“Many students have too rosy a view — this is what they should know”

I’ve mentored international students, and many have too rosy a view. They think they’ll get a job easily. But it takes more. Start by asking: what do I want from my studies? What’s my career goal? 

Language isn’t necessarily a barrier, as you can study and work in English. I can read Kauppalehti in Finnish, but I don’t really speak Finnish.

Myself, I joined Reddal as a summer intern in 2015. At the time, everyone was looking for startup jobs — Wolt, Supercell, Rovio — but I wasn’t sure what I wanted. I saw an opening through the university career mailing list and applied. The process was quick, and I was offered a full-time job right after the internship. 
 

It was absolutely the right choice. Now as a Senior Manager I’ve travelled, seen different industries and built skills. That’s the beauty of consulting — you get to solve problems that really matter to your clients.

Don’t hide at home. Join communities and student groups, go to startup events. Start building your network.

You must research the job market, too. Which industry needs talents? Marketing, for example, can be very local. It doesn’t mean internationals can’t do it, but it’s harder if you don’t understand the culture and language.

 
You also need relevant experience. In Finland, students often start working early — even summer cashier jobs build experience. Many international students just study, then think about careers afterwards. That’s too late. Do real-life school projects and apply for internships early.

After high school, I was exploring study options. I applied to several US universities and considered Norway, but Finland stood out because I could study in English straight away. In Norway, I would’ve needed a year of language school before starting business studies.

I came to Finland in 2011 to study at the Aalto University Mikkeli campus. It felt like a completely different world. At first, the quietness was a shock. Small community of us students made it easy to integrate. My Finnish roommate taught me a lot, and we’re still friends. Funny story: he lives in Singapore now.

I’m glad I chose Finland. The international community, the program in English — it was the right fit for me. Now, when I travel to Asia, I find crowded metros overwhelming. Life in Finland has changed me!

“At Reddal, we serve our clients globally across industries and work in global teams. International recruiting, therefore, has always been integral to our operations. We believe that diverse teams bring a broader range of knowledge, skills, and perspectives, enhancing our ability to deliver creative solutions for our clients and ultimately improving performance.”

– Heini Leskinen, Global HR Deputy

Reddal is a global strategy and business building partner that helps companies grow and solve tough challenges. With main offices in Helsinki, Seoul, and Kuala Lumpur, their team works closely with clients on strategy, sales, and transformation. Read more about careers at Reddal.