Networking and mentoring

Networking means making contacts with other people. Networking continues throughout your life – you should start thinking about your own network and building it early! 

The network can be thought of as a support network for one's own social relationships, which includes people from different walks of life. Your own network may include, for example, your (nuclear) family, relatives, friends, acquaintances and relationships established through hobbies and volunteering. You can also think about, for example, the university network (fellow students, teaching staff, support staff) and the working life network. Especially building a network that increases knowledge of working life during your studies is very useful and supports your growth into an expert and transition to working life.

One good way to network and at the same time think about your own future at work is mentoring. You can discuss with a mentor who has been in working life for a longer time, for example, how to identify and verbalize your strengths and areas of development and competence, consider different career options and decision-making, increase your knowledge of working life and increase your job-seeking skills.

As a method, mentoring is very simple: the 's questions, interests and goals determine the content of the mentoring. The prerequisites for successful mentoring can be summed up in three key factors: commitment, confidential interaction and goal-orientation.

Mentoring is suitable not only for the graduation phase, but also for the previous study phase if you are wondering about the above-mentioned issues or are unsure about your future. If you are wondering if mentoring would be right for you, don't hesitate to contact career services, for example!

In group mentoring, alumni (graduates of the University of Helsinki) provide mentoring to small groups of 2–4 students. The programme is available to all students of the University of Helsinki as well to recent graduates. In the groups, students will be able to take advantage of the expertise, understanding and experience of mentors, as well as the wider perspective and support offered by a group of peers.

Applications are accepted in the autumn term. The programme will kick off with a joint event in January, after which the groups will meet approximately once a month until the end of the programme. The closing event for the programme will be held in May.

Based on feedback, mentoring has provided students with

• Support and advice, self-confidence and belief in their abilities
• Self-knowledge, the ability to identify personal strengths and communicate them to others
• Knowledge of various career options and affirmation of their expert identity
• Clarity for their career plans
• Courage to make decisions and believe in their dreams
• Practical help for job seeking, as well as networks

See also:

• The application period for the Group Mentoring Programme season 2025 starts on 28th Oct 2024 at 12 pm! Group mentoring schedule and applications (programme website) 

The programme has been ongoing since 2012, and since that time has engaged hundreds of participating students from all faculties. The programme is coordinated by the University of Helsinki Career Services in cooperation with University of Helsinki Alumni team.

HelsinkiUNI International Talent Programme (UNITalent) is a programme where internationals from the University of Helsinki meet companies and organisations in the Finnish labour market. 

In UNITalent, the focus is on professional networking and industry insights, offered by an organisation that acts a host for a group of students. In the meetings, topics of discussion include the sector and organisation itself, skills needed in this particular sector and typical channels for job-hunting. The programme lasts for three months and includes one career management workshop. The aim of the programme is for internationals to became more familiar with Finnish working life. 

The programme runs for 3 months (Feb-April) and includes 3 group meetings organized by the host organisation and 3 by the career services (Kick-off, career management workshop and closing event). 

Both international MA students and doctoral researchers may apply. Finnish students who have completed the undergraduate or graduate degree abroad may apply. Read more about the UNITalent programme on the blog pages. 

Mentoring programme by the Suomen Mentorit association: (programme in Finnish and in English)

The application period for the nationwide programme is once a year.

You can apply if you

1. are studying at a university or university of applied sciences,
2. have a degree from a university or university of applied sciences, 
3. are looking for your first permanent job matching your education, or you are at the beginning of your career and interested in developing yourself,
4. are without a mentor and 
5. are 35 years of age or younger.

Further information is available on the Suomen Mentorit website and LinkedIn and Facebook page.

EntryPoint mentoring programme

EntryPoint is a one-on-one mentoring programme in English, for professionals based in the Capital region. It matches experienced professionals who are familiar with the Finnish working culture with other professionals who would benefit from their guidance, experiences and tips. Read more about the EntryPoint mentoring programme.

Subject-specific student organisations

Mentoring at the University of Helsinki is also organised by some subject-specific student organisations and student associations. You can ask about mentoring from the career coordinator of your association. Contact details for all associations are available on the Student Union of the University of Helsinki website.

Trade unions

If you are a member of a trade union, you can also ask about mentoring from your union. Contact details are available on the Akava website.

Alumni Ambassador service

The University of Helsinki Alumni Association offers students the opportunity to contact Alumni Ambassadors, who answer students' questions about working life and job hunting based on their own experiences. Alumni Ambassadors are experts in their own fields, who are already experienced in working life. Now they want to share their expertise with you and help you towards a meaningful working life! Read more about the Alumni Ambassador service on the website of the Alumni Association.

You can ask a person working in a field that interests you to be your mentor. If there are no suitable individuals in your network, you can use, for example, the alumni search on LinkedIn. Instructions are available under Job Seeking in the section Occupational knowledge.

If you acquire a mentor independently, you should read the Workbook for Mentoring.

You may also contact Career Services in matters related to mentoring.