Guidance Corner

Guidance Corner in the Kaisa house

Guidance Corner at City Center campus is located on the third floor of Kaisa House (Fabianinkatu 30), next to main doors.

Guidance Corners in the Viikki Info Centre Korona

Guidance Corners at Viikki Campus are on the 1st floor of Infocentre (Viikinkaari 11). There are two Guidance Corners in Viikki. First one is in the lobby next to the main doors. The other Guidance Corner is in the campus library premises in front of the Nile garden. Give feedback with the e-form about the facilities of Viikki Guidance Corners, they are constantly being developed.

Events are also held online. Please always check the location of the event.

Walk-in Sisu guidance provides support for students with technical issues in the use of Sisu, with the focus on how to create and edit your study plan in Sisu. If you need assistance concerning the content of your degree or course equivalences, please contact the student services of your own faculty.

• Walk-in Sisu guidance in Zoom on Tue 11-13 and Wed 13-15, organised by the Kaisa House Student Information.
• For more information about the events or about the technical issues in Sisu, please email studentinfo@helsinki.fi
• Further information about Sisu can be found on the page Sisu instructions for students

During the spring 2022 you can come and meet the admission advisors at the Guidance Corner at Kaisa house on the following Wednesdays from 1 to 3 PM:

• 11.5.

The ongoing corona virus situation might have an effect on service hours. Please check always from the Guidance Corner´s or Admission Service´s website up to date information about service hours before visiting us.

We can help you with questions related to applying to the University of Helsinki. You do not need to book an appointment. Please note, that we do not accept enclosures of any kind at the Guidance Corner. 

You can contact us also via chat, phone or e-mail. You can find contact information from the Contact Admission Services website.

On Tuesdays, Guidance Corner focuses on student well-being. Various organisers advancing student health and wellbeing will be holding events and giving guidance and counselling on how you can improve your wellbeing and get support in your studies. 

Story time: ADHD and studying

Date, time and location: 3 May 2022, 15.00–16.30, Zoom

The session will take place in Finnish. Find more information on the Finnish page. 

Take a break with UniSport!

Wellbeing Tuesday’s are completed with a new day program. Take a break from your studying and win a UniSport season pass!

On Tuesdays at 12.15-13.00. in Zoom (note! moved back to Zoom implementation) until 10.05.2022.

This session consists of light exercise (10-15 minutes in the beginning) and tips for adding movement to your study days. After the session, you can also ask an expert about breaks and physical activity, such as

• Getting started with exercise
• Fitness and exercise activities suited to you
• Training at UniSport

Depending on the participants, the session will be organised in either Finnish or English. A one-month UniSport pass will be drawn each calendar month among the participants. Participation in one session counts as one entry, which means that if you participate in every session, you improve your chances of winning.

Join the Zoom-session by pressing the “Join Zoom meeting” link below:

• Join Zoom meeting
• Meeting ID: 625 4122 2808
• Passcode: 046389

Carefree shoulders

During spring 2022 we are organizing free break exercise sessions via Zoom as follows

• on Mondays at 12.30
• on Wednesdays at 12.00

Carefree Shoulders is an energising 15-minute break workout focusing on the back and shoulder region and freeing up those stiff muscles. Carefree Shoulders is well-suited for beginners, and no gym clothes are needed. Carefree shoulders are in Finnish, but the movements are easy to follow.

You can participate in the Zoom event with Meeting ID 861 9709 5476. You will find the link on the Carefree Shoulders page and on the group exercise schedule.

You can also download the Break Pro exercise break programme to your computer.

Do you feel that your studies are not progressing as quickly as you would like? Do you need help in finding your strengths and recognising your skills? Have you lost sight of the goal of your studies? Do you need peer support? 

If you answered any of the above questions in the affirmative, Guidance Corner’s Boost to studies and career groups may be just the thing for you!

At the moment, there is one group organised in English. Check the Finnish version of this page for more groups!

Spring 2022 groups

Career Writing small group

In the small group you will explore your own situation and thoughts about your future through various creative writing exercises. There will be some group discussions, but the majority of activities consist of individual writing.

You can decide how much do you want to share with the group concerning your writing. The activities are based on the Career Writing method developed by Reinekke Lengelle and Frans Meijers.

