What happens if the traineeship is not completed? Can I still get credits from it?
Approval of the traineeship course is always decided in the degree programme, so if your traineeship finishes before its official end date, please contact the responsible teacher for the course.
If you have received the University’s traineeship funding for your unfinished traineeship, please contact the Career Services right away (traineeships@helsinki.fi).
What if my work tasks are not what were agreed on or the supervision of the training is insufficient?
Bring up the matter as early as possible with the traineeship instructor or your supervisor. At the very beginning of the traineeship work tasks, schedules, orientation and guidance should be agreed upon so that the objectives of the traineeship are as clear as possible and communication is open. The student themselves should also be active in order to guarantee adequate guidance, a suitable workload and the meaningfulness of the traineeship.
Career Services also organizes workshops every semester for students starting traineeships, where we discuss e.g. possible problematic situations that may come up during the traineeship.
What if I experience inappropriate behavior or harassment during my traineeship?
The University of Helsinki disapproves of any kind of inappropriate behaviour, bullying or harassment. If you experience inappropriate behaviour during your traineeship, you can contact the Career Services (traineeships@helsinki.fi), the HYY Student Union’s or the University’s harassment contact persons, the Finnish Student Health Service or the Nyyti student support centre.
Who can I contact if I encounter other problems during traineeship period?
Since in subsidised traineeships the university and the employer commit to specific terms for the traineeship, in these cases it is easier for the Career Services to address and intervene in possible challenging situations. However, you can contact Career Services' traineeship specialists also regarding other traineeships, but id there are problems with the terms of the employment, it is best to contact your own trade union or, if necessary, legal aid providers. You can also ask for help from the staff of your own education program or from the working life representatives of student organizations.
How can I bring up challenges related to coping or mental health in a job interview or after starting the traineeship?
You can decide for yourself what and how much you want to tell the training instructor about your own health. The essential thing to take into account that the relevant thing might not be a specific diagnosis, but how your health and wellbeing can affect the course of training.
If your health condition affects or you are worried that it might affect your training, it is usually good to say something as much as it is essential for the traineeship. This often also makes you feel better when you don't have to try to hide things. However, it is not necessary to say anything.
The discussion can be made easier if you have already thought about how you could be supported in succeeding in your traineeship. For example, a suggestion to work part-time is a concrete thing that you can suggest to lighten up the workload.