For students

Familiarise yourself with working life and job search practices in Eastern Finland

The Towards Working Life in Eastern Finland online course is designed for international students and recent graduates who want to understand Finnish working life, recognise their own strengths, and prepare for internships or job applications in Eastern Finland.

Start the course now — available for free in English and Finnish
Go to DigiCampus
Course key: MOOC

The course includes self-study materials, assignments, and self-assessment tools to help you:

• Learn the basics of Finnish working life and workplace practices
• Understand the key features of Finnish society and work culture
• Identify and describe your own competences and transferable skills
• Explore recruitment processes and discover support services for international students
• Develop networking skills and learn about recognition of competences

Key themes of the course

• Working life and the Finnish welfare society
• Key features of Finnish work culture and everyday practices
• Rights and responsibilities of employees and employers
• General and transferable skills in modern working life
• Job application and recruitment process (CV, cover letter, job interview)
• Recognition and documentation of competences
• Networking and career planning

How does the course work?

Once you register on the DigiCampus platform, you will have immediate access to all modules and course materials. You can study flexibly at your own pace and select the modules most relevant to your needs. The course includes self-assessment tools, learning portfolios, and assignments to help you reflect on your strengths and competences.

Please note: The course is not graded, and no ECTS credits are awarded at this stage.

More information

Do not hesitate to get in touch for questions and support related to the course content!

Sami Tanskanen, [email protected], +358 50 355 8857
Soile Ruotsalainen, [email protected], +358 50 476 5668

Meet representatives of Finnish working life and build networks

The group mentoring programme brings together employers, experts from different fields, and international students (actors). An independent expert or an employer organisation with one or more experts can act as a mentor in the programme. The main role of mentors is to challenge and guide actors to develop their working life and networking skills. The mentoring language is English.

The application period is October 7–31, 2025. Apply now!

The themes of mentoring meetings can be, for example:

• Professional growth and career development
• Identification and marketing of one’s competence
• Job search skills
• Networking
• Finnish culture and working life
• Getting to know the organisation and industry
• Entrepreneurship and (research) funding
• Well-being at work and time management

As students taking part in the mentoring programme, you will improve your skills in

• job search and getting to know different career options and paths
• developing professional expertise and finding your strengths
• communication and interaction with others
• building professional networks
• developing self-confidence and self-knowledge

Stages of the mentoring programme (November-May) 

1. Online coaching for participants in the mentoring programme (2 h)
2. Programme launch event and first online meeting of groups (2 h)
3. Meetings with the group (4-5 times recommended)
4. Networking event (3 h)
5. Programme closing event (3 h)

The key stages of the mentoring process are 2nd and 3rd. The program lasts approximately 20 hours per mentor. Mentoring is not tied to the locality but can be done online.

Students choose a suitable mentoring group based on a mentor profile written by the mentor/employer organisation themselves. The mentoring groups agree on the method of conducting the meetings (remote and/or face-to-face meetings).

Additional information

Feel free to contact us!

Marko Pietilä, [email protected], +358 40 355 3039
Minna Tarvainen, [email protected], +358 44 785 6981
Sanna Jeskanen, [email protected], +358 50 462 2478

Get to know employers and learn how to sell your skills

Future Talents Team bridges the gap between academia and industry by fostering collaboration between companies and students.  The team meets with local employers and presents degree programmes and the competencies of international students. The aim is to achieve many kinds of cooperation: theses, internships, project and part-time work, as well as small case examples for courses.

Benefits for the students 

• network with other students and local employers – a chance to gain more employment opportunities
• get to know Finnish working life, culture and language
• participate in sales and marketing trainings held by an expert
• develop their skills in problem solving, sales and negotiation, project and teamwork
• possibility to gain study credits

How the team works? 

1. The student teams can visit or be invited to local companies
2. During the visits, the teams and employers discuss cooperation opportunities and agree on the next steps
3. The partnership continues, and the student teams monitor the progress as agreed

For more information: 

Sanna Jeskanen, [email protected], +358 50 462 2478
Johanna Taavitsainen, [email protected], +358 44 785 6142
Marko Pietilä, [email protected], +358 40 355 3039
Sami Tanskanen, [email protected], +358 50 355 8857

Fill out the survey and tell potential employers about your skills

The Talent Pool database gathers information about international students, including your skills, educational background, and work experience. This helps employers find the right talents for their needs – and helps you get closer to Finnish working life.

How does the Talent Pool work – from a student’s perspective?

1. Join the Talent Pool – Tell us about your background, skills, and what kind of opportunities you’re looking for.
2. Yours skills stand out – When employers are looking for talent and contact us, our experts search the database for students who fit the desired profile.
3. Get contacted directly – If your profile interests an employer, we will introduce you to the organisation with your permission.
4. Meet potential employers – You’ll get the chance to connect and discuss possible next steps.

Talent Pool offers you a way to gain practical experience, expand your professional network, and grow your skills in a Finnish workplace.