The supervising language in the group will be English or Finnish or both depending on the group. Your own writing can be in any language best suited for you.

The sing up period will close on 1.3. at 23.55. Max. 20 participants and group will be organised if there is a minimum of 8 participants. Meetings are held on Zoom.

Schedule:

• Tue 8th March, 
• Thu 10th March,
•  and Tue 15th March, always from 9 to 11 am.

Register for the Career Writing -group on March 1st at latest on JobTeaser.

Please note! You can register for the waiting list, if the group is full - you will receive an automatic email if/when somebody cancels their registration.

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Please note that the groups do not provide degree programme or faculty-specific study guidance. If you need help, for example, in determining what studies are missing from your degree, please contact your faculty's Student services.

Get the best tips from our Career Counselors on recognising your skills, job search, fixing your CV and LinkedIn! 

You’ll find more information, dates and registration on JobTeaser. Important. If you log into JobTeaser for the first time, you must select the option 1. STUDENT or ALUMNI as a field of study, in addition to your actual educational field. Read more about JobTeaser.

• Recognise your skills
  Wondering what skills have you developed exactly during your education, your working life experiences and eg. in your hobbies and other extra-curricular activities? In our Recognise Your Skills Workshop you will get the chance to map out your skills and strengths and also to verbalise them in a way that will be helpful to you when looking for jobs.   
• Job search workshops
  How to begin job searching? How do I write a good application and CV and stand out from other candidates? What kind of possibilities does social media offer for job search? How do I find jobs from the hidden job market? In the workshop, you will get the opportunity to read and comment on the other participants’ CVs in an encouraging environment.
• LinkedIn workshops
  Update your LinkedIn-profile to a whole new level! In this workshop we will look at your LinkedIn-profile especially from the point of view of job search and networking. What do the recruiters pay attention to in your LinkedIn-profile? How do you stand out from the other candidates? You will receive help in writing your profile text, get the opportunity to comment on other students LinkedIn-profiles and receive constructive feedback on your own profile. 
• LinkedIn feedback session
  Do you already have your LinkedIn profile set up, but you are wondering if it describes you and conveys the right message? Are you using the right keywords? Is your headline relevant? Are your goals, visions and competencies clearly articulated in your profile? In this workshop you will be able to ask questions and discuss your profile with your peers. 

During the spring 2022 the Drop-in support for job search and traineeships will be offered both online and in person at the Guidance corners in Kaisa House and Viikki Campus. You can find the Zoom link of the remote sessions from the page Career Services.

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Are you concerned about job-seeking or issues related to traineeship? Do you need practical advice on polishing your CV?

The University’s career services provides walk-in job search guidance to support your job hunt. You can come for guidance without an appointment, if you require support in the following matters:

• Feedback on your CV and cover letter 
• Support in building your LinkedIn profile 
• Practical questions concerning job search 
• Questions concerning traineeships, including funding for traineeships. 

The duration of the meeting is a maximum of 20 minutes.

Please note: You will be let into the session only at 12.00, 12.20, 12.40, 13.00, 13.20 and 13.40. The duration of the session is max. 20 min/student. Please be prepared to wait for your turn. We will let you know your waiting time by sending a message to the waiting room. Do stay in the waiting room to keep your spot in the line.  

During the spring 2022 the support for job search and traineeships will be offered on the following dates at 12-14: 

May:
Tue 10.5. (Zoom)
Tue 24.5. (Guidance corner/Kaisa House)

Welcome!

Do you need ideas on sources for your seminar thesis? Are you familiar enough with the databases in your field? 

Guidance Corner organizes regular guidance sessions on information retrieval for theses and the use of electronic publications.

Information seeking and reference management

• every Monday at 12-13 in the Guidance Corner of Kaisa House, from 14 March to 30 May 2022 (not 18 April). 

There are more events in Finnish.

See more about the course selection from the Courses at the Library website.See also the library’s remote guidance on information seeking.

The Study psychologists, Guidance Counsellors and Guidance coordination team will jointly organize hybrid study sessions open to all students, based on the Pomodoro techniques. Other learning techniques, such as SMART learning techniques, are sometimes used in the sessions.

