment consultant, Unik Resurs

This is how the client and the candidate experienced the process

The Customer’s Perspective: Anna Isaksson, CEO of Stranda AB

“Johanna was attentive to our different perspectives as we developed the requirements profile. As an owner-managed company with different roles, future plans, and aspirations, it was important to align our various expectations.”

Anna also highlights a pivotal moment toward the end of the process:

“One situation we found particularly positive was when we were facing an important decision toward the end of the process, and Johanna helped us deepen our discussion before moving forward, which gave us greater confidence in our decision.”

The Candidate’s Perspective: Anton Aldentun, Technical Business Manager at Stranda AB

“I thought the entire process was very professional—going through several steps, ranging from personality and intelligence tests to a standard interview. What I appreciated most was the constant dialogue. You were great at providing feedback and being clear about where we were in the process.”

Anton was also clear about why he accepted the offer:

“I think Stranda is an exciting company with a forward-looking approach. I believe the company is perfectly in tune with the times, and the role felt both challenging and fun!”

A hiring decision that worked out well for all three parties

The recruitment process resulted in a permanent position in a key role, a shared understanding among the management team regarding requirements and expectations, and a process in which both the client and the candidate experienced a high level of professionalism and ongoing dialogue.

By investing time in the requirements profiling process, using the right tools, and supporting the client every step of the way until the decision was made, we were able to deliver a result that all three parties can stand behind. We look forward to following Stranda’s continued journey.