AIESEC TKK webpages Work abroad shakes up the way you see the world, makes diversity your ally and teaches you new social skills and cross-cultural understanding. Still unsure whether to apply or not? Let earlier trainees tell about their experiences! Henrik's Challenge in Ankara
In the very heart of AIESEC activity is the international traineeship exchange program. Every year, Finnish AIESEC committees send trainees to various destinations abroad. Ranging in length between 8-72 weeks, these programs are designed to make the transition from school or study to international workplace as smooth as possible.
Henrik Blåfield was a fourth-year student majoring in Information Networks when the urge to go abroad overcame him. As an International Baccalaureate, Henrik had already been oriented for exchange programs and studies abroad in high school and even considered to take his degree studies in England, but he was not all that certain whether he would want to live and work in foreign countries for extended periods of time. "Originally, I had thought about TKK exchange program to South Korea, but at the time nobody seemed to know anything about it", he recalls his decision to apply for AIESEC Traineeship instead. Even though he knew little about AIESEC, he was soon admitted and practically before he could apply for the position, he found himself heading for Turkey, despite some snags and delays in getting the official paperwork done.
In Ankara, he was received well, despite his lack of AIESEC experience. In Turkey, AIESEC is taken much more seriously by the students; from some 200-300 who apply, some 40-50 are accepted. Perhaps as a result, Turkey's AIESEC organization is one of the most active in the world. In addition to his traineeship - first six months in a local business incubator preparing co-operation with Finnish businesses and working in marketing, then as a Java programmer - Henrik was actively involved in his local AIESEC committee, taking part in discussion sessions where subjects ranged from EU expansion to human rights. Confidence, Courage and New Friends
"I've changed as a human. Now I know that I can live and work in another culture, and I know I want to work abroad later in my life", Henrik tells about what his year in Turkey taught him. But it was not all work and no play; these days, Henrik has friends in Turkey, Bulgaria, Poland… Thriving expatriate community and AIESEC local committee ensured that boredom was seldom a threat to this trainee. "Hopefully, I'll get a chance to entertain my foreign friends in Finland, too", he laughs.
”More Than Any University” Jukka Blomberg’s reasons for joining AIESEC were quite typical for an engineering student. “In Autumn 2002 AIESEC had what was quite possibly the best party I’ve ever been”, this sixth (and his last) year Computer Sciences student recalls. Partying wasn’t enough, however. Jukka started to find like-minded people in the AIESEC organization and became a member in the same semester. As usual, his AIESEC experience started with him joining the team, followed by a series of odd jobs like practicing trainee “sales” and company visits. After a spell in designing so-called “product packages” – pre-planned traineeship solutions for organizations, such as Highway to Russia which employed Russian students in companies planning to expand to the east – Blomberg was associated in planning and executing a computerized traineeship sales management software. The system is currently in use in AIESEC committees in four different countries and its popularity is rising. “There is still much to do”, hints Jukka for those with inclination to tinker with software – AIESEC TKK waits your call if improving really useful programs interests you… Jukka’s been busy with all sorts of activities, from planning to training, but what exactly was the best part about his AIESEC experience? When I asked him to make the long story short, he told about things like fun activities, about atmosphere conductive for developing oneself – but in a relaxed, laid-back manner. Last but by far not the least, AIESEC has given him an “enormous” worldwide network of friends and contacts. “Right now I have dozens of really good friends around the world, and I know what different businesses abroad want from their employees. I know what kind of openings there are available.” As Jukka plans to spend at least a few years working abroad, his contacts are sure to be most useful. From computer to human networksEffective networking is probably the thing which separates AIESEC from many other student organizations. According to Jukka, taking part in AIESEC activities will also teach strategic planning and, naturally, improve salesmanship and social skills.
“AIESEC offers much more than any university can give. In here, you get to test your own abilities and create rapport – friendships – around the globe.”
But what makes a person an AIESEC person? This was apparently a very difficult question, and Jukka was forced to admit that there are no stereotypical AIESEC members. The organization’s strength is in its diversity, but deep down, one common denominator might be the individual’s willingness to develop their potential. “There might be a kind of a belief, that your own actions can make the difference”, Jukka muses.
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