Interested? Join the Talent Pool or contact us for more information:

Johanna Taavitsainen, [email protected], +358 44 785 6142
Eini Puhakka, [email protected], +358 44 785 6825
Marko Pietilä, [email protected], +358 40 355 3039 

Identify and utilise your competence

Skills passports are made for different fields of study to support and strengthen students’ competence demonstration. The skills passport is a straightforward document that jobseekers use to describe themselves and their skills. This makes it easier for the employer to understand the skills and work experience of the job applicant when applying for a job. In addition to the jobseeker’s assessment, the skills passport includes feedback from vocational teachers and working life.

Skills passports are made for upper secondary-level students, such as care assistants, practical nurses, facility managers, bakers, chefs, waiters, and sheet metal welders. Draft skills passports have also been prepared for university students specialising in expert positions and chemistry.

Benefits for the customer 

When looking for a job, immigrants often face challenges due to their lack of language skills. This makes it more difficult to showcase one’s skills and find employment.

Students can use the skills passport

• as an attachment in a job application
• in a job interview
• for replacing CV and job application
• when drafting a CV and job application

The skills passport brings concrete results to the presentation of skills when applying for a job. It also helps the employer find the right person for each job.

How to use the skills passport 

Skills passports are created for different fields together with teachers and representatives of working life.  At the final stage of graduation, students fill in a skills passport in their field, in which they evaluate their working life, professional, and language skills with the teacher and write a motivation letter about themselves.

Additional information 

For more information, please feel free to contact us!

Sari Väänänen, [email protected], +358 44 785 4025
Pauliina Korhonen, [email protected], +358 44 785 3403

Get help from professionals to help you plan for the future

Solution-oriented study counselling (ROPO) supports international students and recent graduates in career planning, job search and further studies. With the help of professionals, you will find the most suitable route to working life for you and develop your skills for the future.

Benefits for the student 

• Personal guidance during the final stages of studies and after graduation
• Support for job search and contacts with employers in the area
• Information about the study offer and further study opportunities at different educational institutions
• Opportunity to participate in recruitment and networking events

How it works  

The ROPO team offers personal meetings with counsellors, job search workshops, MOOC training and alumni activities for graduates. Cooperation with educational institutions and employers in the area makes the service flexible and practical.

Additional information  

Feel free to contact us!

Juhani Lantto, [email protected], +358 44 785 3355
Hanna Reinikainen, [email protected], +358 44 016 2643
Mervi Keinänen, [email protected], +358 50 331 5823

Network and take advantage of the services of graduated students

Educational institutions’ alumni activities offer graduates a variety of services. The services depend on the educational institution, but professional further education, alumni meetings, and cooperation with working life are common forms of alumni activities. Alumni can also participate in institutions’ activities after graduation, for example, by mentoring students or inviting student groups to workplace visits. 

Benefits of alumni activities 

• Development of professional competence through continuous learning, further studies and continuing education 
• Strengthening working life networks both among alumni and between students and representatives of working life 
• Opportunity to participate in the development of education as a working life partner 

Join alumni activities 

You can register as an alumnus or with a separate form upon graduation. Check out the alumni activities of your educational institution and join us! 

UEF 

https://www.uef.fi/en/uef-alumni 
[email protected] 

Savonia UAS 

https://www.savonia.fi/en/savonia-uas/explore-savonia/join-the-alumni-network/ 
[email protected]  

Karelia UAS 

https://www.karelia.fi/en/alumni-activities/ 
[email protected]

SAKKY 

https://sakky.fi/fi/koulutukset/alumnitoiminta-maahanmuuttaneille 
[email protected] 

Riveria 

https://www.riveria.fi/riveria/alumnitoiminta/  

Do you want to bring your own business idea to life and start as an entrepreneur?

The entrepreneurship path for international students offers comprehensive support for developing a business idea and starting a business.

What does the service offer to students?

• Course: With the help of the course, you will develop a realistic and feasible business idea. In higher education institutions, the course is titled Realistic Business Idea; in vocational schools, it is called Realistinen liikeidea selkeällä suomella.
• Personal coaching: You will receive support for developing your business idea in individual and group coaching.
• Evaluation of the business idea: You will work on the business idea independently and with the help of coaching meetings.
• Creating a network of contacts: You will receive support from the coaches in building your network.
• Digital Community: Join a community of international entrepreneurs for peer support and networking.

Benefits for students 

• Concrete support for the development and implementation of a business idea
• Mastery of business and entrepreneurship concepts that facilitates collaboration with experts and financiers
• Establishing contacts with other entrepreneurs, experts and partners
• Possibility of a letter of recommendation to support, for example, applications for funding

Course of study

1. Initial interview and orientation: Overview of the program and goals
2. Independent working on a business idea: Developing a business idea with the support of guidance and sparring
3. Coaching meetings: Feedback and guidance for finalising the business idea
4. Final presentation: Presentation of the business idea and demonstration of competence
5. Letter of Recommendation: Successful students will receive a letter of recommendation to support funding or other opportunities

Digital community

Join the digital community where you can network with international students and entrepreneurs, get peer support and promote your business idea together with others.

Additional information 

Daniel Bågeberg, [email protected], +358 50 324 0290
Riku Jalonen, [email protected], +358 44 785 8360
Heidi Wilska, [email protected], +358 50 577 7852