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Helsinki Career Program

Are you ready to advance your career in Helsinki?

The Helsinki Career Program is a comprehensive career coaching program for international professionals and graduates living in Helsinki.

Whether you want to break into the job market or are looking for a new role, the free program can help you establish your career.

Take the next step in your career development in Finland – develop your profile, strengthen your skills, and learn to navigate the local job market!

 

Apply to the Helsinki Career Program

 

What is the Helsinki Career Program?

The Helsinki Career Program is a free career accelerator for international professionals and graduates living in Helsinki.

Over two months, participants go through multiple workshops and career coaching to build their confidence, strengthen their professional profiles and develop effective job-search strategies.

The program is organised under International House Helsinki (IHH) by the City of Helsinki.

 

Apply to the Helsinki Career Program

How does the Career Program work?

Every few months, a new application round of the Helsinki Career Program opens publicly. Anyone interested and eligible can apply, and applications go through a selection process. Successful applicants are then invited to participate in a kickoff for the career coaching period.

Once you start the program, your coaching journey includes:

  • Three group workshops — focused on key career topics, with a choice of a daytime or evening group
  • Two individual coaching sessions — providing personalised guidance and scheduled separately with your coach
  • Self-study tasks — dedicated to developing your skills independently
  • Weekly newsletters — supporting you along the entire process

When completing the period, you will receive a certificate of participation that highlights your development journey. You will also have access to special follow-up opportunities to build on your coaching.

How will the program help my career?

The program helps you place your skills in the Finnish job market and create a practical career plan with a coach.

You will learn to identify and communicate your skills in a cohesive professional profile. You will strengthen your CV, your job applications, and your LinkedIn profile.

You will also gain a clearer understanding of the Finnish labour market, develop practical job-search strategies and build professional contacts in your field.

  • Learn how to navigate the Finnish job market and develop your job-search skills in group workshops with other participants.

    The group workshops are divided between a daytime group and an evening group, and you can choose which you prefer.

    The three group workshops will focus on:

    • CV and LinkedIn
    • Job Search Skills
    • Career Planning

  • Receive one-on-one guidance and personalised feedback on your labour profile from a professional coach.

    Individual coaching sessions will be scheduled separately with your coach.

  • Get tips on open jobs, career-related opportunities and information about peer-support workshops.

  • Participants who complete the Helsinki Career Program can benefit from extra opportunities after finishing the coaching period.

    You can apply to a special follow-up mentoring program to connect with experienced mentors. You can also keep your momentum with group working sessions every second week for up to 6 months.

Who can join the program?

The Helsinki Career Program is for international professionals and graduates in Helsinki who intend to stay in Finland for a long-term basis.

Participants must live in Helsinki and hold a sufficient level of education and English language skills.

If you are a registered jobseeker with Helsinki Employment Services, you may need to consult with your employment specialist before applying to the program!

  • You must live in Helsinki and have it as your home municipality. The workshops also take place in Helsinki.

    Additionally, you must intend to stay and live in Finland on a long-term basis.

  • You must have completed a Bachelor’s degree or higher.

    You can also be a final year student in higher education.

  • English is the service language of the Helsinki Career Program. No language support for other languages is available.

    You must understand and communicate clearly in English. Finnish skills are not needed.

  • The Helsinki Career Program is also open to people who are currently working. If you’re looking for new opportunities that better match your skills and experience, you’re welcome to apply.

    It is possible to join workshops and coaching sessions after regular working hours.

  • If you are a registered jobseeker with Helsinki Employment Services and currently participating in integration training, labour market training or another employment-promoting service, please discuss your participation with your employment specialist before applying to the Helsinki Career Program.

    Participants in the International Talent Employment Service (ITES) provided by Helsinki Employment Services cannot participate in the Helsinki Career Program.

    Learn more about Helsinki Employment Services

Apply to the Career Program

To participate in the Helsinki Career Program, you have to apply to join. New applications open every few months.

There are limited places available, and applications go through a selection process. Successful applicants are then invited to join the program.

The link to apply will always be on this page! You cannot send an application when applications are closed.

Applications are now open!

