A mentoring programme aimed at international students offers concrete support for employment in Eastern Finland and helps companies open their doors to international talent. Mondi Kuopio and Normet are fine examples of participating companies.

When mechanical engineering student Rajshree Dey arrived in Kuopio from India, Finnish working life seemed distant and unfamiliar. Job interview practices, job searching, and Finnish customs were far from clear.

“I wanted to understand what employers seek and how Finland’s work culture operates. My mentor played a pivotal role in refining my job search strategy. She provided personalised feedback on my CV, helping me highlight my strengths more effectively and tailor it to the roles I was targeting”, Rajshree explains.

“In addition, her advice on approaching the job search – from networking tips to optimising my online presence – was incredibly valuable and gave me a clearer direction moving forward.”

Her mentor, Eeva Tuomi, works in HR at Mondi Kuopio, which produces corrugated containerboard for the packaging industry, mainly for fruit and vegetable boxes. For her, joining the mentoring programme aligned with a larger goal.

“We want to increase the number of international employees in the future. The programme was an excellent way to start promoting it.”

A first move towards internationalisation

The mentoring process has included career advice, a mill visit, and meetings covering Finnish work culture and employer expectations. Mondi has also taken concrete steps to promote the recruitment of international interns.

“The programme encouraged us to open our first HR internship position for an international student. We utilised the Talent Pool database and discovered a great candidate with whom we are now finalising an employment contract,” Eeva shares.

The mentoring programme benefits both the students and the company, as it gains new perspectives and support in achieving its internationalisation goals. By recruiting international talents, Mondi aims to establish a “skill pool” for roles where higher education and language skills are essential.

“I’ve drawn a great deal of inspiration from this experience. I encourage other professionals to seize the opportunity. It requires time and commitment, but the rewards are substantial,” she adds.

Although the language barrier and competitive job market can feel daunting, Rajshree says her mentor has helped her believe that step by step, she can build a place for herself in Finnish working life.

“I recommend the programme to all international students. Networks, language skills, and the right advice can greatly impact your job possibilities.”

Mentoring sparks insights – also at Normet

The mentoring programme has also evoked interest at Normet, which provides safe, sustainable, and efficient end-to-end solutions for core processes in underground mining, tunnelling, and civil industries. Several of their professionals have joined to support international students while developing their expertise.

“I wanted to share my first-hand experience of successfully integrating into Finnish society and working life,” says Anm Rezzakuzzaman, who works as Sales Support Engineer at Normet and participated in the programme as a mentor.

“The mentoring process offered me new perspectives as well. It deepened my understanding of the challenges international students face, and at the same time, reinforced my appreciation of their commitment and skills.”

Heli Pironetti, HR Specialist at Normet, sees the programme as an opportunity to strengthen connections with future professionals.

“Conversations with international students help us stay informed. Mentoring can also serve as a way to discover new talent for the organisation, such as thesis workers.”

“Finland makes a substantial investment in international students, so it’s important that we also create pathways for their employment.”

Suvi Eväkoski, Director IT PMO, was inspired to join when she heard about Normet’s participation.

“It was interesting to participate in international mentoring, as my previous experience had mostly been with Finnish mentees. We discussed cultural differences and workplace expectations during the session, which gave me new insights.”

All three Normet professionals encourage others in their working lives to join with an open mind.

“Mentoring is not just about giving advice – the most important thing is to listen, understand, and support individual goals. You end up learning a lot yourself,” Anm summarises.

Collaboration leads further

The mentoring programme provides a tangible way for students and professionals to foster understanding, build connections, and unlock new opportunities. Experts from Mondi and Normet emphasise that each mentoring relationship is a meaningful learning experience that can lead to innovative ideas, valuable connections, and future talent.

If you are considering becoming a mentor, now is a great time to take the leap – get in touch with us:

Minna Tarvainen, minna.tarvainen@savonia.fi, +358 44 785 6981 Marko Pietilä, marko.pietila@uef.fi, +358 40 355 3039 Sanna Jeskanen, sanna.jeskanen@karelia.fi, +358 50 462 2478

Talent Hub Eastern Finland is a cooperation of UEF, Karelia, Savonia, Riveria, Sakky and YSAO. We aim to ensure that international students who come to our region find their place, secure employment, and integrate into Eastern Finland. The project is co-funded by the European Union. You can read more about it here: https://talenthubeasternfinland.savonia.fi/en/front-page/