Practical training gives you an overall picture of your field and helps you identify what skills you already have and where you can still develop. During your traineeship, you gain experience of different work communities and workplace cultures. Many workplaces have unwritten rules and practices that are best understood through hands-on work. You will also discover what kind of work community supports your wellbeing and productivity.
During a traineeship, you receive feedback and develop greater self-awareness: you learn to recognise your strengths and what you are like as an employee and colleague. You also get the chance to build networks with professionals in your field while you are still studying. These networks can provide valuable information about open positions and interesting organisations when you are looking for your first job in the field after graduation.
Advice and contact information
Your Personal Study Plan (PSP) counsellor supports you in planning your traineeship and helps you consider at what stage of your studies it makes sense to complete one.
Your department has a designated traineeship coordinator who:
- approves traineeship placements
- ensures that the content of the traineeship meets the criteria for practical training included in your degree
- acts as a contact person with employers
- helps you with the traineeship agreement
Find the traineeship coordinator for your subject (link)
For general questions about practical training, you can contact Career Services. Traineeships with traineeship funding are coordinated by Career Counsellor Outi Suorsa (outi.suorsa(at)uef.fi).
Career Services also offers job seeking advice, such as feedback on your CV and job applications. Book an appointment through JobTeaser (link).
For questions about traineeships abroad, you can contact UEF International Mobility Services (link).
Read more about the accessibility of traineeships.
Steps toward practical training
Plan the timing of your practical training
Check your subject’s curriculum to see at what stage of your studies the practical training takes place. At the same time, find out about any prerequisites, such as the required number of credits, academic performance, or the type and level of traineeship tasks.
Choose the placement carefully
A traineeship is an opportunity to gain work experience in your field. Pay attention to the kind of organisation you are applying to and the tasks you will be doing. Have the placement approved by the traineeship coordinator for your subject.
Complete the necessary agreements
Make sure that a traineeship agreement is drawn up between the university and the employer. The agreement specifies, among other things, the duration of the traineeship, your tasks, any traineeship funding paid by the university and the salary paid by the employer.
If you are completing a paid traineeship, also draw up a written employment contract with the employer. The contract is fixed-term, with the traineeship serving as the grounds for the fixed-term nature. You can find more information about your rights and responsibilities at work on the occupational safety and health website (link).
If you are completing a traineeship without funding, it is still recommended that you draw up a traineeship agreement. Please note: no employment contract is made for unpaid traineeships.
Find out about supervision arrangements
Before your traineeship begins, make sure you know who your supervisor will be at the workplace and who is responsible for supervision on the university side.
Check the completion requirements
A traineeship usually includes a report or similar assignment. Find out about the completion requirements for your subject well in advance. If there is no set template, you can use the traineeship portfolio template (PDF) (link).
Remote traineeship
If you are completing your traineeship remotely, read the compiled tips for remote traineeships (link). The tips are useful for both you and the employer.
If anything is unclear, do not hesitate to ask your traineeship contact person, your PSP counsellor or Career Services for advice.