The Helsinki Career Program is an intensive career-coaching program for international professionals and graduates living in Helsinki.
The program is totally free, and can help whether you want to break into the job market or are looking for a role that better matches your profile.
Develop your profile, strengthen your skills, and learn to navigate the local job market!
The Helsinki Career Program is a free career accelerator for international professionals and graduates living in Helsinki.
Participants go through 10 weeks of career coaching to build their confidence, strengthen their professional profiles and develop effective job-search strategies.
Take the next step in your career development in Finland!
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 the 10-week intensive coaching.
Participants take part in regular group workshops and individual coaching sessions throughout the 10 weeks, receiving personalised guidance and weekly newsletters along the way.
When completing the 10-week 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.
The program helps you build confidence and move towards employment that matches your skills and experience.
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 better understand the Finnish labour market and develop practical job-search strategies.
Learn how to navigate the Finnish job market and develop your job-search skills in group workshops with other participants.
Receive one-on-one guidance and personalised feedback on your labour profile from a professional 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 their 10-week 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 12 months.
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.
You must also intend to stay and live in Finland on a long-term basis, for at least two years from the time of application.
You must have completed a Bachelor’s degree or higher.
You can also be a final year student in higher education.
You must understand and communicate clearly in English.
English is the service language of the Helsinki Career Program.
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.
Workshops and coaching sessions generally take place 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.
To join the Helsinki Career Program, you have to apply to join. New applications open every four 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 for the Helsinki Career Program autumn 2026 round will open soon.
The link to apply will always appear on this page.
Stay tuned!
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 12 months.
Espoo and Vantaa residents also have options for special career-coaching services.
The Helsinki Career Program is an intensive 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 lasts for 10 weeks of career coaching. There are approximately four program rounds per year.
Intensive coaching
The program requires a commitment to the full 10-week period. Participants need to attend the whole period of intensive 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 to join! Participants can also be looking for a more relevant job for their profile.
Eligibility
To join the Helsinki Career program, you must:
Do you live in Espoo or Vantaa?
Espoo and Vantaa residents also have options for special career-coaching services.
The program can help you move forward in different areas of your career.
You will work on topics such as:
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.
You can contact IHH Career Support services by email.
Please do not share any personal, confidential or sensitive information.