The Helsinki Trainee programme is a six-month traineeship. During it, trainees not only get to know the City of Helsinki as an employer, but also carry out work in their own fields. This autumn, another 15 trainees began their traineeships in various roles.
Recent graduates Iida Niemipelto and Helka Oja started traineeships under the Helsinki Trainee programme this autumn. Niemipelto works as a recruitment trainee in Employment Services, while Oja works as an HR trainee in the Administration Department of the City Executive Office.
Both trainees say that their interest in the HR sector was sparked by their studies. According to Niemipelto, it was her previous positive experiences of working in the public sector that motivated her to apply for the Helsinki Trainee programme.
Meanwhile Oja was also excited by the prospect of working in the public sector. Both trainees were also motivated to apply by the positive experiences that their friends had had with the programme.
Both Oja and Niemipelto have at least one HR traineeship under their belts, but say that the City of Helsinki’s trainee programme stands out in a positive way compared to them.
"It feels like you really get to develop your competence here, as you’re given more responsibility," says Niemipelto.
"I love the fact that people here are genuinely keen to support my interests and think about how my competence could best be developed. It’s been a surprise just how many opportunities there are here to get involved in things that interest me," says Oja.
In addition to the opportunities for competence development, the two trainees praise the City’s trainee programme for the fact that the trainees are not just left to twiddle their thumbs.
"I know that what I do here really does make a difference and that people trust me. Even though I’m here to learn, I still get to do a lot on my own," says Niemipelto.
The first Helsinki Trainee programme trainees started their traineeships at the City of Helsinki in 2020. At the time, there were only three trainees taking part in the programme. Since then, the programme has developed rapidly, and there are now nearly 30 participants a year.
For many of the participants, the trainee programme is their first long-term job in their chosen field. Sarianne Mäntylä, who has managed the trainee programme almost from the very beginning, has seen up close how the programme and the trainees’ own responsibilities have boosted their self-confidence.
"In my opinion, the best thing about the programme is that the trainees get to familiarise themselves with a wide range of the City’s tasks and are provided with the skills that they need to succeed in their own jobs," says Mäntylä.
The trainee programme is also rewarding for the employer and supervisors. Hanna Piira, who manages the trainee programme alongside Mäntylä and has served as the supervisor of a number of trainees over the years, says that the trainees bring new ideas and perspectives with them.
"They provide new perspectives to my own work as well and to the organisation as a whole," she says.
During their traineeships, the trainees gain valuable experience and build networks that will also benefit them in their future careers.
A key part of the trainee programme is networking and meetings between all the trainees. This autumn, the trainees have visited places such as the City Executive Office, various City divisions, municipal enterprises and Helsinki City Hall. Guided familiarisation with the City organisation is indeed one of the highlights of the trainee programme.
"It’s been emphasised to us too that this is a truly unique experience for us trainees," says Niemipelto.
According to Oja, it has been fascinating to learn about the workings and practices of such a large organisation. She says that she is delighted that the working atmosphere at the City is so relaxed, even though they deal with major and important issues. The pleasantness of the work is also contributed to by cooperation across departmental and division boundaries.
Over the past couple of months, both Oja and Niemipelto have learned a great deal about the City and the work that they are interested in. At the same time, they have gotten to know new people and build up their networks. In fact, that has been at the heart of the trainee programme right from the start.
"I hope that our trainees will come away from this programme with lots of new insights, contacts and a better understanding of what they want from their future careers," says Piira.
"During their traineeships, the trainees gain valuable experience and build networks that will also benefit them in their future careers. It’s really great to get to follow the trainees’ learning and successes up close," adds Mäntylä.