Career Prospects

 

 

Fit for North and South

Johanna Wahlroos studied her Bachelor’s degree in Germany and then worked a year and a half in the area of marketing and communications in Chile. Since January 2010 she has been working part-time at the Communication Research Centre (CRC) as a research assistant. “I have been able to work with very different tasks, including quantitative data analysis, preparing reports and organizing seminars.”

Johanna considers that the most interesting course she took was about social media, lectured by Itir Akdogan. She assures that the most important skill she learned while studying in the University of Helsinki is how important it is to have a clear plan and schedule for the Master’s Thesis, since it is a long and demanding task. “I wrote the Thesis on assignment for the Finnish company Wärtsilä and I had a clear deadline to hand in the final version…I feel satisfied about how I managed to combine a part-time job, my final studies and my Master’s Thesis.”

Although she will probably not admit it publicly, her language skills are excellent. She speaks Finnish, English, German and Spanish fluently. But for Johanna life is not only work and studies, her hobbies include music, sports and travelling. She found her internship in Chile through the Finnish organization CIMO (Centre for International Mobility). “I was lucky to get the scholarship for my trip to Chile, without CIMO I don’t think I would have been able to go so far.”

Johanna thinks that to find an internship place it is important to recognize your core capabilities. “I have learned that it is necessary to have enough patience! Sometimes it just takes time before you find the right opportunity.” “When you apply for a job, make sure you point out your skills and what type of tasks you enjoy working with. By showing your skills together with a motivated attitude you will make a good impression.”

What she likes the most about the Finnish colleagues is their professional attitude and willingness to cooperate with every colleague. “I have also made friends with foreign colleagues working in Finland. Even though language skills are a plus, other aspects, which are at least as important, for instance are having special skills, working experience and an international background. Finns are often applauded for efficiency, integrity and transparency in their working life, but I think we could learn a bit more creativity and thinking outside the box.”

Interview by Mily Vazquez Harkivi