Young people's first contacts with working life are often work experience periods, or TET internships, implemented through schools, where young people have a low threshold to observe real work tasks and participate in small assisting tasks. It is important to offer diverse job opportunities in their own community so that young people can build their working life networks in their own municipality for their future.
Through these experiences, young people learn the rules of the game in working life, responsibility and develop skills that they can use in the future. Whether the first summer job or TET period is successful has a great impact on the image that the young person has of working life, the sector in question and the company.
Working in local companies not only prepares young people for their future careers, but also strengthens community spirit and increases their commitment to their home region. It also provides companies with an important opportunity to showcase their operations and attract young people to the industry. For many young people, their first summer job or internship can be a decisive experience in choosing a career path.
We want to support living in the countryside
One of the key goals in developing rural municipalities is to increase the area's retention and attractiveness. Engaging young people in their home municipalities is important, as rural areas need new residents and an active workforce. By offering young people opportunities to work and learn in their own municipality, we can arouse their interest in living in the countryside and show that their home municipality offers not only work but also a good living environment.
The idea of moving back to your hometown can also arise later, for example when starting a family. In this case, information about job opportunities in your hometown plays a particularly important role, and memories of a successful internship may come to mind. This also strengthens the vitality of the municipalities when skilled workers choose to stay in their hometown or return there later.
Videos make it easier to get to know companies
The Networking to Attract has brought young people and local companies together in a new way. The project has produced job videos aimed at young people, introducing companies in the area and the TET, summer job and internship opportunities they offer for young people. The purpose of these videos is to lower the threshold for applying for jobs at local companies and to familiarise young people with working life at an early stage.
The videos were released in early 2025 and will be distributed to guidance counselors at educational institutions in the area to reach as many young people as possible. The project will give companies greater visibility and young people will be able to see concretely what opportunities are available at companies in the surrounding area.
Companies were able to register for video shoots throughout the Leader North Satakunta region during autumn 2024. Videos have now been produced in Jämijärvi, Kankaanpää, Karvia, Parkano, Siikainen, Pomarku and Merikarvia. Project employees designed the concept of the videos, visited companies to shoot the videos and edited the videos.
Videos are available to watch Leader on the North Satakunta YouTube channel.
Contact
Networking is a collaborative project that develops rural vitality in the Leader North Satakunta area together with municipalities and entrepreneurs. The project is co-financed by the European Rural Development Fund. The project period is 1.1.2024-30.6.2026.
Project Manager Noora-Mari Syväluoma
Leader North Satakunta, Networking for Attraction - cooperation project
[email protected]
040 190 9440
Project coordinator Noora Elonen
Leader North Satakunta, Networking for Attraction - cooperation project
[email protected]
040 577 1300