15.10.2026

Introducing the Helsinki Career Program

Finding your professional footing in a new country can be difficult. Newcomers and long-term international residents alike might be unaware of where to find new opportunities and how to best introduce their strengths in the Finnish job market, which often values trust and close connections. This difficulty is recognised at International House Helsinki (IHH), which is why we introduced the new Helsinki Career Program in the end of September.

The Helsinki Career Program is a comprehensive career coaching program for international professionals and graduates living in Helsinki. Its goal is to support those wanting to break into the job market in Finland and those looking for a role that better suits their professional talents and strengths.

Over approximately two months, participants will improve their job search skills through thematic workshops and individual career coaching. Through the support provided by coaches and mentors, participants build their confidence and adapt their profiles in a competitive market. They will also be provided with information on open positions and connected with possibilities that might be hard to find when new to Finland.

The program is directed to international professionals and graduating students in Helsinki. They must also have a sufficient level of English to apply and be motivated to join the in-person workshops and coaching. The program also includes self-study.

Learn more about the Helsinki Career Program here.

The journey towards the Helsinki Career Program

When Silvia Ruz-Anjala moved back to Helsinki after living 22 years in her home country, Chile, she noticed quickly that there is a big learning curve for job-searching as an international in Finland.

“When I came to Finland, I realized that there were many elements that I needed to learn myself, like the importance of using certain platforms, how to translate your experience into practical skills and more. Those crucial things are not that easily found”, Silvia explains.

Emphasizing the value of networking, Silvia shares how she reconnected with a former colleague after returning to Finland. She reached out to let them know she was back and joining an event they were organizing,

“We met for lunch the next day,” Silvia recalls.

This lunch renewed a 20-year-old connection. The former colleague also encouraged Silvia to apply for a position at the City of Helsinki, which eventually lead her to the current position as Senior Advisor at the Spouse Program.

With a background and interest in talent assessment, education, acculturation and migration, Silvia has become an expert in recognising the needs of international jobseekers and those looking for their place in a new country. The work with the Spouse Program has allowed her to use her strengths and recognise what international talent in this city might need.

Turning personal experience into practical support

This is how the Career Program was born, combining tested strategies and many years of experience. The program will guide participants in finding their path in the Finnish job market and providing them job seeking strategies, as well as practical tips on how to find employment. From her first-hand experience, Silvia knows that there are many things that might not be evident for someone new to the country.

“One of the things that we have realized is that many people need to talk about what they might not understand yet. Or maybe they need to confirm that this is the way they should go” she explains, adding that sharing your frustrations when job seeking is also important and a part of the peer support at the program.

The Career Program complements what the employment services offer. The idea is to offer a service that is more condensed, whereas more official services may require a longer commitment. The program will also help participants take advantage of those services offered by the Helsinki Employment Services.

A program built around real need

Silvia furthermore highlights that the program is not only for those who haven’t yet been able to establish their careers in Finland, but also those who are looking for new direction or in positions that don’t match their qualifications. Job-search skills need regular practice. If you have spent a long time at the same job, you might have difficulties seeing what is missing from your CV or knowing where to find interesting opportunities. This also means you don’t have to be registered as a jobseeker to join the Helsinki Career Program.

“People who might be finishing, for instance, a master’s degree and trying to find a job. The program is important because nobody really prepares you as an international for how the basic employment process works. The idea is to make you feel like you are prepared to face the challenges that might come up”, Silvia says.

This is also the first time Silvia can see the long-term impact of a career related service. She is looking forward to strengthening retention in Helsinki and encourage employers to recognise the fact that a lot of great talent is already here. The Spouse Program already knows that, and Silvia wants to make the current talent pool even more visible.

“I’m very excited to see how people receive the Career Program. And then I’m really excited to see what happens with our participants.”

The value of being seen and trusted

Reflecting on her own journey in Finland, Silvia wants to point out that there is something special about how Finns view others. In her experience once your potential is seen, it is often trusted and your skills are valued. While it is not always easy, there is beauty in the way your capabilities are viewed here. For Silvia, this trust is reflected in the professional relationships she has built, from the former colleague who encouraged her to apply for her current role to a childhood friend who now works alongside her.

“Sometimes it’s not very easy, but once you have been seen, the potential of who you are is out there”, Silvia concludes.

Silvia Ruz-Anjala

Silvia Ruz-Anjala is a Senior Advisor at the City of Helsinki and leads the Helsinki Spouse Program, developing initiatives that help international professionals build networks, careers, and a sense of belonging in Finland. With a background in social and organizational psychology, she is an experienced organizational development professional. Throughout her career in Finland and Chile, she has focused on helping people develop their skills and access opportunities. Her expertise includes education, leadership, inclusive employment, and talent development within both the public and private sectors.