You can participate by joining remotely, via the Zoom-link below, or by coming to the Guidance Corner at Kaisa House. The goal of the study sessions is to provide you with a time and place where you can focus and work on your current study tasks under guidance, together with other students. When you participate remotely, you can keep your camera and microphone turned off. The sessions may include small-scale interaction among the participants, and you can join in if you want. 

There is no separate registration for the event and the session will be held in English when needed.

Tomato Thursday study session every Thursday at 10.00–12.00 (spring 2022 last session is 9 June)

• 5.5. exceptionally only in zoom
• 26.5. No study session

Once a month the focus is on one study-related theme introduced by study psychologists (10.00-10.30)

12.5.2022, Tools for focusing without multitasking

You can participate in sessions by joining the meetings via the link below or by entering the Guidance Corner

Join the Zoom-session by pressing the “Join Zoom meeting” link below:

• Join Zoom Meeting
• Meeting ID: 695 7049 1387
• Passcode: 819012

General instructions

If you are participating in a Tomato Thursday study session for the first time, join the meeting on time. The leader of the session will shortly go through the idea and gives tips on how to help you break down your own study assignments.

If you have questions related to the study sessions, you can send us an email to ohjauskulma@helsinki.fi. 

SMART and Pomodoro techniques

The Pomodoro technique is a great tool for honing in your concentration; the idea is that you work intensely for 25 minutes and then have a short break. Therefore, during one full session we will go through three to four “pomodoros”. On the theme times held by study psychologists, there are two to three pomodoros.

SMART tool helps you to break down your own study assignments into smaller parts and this way makes it easier to get going. See the video in the side panel.

Are you interested in the future of the university and global perspectives? Then join us for our guidance corner sessions!

Una Europa is a European Universities Alliance that the University of Helsinki is part of together with eight other universities. We are working to create the European University of the Future!

We will be discussing more about Una Europa’s different focus areas (AI, Cultural Heritage, Sustainability, One Health and European Studies) and also talk more about the personal and professional opportunities that an alliance like Una Europa and international experiences can give you. You can learn more about how Una Europa is providing new opportunities for all students and why experiences in international environments, whether here in Finland or abroad, can be valuable both on a personal and professional level!

Come join us and learn more about Una Europa and how you can benefit and participate!

If you have any questions please reach out to Una Europa project coordinator Stinne Vognaes (stinne.vognas@helsinki.fi).  

The specific program will be updated during spring, so keep an eye out to see what themes and guests will be joining us on which dates.

Kaisa House, City Centre/Zoom

• 11.5, 15-17 (Kaisa-talo Guidance corner)

Infocentre, Viikki campus/Zoom

• 27.4, 14-16 (Viikki Guidance corner Aula/lobby)
• 25.5, 14-16 (Viikki Guidance corner Aula/lobby)

Student Life 2.0 is an event series in English open for all students but particularly for international and internationally-minded students. This is your opportunity to learn more about how to get involved at the university, how to connect with the international community at the university and learn more about making the most of student life in Finland. We will also have events about career planning, thesis writing and taking advantage of the alumni community! We welcome everyone to join us at these weekly events to meet new people and learn about interesting topics. Check out the program below for the specific themes and dates. Events will either be online, or in Kaisa House or Viikki Informationcentre Korona. This information will be updated shortly. 

Spring 2022 events are held every Friday at 13.00-14.00.

29.4: Thesis writing: How to choose your topic 1

Are you planning on – or already working on your thesis?Welcome to the Thesis Writing workshops!

At the workshops you can get to know other thesis writers, can share your thoughts and ideas on writing a thesis and get some good tips on how to work on your thesis. At this session we will work on how to choose your thesis topic by using tools such as brainstorming and narrowing your focus.

The workshops will take place at Kaisa-talo, 7th floor, room 7062. After the workshops you can stay in the library and continue working on your thesis. Welcome to the workshops!

6.5: Summer events and traditions in Finland

Are you spending your summer in Finland and wonder how to get the most of it? Or are you just interested to hear about Finnish summer traditions? Join the event and hear how Finnish summer is celebrated! Welcome to Viikki campus Guidance Corner at Library. 