The Helsinki Career Program for autumn 2026 begins soon – and you can apply now!

Applications will stay open until 18 October 2026, or until the program reaches full capacity.

The next application round will open in early 2027.

Apply to the Helsinki Career Program

Career Program Schedule for Autumn 2026

Daytime group

  • 4 November, 10.00–13.00 — Kick-off
  • 11 November, 10.00–13.00 — CV and LinkedIn Workshop
  • 23 November, 10.00–13.00 — Job Search Skills Workshop
  • 2 December, 10.00–12.00 — Career Planning Workshop
  • 7–17 December  — Individual Coaching Sessions 1
  • 7–15 January  — Individual Coaching Sessions 2
  • 20 January, 17.00–20.00 — Wrap-Up

Evening group

  • 5 November, 17.00–20.00 — Kick-off
  • 12 November, 17.00–20.00 — CV and LinkedIn Workshop
  • 24 November, 17.00–20.00 — Job Search Skills Workshop
  • 3 December, 17.00–19.00 — Career Planning Workshop
  • 7–17 December  — Individual Coaching Sessions 1
  • 7–15 January  — Individual Coaching Sessions 2
  • 20 January, 17.00–20.00 — Wrap-Up

Follow-up opportunities

Participants who complete the Helsinki Career Program can apply to a dedicated follow-up mentoring program.

In this special opportunity, you can connect with working professionals who can mentor you with experience and advice.

You can also keep your momentum by joining group working sessions every second week for up to 6 months.

What if I live in Espoo or Vantaa, or outside Finland?

Espoo and Vantaa residents also have options for special career coaching services.

Learn more about Espoo Career Club

Learn more about Vantaa Career Runway

IHH’s other career support services are also available to Espoo and Vantaa residents, and to people outside of Finland planning to move to the Helsinki region.

Learn more about IHH career support services

Questions

The Helsinki Career Program is a comprehensive career coaching program for international professionals and graduates in Helsinki.

Participants build their confidence, strengthen their professional profiles and develop effective job-search strategies.

The program involves multiple workshops and individual career coaching sessions, and takes place over approximately 2-3 months.

 

Comprehensive coaching

The career coaching period takes place over 2-3 months, during which participants will attend themed workshops and work independently for the whole duration of the service.

The program requires commitment.  Participants need to attend the whole period of career coaching activities.

If you cannot attend regularly, you won’t be able to complete the program and participate in the follow-up mentoring.

 

Looking for something less intensive?

IHH also offers other career-support services. Explore IHH’s other career support services

The Helsinki Career Program is for international professionals and graduate students living in Helsinki.

You don’t have to be unemployed or a registered jobseeker to join! Participants can also be looking for a more relevant job for their profile, or in their final year of studies.

 

Eligibility

To join the Helsinki Career program, you must:

  • be a Helsinki resident
  • intend to stay and live in Finland on a long-term basis
  • hold a completed Bachelor’s degree or higher, or be a final year student in higher education
  • understand and communicate clearly in English

The program is not only for unemployed people! It is also for people with jobs looking for new opportunities or a career change.

 

Do you live in Espoo or Vantaa, or outside Finland?

Espoo and Vantaa residents also have options for special career-coaching services.

Additionally, IHH’s other career support services are open to Espoo and Vantaa residents, and to people outside Finland who are planning a move to the Helsinki capital region.

Learn more about Espoo Career Club

Learn more about Vantaa Career Runway

Learn more about IHH career support services

The program can help you move forward in different areas of your career.

You will work on topics such as:

  • identifying and communicating your skills
  • strengthening your CV, applications, and LinkedIn profile
  • understanding the Finnish labour market and how job searching works in Finland
  • creating a practical career plan and setting realistic goals
  • developing job-search strategies and building confidence
  • building and improving your professional network

The program is completely free!

The Helsinki Career Program is provided by the City of Helsinki as part of the International House Helsinki (IHH) service platform.

The service is procured from and delivered by Startup Refugees ry.

Contact

  • Contact IHH Career Support

    You can contact IHH Career Support services by email.

    Please do not share any personal, confidential or sensitive information.

    employment.coaching@hel.fi