Take your first step towards internationalisation – hire an international intern with support, easily

Do you want to bring new perspectives and international expertise to your team? The Internationalisation Kickstart offers your company a supported and flexible route to recruiting an international intern, with direct access to dozens of top talents. Through the programme, you will find an intern who matches your exact needs, and receive practical support throughout the process – from introducing suitable candidates to recruitment and induction.

The programme is aimed at businesses and organisations that:

need talent for development, project work or internationalisation
want to try recruiting an international talent with support

A maximum of 16 employers will be selected for the programme.

Employer, apply to join the program using the application form

Many international students obtain a high-quality degree in Finland, but few find a job that matches their education after graduation. At the same time, businesses are looking for talent for growth, development and internationalisation.

The internship programme is a supported and low-threshold way to:

find talent to support growth and development

bring new perspectives and language skills to the organisation

test recruitment before a potential longer-term employment relationship

strengthen the capacity to work in a diverse work community

You will receive concrete support for the entire recruitment process:

support in finding and selecting an intern – saving you from processing hundreds of applications

advice on employer obligations and practical matters

coaching for building a diverse work community – a competitive advantage that ensures your company’s success in a changing labour market

coaching for leading a multilingual work community and tips on good practices

Additionally, higher education institutions have their own internship grants that students can apply for to partly cover salary costs in accordance with the institution’s conditions. The minimum salary for an intern is the minimum salary according to Kela’s annual work requirement (EUR 1,463 / month in 2026), including the employer’s social costs.

More information

Piia Pentti

City of Vantaa

Senior Specialist

piia.pentti@vantaa.fi

Wei Cui

City of Espoo

Specialist

wei.cui@espoo.fi

Marita Nieminen-Seppälä

City of Helsinki

Business Support Specialist

marita.nieminen-seppala@hel.fi

Take your first step towards internationalisation – hire an international intern with support, easily

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More information

Piia Pentti

Wei Cui

Marita Nieminen-Seppälä

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