Alumni: Finding your own path requires introspection and courage
Only a few students know what work in the field is like in practice. At Universities of Applied Sciences, internships enable contact with working life already during studies. Alumni Milla Heikkilä and Lauriina Holmström encourage students to choose an internship according to their interests and build a career path based on this.
Text: Veera Lunden
Photo: Sofokus
No-one can know in advance whether the chosen career path is to their liking. Internships in higher education institutions are an excellent way to apply the knowledge learned in practice and to examine what work in the field is really like.
Turku UAS alumna Lauriina Holmström (pictured right) decided to apply to Turku University of Applied Sciences in 2010 after a year of ICT studies. She was interested in a career in an advertising agency until she decided to apply for an internship at the software company Sofokus.
“I joined Sofokus as a marketing intern. At that time, only about 10 people worked for the company, and no-one before me had done the marketing of the company. At the time, I still thought that the IT industry wasn't my thing, but it turned out differently", Holmström says.
The leap into the unknown paid off. After the internship, Holmström got a job at Sofokus and did the company's marketing for almost five years. Over time, she became interested in utilising her expertise in customer projects.
"Our CEO was very supportive and encouraged me to jump into new positions", Holmström says.
Sofokus implements digital solutions alongside its customers' business and helps companies look at their digital business. Currently, Holmström draws up plans, strategies and concepts for customer projects for building digital services and websites. Marketing consulting continues along with other work. She is also one of the shareholders of the company.
"Finding your own path only required being honest with yourself and being able to identify what kind of work you really want to do," Holmström says.
Networks create a job
Alumna Milla Heikkilä, who also ended up at Sofokus in 2018, encourages students to think about internships and study orientations based on what interests them and what they want to know more about.
Heikkilä studied entrepreneurship at Turku University of Applied Sciences from 2010 to 2014. There was no information about what Heikkilä would like to do after her studies, which is why she went to supplement her degree at the University of Vaasa with a Master's degree in Economics and Business Administration.
Heikkilä and Holmström got to know each other when Heikkilä worked as Holmström's tutor.
“After the tutor time, we remained Facebook friends, and I noticed from Lauriina's profile that Sofokus has a good vibe. I messaged Lauriina and ended up as her colleague", Heikkilä says.
Heikkilä joined Sofokus in HR duties in arole which was entirely new for the company: as People Happiness Officer.
"Sofokus didn't have an HR manager before, so I was able to create my own role and processes from scratch. In Sofokus' HR issues, it was important that the HR manager exists primarily for people instead of a bureaucratic status", Heikkilä says.
Heikkilä's work includes the entire employment life cycle of the personnel, from competence development to well-being at work and the end of the employment relationship. Just over a year ago, Heikkilä's area of responsibility grew and developed even further, making her a human resources director, the so-called Chief Happiness Officer. Heikkilä is also one of the company's shareholders.
Experiences and experimentation
Heikkilä and Holmström have the same message: the work must be motivating, support one's own interests and develop one into an expert in their own field. Sometimes it requires moving out of your comfort zone.
“I encourage students to apply for internships as soon as possible. Don't be afraid that you don't know something, think more about what interests you and what you would like to know more about. Good internship providers are ready to teach and spar. The sooner you gain experience of the world of work, the better you will be able to plan for your own future", Holmström emphasises.
Heikkilä agrees. In accordance with her study direction, she also specialized in entrepreneurship in her internships. During her internships, she got acquainted with importing, starting a business and marketing.
"I thought that the entrepreneurial path would go a long way in working life, and this is how it has gone. Different perspectives have helped me in HR management so that I can do my current work with a holistic approach.”
Later, both Holmström and Heikkilä also completed a Master's degree.
“The bachelor's studies provided a good foundation on which it was good to build and deepen competence”, the women say together.
Holmström points out that you cannot learn everything about everything during your studies, but it is important to find the direction you want to specialize in. It is also valuable information to notice if a certain field does not suit you.
"You don't know that until you try it. I remember a tip from my mother: you can always get rid of your job if things don't go as planned, but the possibilities may not come endlessly", Holmström points out.