Startup Refugees brings a decade of experience

While Silvia’s experience helped shape the program’s aims, it is Startup Refugees that delivers the Career Program. Providing the practical expertise needed for hands-on coaching and mentoring, the non-profit draws on years of dedicated experience. Arkan Aal-Owayef, Head of Business and Skills Development at Startup Refugees, explains that the organisation was established in 2015 to help immigrants develop their skills, strengthen their job search strategies, find employment and start businesses.

Today Startup Refugees has a network of 5000 members who provide a solid support for their mission.

Employment as a path to community and settling in

“The best way to settle in Finland is either by finding a job or starting a business, so you have something solid. This can be a really great door opener for many people to start to engage with the society and have friends”, Arkan says while highlighting the importance of stability when establishing yourself in a new country.

Arkan explains that without a strong sense of community and meaningful social connections, many newcomers may find it difficult to build a fulfilling life in Finland. Startup Refugees aims to improve newcomers’ quality of life by supporting them in finding employment, developing professional skills or starting a business. Through programs that help navigate the Finnish labour market and better understand local working culture, newcomers also get the opportunity to meet people, interact with others and form lasting connections.

With their decade of experience, Startup Refugees has become well aware of the pain points that newcomers in Finland have. They might, for instance, have difficulties knowing how their professional fields operate here or how to assess their strengths in a foreign market.

“People come to Finland for many reasons, some for a relationship, to study or some are seeking a job. Some want to start a business, or maybe they are an immigrant based on refuge or in the asylum-seeking process. No matter the reason, many face the same problem. They struggle to understand the working life in Finland or what the is culture like”, Arkan explains.

How the Career Program works

Arkan is excited about the Career Program since he believes it is well structured and bring a lot of value to those who participate. The program begins with a coaching period of group workshops and individual coaching sessions that takes place over two to three months. Arkan describes this as the base of the program, where you learn the basics of working in Finland, how to identify your strengths and areas for development, as well as how to build on your assets and improve your weaknesses. During this period, the participants will also get to know more about available job opportunities and job-hunting tips through newsletters. Progress is monitored by Startup Refugees career coaches.

Participants who want to expand their professional networks can continue to the mentoring stage, where they receive guidance from an established professional. Arkan, who will serve as both a coach and mentor, is proud of the participant journey Startup Refugees has developed for the Career Program and is committed to making it a valuable experience for everyone involved.

Small steps can open new doors

Arkan has learned that professional networks are imperative in Finland, and many newcomers underestimate the importance of those. That is an important focus of the Career Program. He furthermore would like to advise participants, as well as other jobseekers, to be open-minded.

“Many prefer the full solution. For example, many people would like to have a full-time job. The most stable job. They end up neglecting part-time opportunities”, says Arkan, adding that sometimes it is important to start somewhere.

Experience from a newcomer’s home country is valuable, but Arkan notes that employers may not immediately recognise experience gained abroad. It is when you get your foot in the door, even through a part-time position, that other opportunities start opening up. This can feel disappointing for many, especially already experienced professionals, but it can be an important way to keep connected to your professional identity.

From motivated coaches to motivated participants

The most rewarding part of Arkan’s work is seeing program participants develop their skills, learn Finnish, and thrive. Through Startup Refugees, many have found meaningful employment and become part of communities where they feel they belong. Looking ahead, he is excited about this new inclusive program that will provide newcomers with both learning opportunities and the support they need, not only to establish themselves in Finland but to begin feeling truly at home.

For international professionals, finding the right path in a new country can take time. Understanding the local job market, recognising how your experience can benefit Finnish employers and building a professional network may require encouragement and persistence.

Through practical career coaching, peer support and guidance from experienced coaches and mentors, the Helsinki Career Program aims to make this journey more manageable. By helping participants recognise their strengths, connect with new opportunities and take meaningful steps forward, the program ensures that they do not have to navigate that journey alone.

Learn more about 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.

Learn more about the Helsinki Career Program.

Arkan Aal-Owayef

Arkan Aal-Owayef is Head of Business and Skills Development at Startup Refugees. As a Mentoring Coach in the Helsinki Career Program, he helps international professionals navigate their career paths, clarify their goals, and build meaningful professional networks in Finland. Drawing on a multidisciplinary background in engineering, project management, and leadership, Arkan brings broad expertise to his work in employment services, career coaching, mentoring, and entrepreneurship support.

Sofia Achame-Räisänen

Sofia Achame-Räisänen is a Career Coach at Startup Refugees, working on the Helsinki Career Program for highly educated international jobseekers. With a legal background, she has worked on immigrant integration and community building for more than five years. Before joining Startup Refugees, she worked as a Programme Coordinator at Think Africa in Helsinki. She has been a board member of Moniheli and is currently a member of the Nordic Migrant Expert Forum.