Become a mentee

EntryPoint, it's 4 months for you to build a special bond with another professional and gain new perspectives on your own potential. 

In our programme, you will: 

• build a long-lasting relationship and share know-how with your mentor,
• expand your professional network in Finland and understand better the Finnish job market and work-culture,
• learn from the experience of another professional who is further along than you,
• familiarize yourself with intercultural communication and collaboration,
• gain more self-awareness and  relevant skills and knowledge to develop your career,

… and so much more!

By joining EntryPoint, you also join our wider community of professionals, and we will make sure you make the best out of it! 

Please note that while the program gives you access to networking and other tools to establish yourself in the Finnish job market, its purpose is not to offer, or guarantee, your employment. Your mentor will not have any obligation to find you a job or to become your reference.

EntryPoint mentees are international talents(external link, opens in a new window) residing in Finland. 

To become a mentee, you need to fulfill the following requirements : 

• Speak and understand enough English, as it is the program's language. 
• Live in the Capital Region and be able to join the 4 group meetings that will be held in person in Otaniemi.
• Have clear goals and expectations for the program.
• Be highly motivated to join participate as a mentee.
• Be willing and available to commit to the program for 4 full months.
• Agree on the fact that EntryPoint is not a recruitment program, and that your mentor don't have any employment or endorsement obligations towards you. 

Your age, nationality, mother tongues, unemployment status, gender, place of residence within the Capital Region, level of educations are not part of our requirements to become a mentee.

Mentees are unemployed job-seekers, employed people, people on parental or study leave, students, entrepreneurs ... All profiles are welcome!

• As a mentee, you can apply from 17.10.2022 until 16.11.2022. 
• After the application period is closed, we will start the matching process. We might contact you to ask you more information.
  • We match the pairs based on the information you share with us in your application. The more honest and detailed answers you give, the more accurate the match. Take time to fill up your application form!
  • During the matching process, we will be in touch with your potential mentor and you, to make sure our matching goes in the right direction. You will of course have the option to refuse the match.
• On 9.12.2022, you will be informed of the final matching decision. If we have not found a match for you, we will also let you know by then.
• After that, you have a month to relax! You will discover your mentor's exact identity on the launching session!

We reserve ourselves the right to change the ending dates of the application period, as well as the date of the pairs announcement. 

A round is composed by 4 compulsory group meetings where you will meet and interact with other mentees and mentors, and by one-on-one meetings between you and your mentor. 

The time investment for a mentee is around 15-20 hours over 4 months.

It is recommended that a mentee and mentor meet 1:1 at least four times. You will decide on the dates, times and frequency with your mentor. 

Mentors and mentees will also have access to career development sessions. By joining EntryPoint, you join our community of professionals, and we will make sure you make the best out of it!

Common sessions

10.1.2023, 17.30-19.30 : mentees orientation (mentees only). 

16.1.2023, 17.30 - 19.30 : launching session. 

6.3.2023 ( date still subject to change), 17.30-19.30 : mid-term session. 

20.4.2023, 17.30 - 19.30 : closing session. 

At EntryPoint, it is the mentee who leads the mentoring process. Ideally, your mentor would step in after you have done 90% of the work and help your overcome the obstacle that gets you to 100%.

You need to be proactive and clear about what you want to achieve, while being responsible for timely sharing it with your mentor.

Your mentor can help you in

• Gaining clarity about a specific sector or career path, 
• Learning about the Finnish job market and work culture
• Getting insights and ideas from their longer work experience
• Self-reflecting and building self-awareness
• Building relevant networks for yourself
• Enhance relevant skills
• ... and so much more!

As mentorship is not a teacher-student relationship, it is good to remember that you will bring value to it as well. You will be responsible for the topics covered and the goals you both work on reaching. Your mentor will as well benefit from this relationship, for example by practicing their own intercultural, leadership and problem solving skills. 

• Be the one planning the meetings and deciding on their themes and content.
• Be an active, committed and reliable participant in both mentoring relationship and group activities.
• To stay in touch regularly with both your mentor and our community throughout the round.
• To be clear on your goals.
• To give back as much as you get.
• To share your own experiences, idea and tips with your mentor as well.
• To attend all collective meetings.
• To enjoy this great opportunity to grow and build a unique relationship with another professional, of course!

Before meeting your mentor, you will take part in a mentee orientation session to deep dive into your role and responsibilities as a mentee.

You will meet the other mentees, get introduced to the round's practicalities and to the  services that you can access as a participant.

Throughout the round, our team will remain fully available to address your questions and concerns!

For questions related to the application, matching processes, as well as questions related to our Community of professionals, you can contact our community coordinator, Elizabeth Akins : elizabeth.akins (at) espoo.fi.

For questions related to the content of the programme, its goals or career development services in Espoo in general, you can contact our service coordinator Grace Thévenet Ondo : grace.ondo (at) espoo.fi