Time for trai­ning and career coaching

In this time of massive tempo­rary lay-offs and vanis­hed social acti­vi­ties it might be a good moment to think about a future profes­sio­nal career. The Industrial Union is offe­ring help in this area.

13.5.2020

The labour market orga­ni­sa­tions in the tech­no­logy industry – both trade unions and emplo­yers’ associa­tions – recom­mend carpe diem in this respect. In other words, now is a good time to avail of trai­ning oppor­tu­ni­ties. Trai­ning and cour­ses have not come to an end because of the corona crisis, there are many possi­bi­li­ties avai­lable, either web cour­ses or tailo­red services.

Infor­ma­tion about these can be found from TE Offices (Labour Exchan­ges). The Industrial Union has also set out a list of suitable cour­ses avai­lable around the country. This can be found on the Union web page under the name or title Tieto­pa­ketti koulu­tus­tar­jon­nasta.

Right now, it is easier to study even if one is clai­ming unemplo­y­ment bene­fits. The Unemplo­y­ment Secu­rity Act was amen­ded tempo­ra­rily so that emplo­yees who regis­ter as jobsee­kers at the TE Office have the right to unemplo­y­ment bene­fit during lay-offs even if they are enga­ged in studies or training.

The amen­ded Act will apply to those laid off star­ting from 16 March 2020 or later and it will remain in force until 31 July 2020.

CAREER COACHING IN FIVE LANGUAGES

Since autumn 2019, the Industrial Union has offe­red career services for its members. These services are offe­red by UP Part­ners, a specia­li­sed company working toget­her with seve­ral trade unions.

Through these services it is possible to get tips on job seeking and help to improve one’s skills and deve­lop one’s profes­sio­nal career. This help covers a wide range of things, begin­ning from how to make a nice CV to giving tailo­red perso­nal advice for profes­sio­nal careers. The services operate online and are free for union members.

As a union member, you can have a perso­nal coach. You book a time for her or him to discuss toget­her what possi­bi­li­ties there might be for you to prepare for the future. The meeting will be by phone or video, which is all impor­tant these days.

It is possible to get perso­nal coac­hing in Finnish, Swedish, English, Esto­nian or Russian. The discus­sions are confi­den­tial, and the profes­sio­nal coach can help and guide union members on all aspects of working life issues.

The online services also include up to 40 webi­nars annually, online cour­ses and tools and a video library for more tips. These are usually in Finnish.

The Industrial Union career services also have a Face­book group. Currently it has over 200 members and a UP Part­ners career coach answers ques­tions in the group. There is also a chat possi­bi­lity for quick questions.

Detai­led infor­ma­tion concer­ning these services can be found on the Union web page under the title Career services. From this page one can log on to the UP Part­ners desig­ned web career portal for Industrial Union members. This can be done by using your perso­nal online banking codes. You will then auto­ma­tically be direc­ted to the right page.

www.teollisuusliitto.fi/en/career-services

TEXT HEIKKI JOKINEN
PHOTO JUHA TANHUA