13.5: Thesis writing: How to choose your topic 2

Are you planning on – or already working on your thesis?Welcome to the Thesis Writing workshops!

At the workshops you can get to know other thesis writers, can share your thoughts and ideas on writing a thesis and get some good tips on how to work on your thesis. At this session we will work on how to choose your thesis topic by using tools such as brainstorming and narrowing your focus.

The workshops will take place at Kaisa-talo, 7th floor, room 7062. After the workshops you can stay in the library and continue working on your thesis.  Welcome to the workshops!

20.5: Thesis writing: Data and Reference Management

Are you planning on – or already working on your thesis?Welcome to the Thesis Writing workshops!

At the workshops you can get to know other thesis writers, can share your thoughts and ideas on writing a thesis and get some good tips on how to work on your thesis. At this session we will talk about useful software and apps for managing your data and references. 

The workshops will take place at Kaisa-talo, 7th floor, room 7062. After the workshops you can stay in the library and continue working on your thesis. Welcome to the workshops!

27.5: Thesis writing: How to choose your topic 1

Are you planning on – or already working on your thesis?Welcome to the Thesis Writing workshops!

At the workshops you can get to know other thesis writers, can share your thoughts and ideas on writing a thesis and get some good tips on how to work on your thesis. At this session we will work on how to choose your thesis topic by using tools such as brainstorming and narrowing your focus.

The workshops will take place at Kaisa-talo, 7th floor, room 7062. After the workshops you can stay in the library and continue working on your thesis. Welcome to the workshops!

3.6: Thesis writing: How to choose your topic 2

Are you planning on – or already working on your thesis?Welcome to the Thesis Writing workshops!

At the workshops you can get to know other thesis writers, can share your thoughts and ideas on writing a thesis and get some good tips on how to work on your thesis. At this session we will work on how to choose your thesis topic by using tools such as brainstorming and narrowing your focus.

The workshops will take place at Kaisa-talo, 7th floor, room 7062. After the workshops you can stay in the library and continue working on your thesis. Welcome to the workshops!

10.6: Thesis writing: Data and Reference Management

Are you planning on – or already working on your thesis?Welcome to the Thesis Writing workshops!

At the workshops you can get to know other thesis writers, can share your thoughts and ideas on writing a thesis and get some good tips on how to work on your thesis. At this session we will talk about useful software and apps for managing your data and references. 

The workshops will take place at Kaisa-talo, 7th floor, room 7062. After the workshops you can stay in the library and continue working on your thesis. Welcome to the workshops!

In all Guidance Corner events, the participants commit to following the principles for a safer space. When attending a Guidance Corner event, meet all participants with an open mind, respect their diversity and let everyone define their own experiences.

Furthermore, please respect the time of the event organisers: If you have signed up for an event, do attend. This way the event organisers can plan their events based on the real turnout. If for some reason you cannot attend an event that has a limited amount of space, let the event organisers know.

In order to create a comfortable atmosphere and open interaction, we would ask you to adhere to the following principles:

• We hope that you will keep your video on in events that have interactive elements (e.g. workshops), if technical or other reasons will not prevent you from doing so. This way both the event organiser and the other participant will get a more realistic experience of being together. We especially encourage you to use your camera during small group assignments (in break-out-rooms). Ultimately, the choice to use or not to use a camera is always yours though!
• The participants will usually get more out of the event if there is discussion between people. So please feel free to open up your mike or write your comments on the chat (or any other platform that is being used). However, you can usually participate in events also as a listener.
• In some events and workshops, the organiser will use the break-out-room function to divide the participants into smaller groups. Often these small group sessions can be the most fruitful part of the event, as during these the threshold for sharing your ideas is lower. Please help create a safer space and a more participatory conversation in small groups: respect different kinds of opinions, express your ideas in a friendly manner and give and take space in the conversation equally with others.

You can also use the following settings, if you want to change your background or your name on Zoom:

• You can blur your background so that your working environment cannot be seen on the video. This can be set up by pressing the arrow located next to the camera icon and by selecting "Choose a virtual background". From the menu that opens select "blur". You can also upload a background picture from the same place.
• You can change your name by pressing the "Participant"-title. This will open the list of participants. After that take your cursor on top of your own name and select first "More" and then press "Rename".