Summer Job Day! 2016 event a sounding success

It’s the high season for seeking summer jobs. For the first time in its history, Aalto University organised a common summer job event for all of its students, which generated interest and brought together a large group of students and employers.

The Undergraduate Centre lobby was abuzz on Wednesday, 20 January, when over 20 employers presented themselves to Aalto University students at the Summer Job Day! 2016 event. The event, organised by Aalto University’s Employer Services and Career Services, was unique in the sense that it was the first summer job event aimed the entire student body of Aalto University.

Participants also included sections from The Finnish Business School Graduates and Academic Engineers and Architects in Finland, who provided students with information about employment terms and contracts. Aalto University summer programmes and many other actors were also involved.

The Slot Machine Association and the Linnanmäki amusement park were both offering summer jobs to students interested in customer service work.

– We have about 40 open positions for croupiers in the summer. Your background is not as important as having the right attitude as well as being social and motivated. This is a job where you get to know the clientele extremely well, which can be a benefit when thinking about your career, says Slot Machine Association recruiter Salla Pajalahti, who spent five years working as a croupier before her current position.

Linnanmäki had various amusement park positions in ticket sales, restaurants or for ride operators.

– Students have been a little curious as to why we’re involved, but also enthusiastic, says ticket sales manager Tapio Riepponen. Restaurant team manager Nirali Parekh chimes in: We're a well-known employer and I believe that customer service experience with us is a respectable addition to your resume.

School of Business partner companies were represented by CGI and Nokia. CGI’s summer jobs will be open to applications online on 1 February.

– We have, for example, diverse assisting consultant tasks in various ICT projects. We’re primarily looking for students who are at least in their third year who have a genuine interest in the IT field, says CGI’s HR representative Emma Annila.

Nokia’s summer positions are in their research and development organisation, especially in software development. Additionally, Nokia is involved in the Suomen Mentorit-run Let’s work trainee programme.

– This programme and the trainee positions are intended for fresh graduates or students that are close to graduating, who want to learn something new and to gain valuable working experience, says Nokia’s Pia Talonpoika. There are positions for Technology, Arts and Design and Business students. The trainee periods last six months and are paid for.

According to student feedback, the event was considered to be interesting and important. Students would like to see more large, international companies and an even larger event in the coming years.