News

‘Choose a specialisation area that really interests you’

Published: 16.4.2019

Alumni are delighted to support first year business students’ choices for a specialisation area.

In the photo, there are the School of Business alumni who took part in the panel discussion in the Meet Your Community event. From the left: Niklas Huotari, Elisa Hauru, Annika Alestalo, Juho Saarinen, Kirsi Klemola and Aleksi Halttunen. — The School of Business alumni Niklas Huotari, Elisa Hauru, Annika Alestalo, Juho Saarinen, Kirsi Klemola and Aleksi Halttunen took part in the Meet Your Community panel discussion.

First-year undergraduates at the School of Business are now faced with a choice of a specialisation area, and a Meet Your Community (MYC) event was organised on Wednesday 3 April to support their decision-making. A panel discussion was organised as part of the event, and six alumni from the School of Business took part. The panel discussed and provided arguments for choosing a specialisation area, talked about student exchange, gave students tips on how to plan their career, and shared up-to-date information on the world of work and content of different work tasks. The panel was led by School of Business student Heikki Helaniemi, who is also a Member of the Board of KY – Aalto University Business Students.

‘In addition to the panel discussion, students had an opportunity to chat with faculty and alumni who have graduated from different specialisation areas, and ask for more details on studies and career choices’, says Tanja Makkonen from Career Services of the School of Business. ‘The alumni were invited to provide support for the students, and they are happy to help the students make this important choice’, Emilia Nevalainen from Alumni Relations of the School of Business continues.

A multidisciplinary approach and IT skills are needed

‘It is advisable to adopt a diversified approach to studying and take advantage of Aalto University’s extensive course supply. I also recommend studying languages as much as possible’, said accounting alumni Aleksi Halttunen, who took part in the panel.

When the alumni were asked what skills are required in the future world of work, everyone nodded approvingly, when economics alumni Juho Saarinen stated: ‘Solid and continuously updated IT skills are increasingly important. Everyone should have an understanding of these matters.’ Information and service management alumni Kirsi Klemola said that IT is a part of every project at her work in some way or another, so you have to feel comfortable with IT terminology even if you do not have to know everything.

Alumni also reminded the students of the importance of well-being and social life. ‘Enjoy your student days and, most importantly, the people you spend your student years with’, finance alumni Annika Alestalo encouraged the students. Niklas Huotari, in turn, reminisced about his exchange year and said one reason for taking part in an international student exchange was the fact that he wanted to have fun. ‘Afterwards, it is great to think about everything that took place, and tell my workmates and customers crazy stories about my time abroad.’

Approximately 200 first-year students attended the event, which was organised for the fourth time.

Alumni taking part in the event:

Management:

Niklas Huotari, aTalent Recruiting

Katariina Koskelainen, CIVITTA

Marketing:

Atte Aro, Innofactor

Elisa Hauru, Fiskars

Information and service management:

Kirsi Klemola, VR Group

Economics:

Juho Saarinen, Outokumpu