Find a traineeship

During a traineeship you have the possibility to learn and adopt new skills, utilize the knowledge you have gained during your studies as well as develop yourself professionally. A traineeship can help you understand what it is really like to work in a particular field or in a particular role. When a traineeship is included into your studies, it should be carefully planned and supervised. From this perspective, a traineeship is different from, for example, a summer job, part time job or voluntary work.

A traineeship during your studies is a good opportunity to gain work experience and network in your field. Through work experience you will improve your prospects for future employment and through networking, you can learn about different actors in the sector and discover potential job opportunities.

Through a traineeship, you can learn more about your strengths, areas for development as well as about your preferences regarding working environment, which can help you make better decisions about your future career. All in all, a traineeship is a valuable opportunity to develop yourself both professionally and personally.

How does a traineeship differ from a regular job?

The goals and expectations of a traineeship may be different from those of a regular position. Trainees may be expected to learn new skills and gain experience in a particular field, whereas in a regular position they are usually expected to already possess the necessary skills and knowledge. Trainees tend to also receive more guidance and feedback on how to perform their tasks than regular employees. This helps them to learn and develop professionally. In other words, traineeships often focus on acquiring and learning new skills, while in regular position you are often expected to utilize your already existing skills.

Students' translated comments on their traineeships: 

“A foot in the door in a field I had no previous experience in. I´m now quite optimistic about finding a job after graduation (previously more pessimistic).”

“It was useful to get to know the company very closely, even though I am not interested in this type of work in the longer term. It's worth trying out different tasks and positions, your time at university is for learning, so it's worth making the most of it.”

“I would recommend students to apply for traineeships also with employers that may not be seen as obvious options in their own field.”

“I learnt a lot about how people with different skills end up in different jobs and how everyone’s skills are useful.“

“It crystalized what my studies had given me – ability to manage complex issues, information seeking skills, critical thinking skills, etc.”

This is one of the most frequently asked questions we receive from students. Each programme has its own guidelines on how to complete a work placement/traineeship. Therefore, we always recommend that students first check the guidelines for their programme when they are considering an traineeship. You will need to find yourself a traineeship position and agree on the timing and inclusion of the traineeship in your degree with the responsible teacher of your programme’s traineeship course.

There are several ways to search for a traineeship, and we recommend that you use different methods in your search process. On the Tips for job search page you will find lots of tips on different ways of looking for a job/traineeship. Finding a traineeship often requires a lot of background work. Find out what traineeships are available in your field, and which companies or organisations you want to target. Don't be afraid to contact interesting employers directly!

For job and traineeship opportunities for University of Helsinki students, please visit the JobTeaser job portal. JobTeaser is a versatile platform, on which you can determine what kind of jobs you want to view on your JobTeaser dashboard or receive via email.

Traineeships can be done either in Finland or abroad. If you are interested in international work experience and want to do a traineeship abroad, an international traineeship programme is often the most convenient way to find a placement. You can also search for traineeships independently. For more information, see the instructions Apply for a traineeship abroad.

Did you know that you can also do a traineeship at the University of Helsinki? Degree programmes, faculties and even research institutes offer traineeships, e.g. through email lists, or through more formal channels such as the university's own job vacancies page. Please note, however, that the traineeship subsidy provided by University of Helsinki cannot be used for traineeships within the university. 

Remember to be open-minded when looking for an traineeship! Be prepared to consider a variety of traineeships and opportunities. You may find valuable experience in unexpected places, and every traineeship can be an opportunity to learn and grow. Therefore, the traineeship description does not have to perfectly mirror your programme/education.

Finding a traineeship can sometimes be a competitive process, so stay positive and keep going. Each application process and interview is an opportunity to learn and improve.

Teachers and programme coordinators can provide valuable help in finding a traineeship, as they receive students' traineeship reports and can therefore see where students are doing them. They may also have information about companies, organisations or networks that offer traineeships to students.

Other forms of support within your programme that you should take advantage of are various alumni meetings and company/organization visits organised by subject associations, where you can often make contacts with potential employers. It is also worth talking to fellow students and taking advantage of peer support and their potential contacts.

Career services also offers advice and support for students looking for traineeships, such as one-to-one advice by appointment or drop-in job search advice, in which we you can, for example, get feedback to your CV and applications. We also organise events regarding working life and traineeships.

We also recommend that you check out our Tools for planning your career and future page, which contains lots of self-study material and insights into questions students often deal.

The university also offers various funding opportunities to finance traineeships.

It is therefore worth making use of all the resources and support available to help you find a traineeship, be it university’s funding options, instruction pages or support from your own programme or fellow students.