Mentoring
Mentoring provides benefits and wellbeing
Our mentoring program has received excellent feedback both from the actors and the mentors. The actors have acquired important information on Finnish work culture and have built their professional networks. The mentors have gained new perspectives to their field and learned about Finnish working life from their immigrant collegue's perspective.
The mentoring program is directed to highly educated immigrants who already have some proficiency in Finnish language. The program is free of charge and is suitable to attend alongside the Villa Victor Finnish language non-stop courses. The language of the program is Finnish.
Mentoring is targeted for residents in Oulu and its neighboring regions. The collective meetings are organized at Villa Victor premises in Oulu10 (Torikatu 10, 90100 Oulu).
The goal of the program is to extend immigrants' professional networks and deepen their knowledge of Finnish working life and work culture. In addition, the goal is to boost the actors' linguistic confidence and to encourage them to use Finnish. This will improve their life management skills outside professional contexts as well.
Mentoring
Schedule and description
Approximately 10 mentoring pairs are selected for the program based on the registrations. The organizer of the program forms the pairs according to the mentors' and actors' educational backgrounds, work experience and wishes.
The first collective meeting is held at Oulu10 in the beginning of October. The second group meeting is held in winter and the final meeting in the end of May. Between the group meetings, the mentors and actors will have one-on-one meetings 1-2 times a month. Mentoring is based on pair work. Mentors and actors set up regular meetings according to their personal schedules. The mentoring language is Finnish in all meetings. The goal is to encourage the actors to use Finnish in their communication.
Because mentoring is voluntary, mentors will not get paid. What mentors will gain, however, is valuable perspective to their work, diverse expertise and international networks.
In the first group meeting, the participants will receive further information on the program and an extensive material package. The organizer of the program is Developer Teacher Riikka-Maija Gardemeister. You may contact Riikka-Maija by email: riikka-maija.gardemeister (at) ouka.fi.
The Villa Victor mentoring program is an extension of the other ESR-funded projects: Kieli työllistymisen tukena (2015–2018, The City of Oulu) and Kielen avulla osalliseksi (2018–2021, The University of Oulu, Finnish Language Subject). Due to positive feedback it was decided that the project should be continued.
Registration
Registration for the mentoring program 2023-2024 has been closed!
We will contact the selected actors and the mentors in September.
Follow us on LinkedIn to read current news related to the program!
Frequently Asked Questions (Q & A)
The actors
Who can become mentored, aka an actor?
You can become an actor if:
- you live in Oulu and have a legal permit to work in Finland,
- you have sufficient skills in Finnish language (approximately B1+),
- you have graduated from a vocational school, university or university of applied sciences and/or you have international work experience on your field
- you have little to no work experience on your field in Finland, and
- you are currently unemployed or underemployed (for example, your work does not correspond your education)
Are my Finnish language skills sufficient?
Your Finnish language skills need to correspond approximately the level B1. Your Finnish skills need to be sufficient for conversating with your mentor and, in the future, to work on your field.
What is my role as an actor?
As an actor you are in charge of seeking for employment and participating actively in the program. This means that you are regularly in contact with your mentor and participate actively in group meetings. We expect you to follow your mentor's guidance.
Do I need practice or support before registering to the program?
No. Before you start meeting with your mentor, you will be invited to the first group meeting. There you will learn more about your role and responsibilities. All mentors and actors will participate in the first meeting.
How can I get a mentor?
We aim to find you a suitable mentor based on your educational background, work experience and wishes. Mentors are not part of this process. If you do not feel satisfied with your mentor, please inform your mentor about your feelings as soon as possible in the beginning of the program.
What do I gain from the program? Will my mentor find me a job?
Your mentor's duty is not to find you a job. Their role is to offer you tips on efficient job-hunting strategies and on building your professional network in Finland. Your mentor can guide you in Finnish employment process, assess your CV or help you prepare for a job interview.
You can also for example discuss the salary structure in Finland. Your mentor will help you understand Finnish working life and work culture.
You can practice speaking Finnish with your mentor and improve your Finnish language skills.
How often do I have to meet with my mentor? Do I have to meet my mentor personally?
You will meet your mentor 1-2 times a month depending on your schedule. You can meet personally or online.
How many group meetings will there be? What will we discuss and do?
You will have 3 group meetings during the 8-month program. The first meeting is held in the beginning of October. The second meeting will be in February and the last one in the end of May.
The theme of the first meeting is orientation. You will learn more about your role and responsibilities. The topics for the other meetings will be announced later.
What is the duration of the program? How many hours a week/month am I involved?
The duration of the program is 8 months. You can still be in contact with your mentor and other participants after the program, of course.
Each group meeting (altogether 3 meetings during the 8 months) lasts about 2 hours. There should be about 1-2 one-on-one meetings a month with your mentor. You will agree on the one-on-one meetings together with your mentor. Usually the one-on-one meetings last 1-2 hours.
Is participating free of charge?
Yes.
Who can I contact if I have questions related to the program?
The contact person in the mentoring program is Riikka-Maija Gardemeister, riikka-maija.gardemeister(at)ouka.fi.
How can I get the most out of my mentoring experience?
Open communication is the key to any good relationship. It is important for you to talk with your mentor. Make sure that both you and your mentor's goals are strived for.
Stay active, be excited and use this opportunity!
Mentors
Who can become a mentor?
You can become a mentor if:
- you live and work in Oulu,
- you can commit to the program for 8 months, a few hours a month,
- you want to share information about your field, and
- you want to grow as a worker.
What is my role as a mentor?
As a mentor, you will help your actor
- by guiding them in any matters related to their profession or field (so that they are prepared to work on that field in Finland),
- by offering information about employment and training opportunities,
- by giving tips on how to expand their professional network,
- by supporting them and boosting their self-confidence in a new society,
- by telling them about Finnish working life and work culture,
- by helping them recognize their own potential and how they can contribute to the Finnish society
Is mentoring voluntary?
Yes. You will not get paid.
Why should I become a mentor?
Mentoring is an excellent opportunity for you to
- grow your skills in training and mentoring,
- gain an international perspective to your field,
- develop your intercultural communication skills,
- educate yourself on the challenges that immigrants face in Finland,
- learn more about other cultures.
By giving just a little bit of your time a month you can make a positive change to another person's life.
Do I need practice or support before registering to the program?
No. Before you start meeting with your actor, you will be invited to the first group meeting. There you will learn more about your role and responsibilities. All mentors and actors will participate in the first meeting.
How often do I meet my actor? Do I have to meet them personally?
You will meet your actor 1-2 times a month depending on your personal schedules. You can meet personally or online.
We also organize group meetings where we invite all the mentors and actors.
How many group meetings will there be? What will we discuss and do?
You will have 3 group meetings during the 8-month program. The first meeting is held in the beginning of October. The second meeting will be in February and the last one in the end of May. The first and the last meeting are mandatory. The meeting in February is optional but highly recommended.
The theme of the first meeting is orientation. You will learn more about your role and responsibilities. The topics for the other meetings will be announced later. You will have the change to discuss your experiences and share tips with other mentors and actors.
What is the duration of the program? How many hours a week/month am I involved?
The duration of the program is 8 months. You can still be in contact with your mentor and other participants after the program, of course.
Each group meeting (altogether 3 meetings during the 8 months) lasts about 2 hours. There should be about 1-2 one-on-one meetings a month with your actor. You will agree on the one-on-one meetings together with your actor. Usually the one-on-one meetings last 1-2 hours.
Who can I contact if I have questions related to the program?
The contact person in the mentoring program Riikka-Maija Gardemeister, riikka-maija.gardemeister(at)ouka.fi.