Säde Sivuranta, HR Assistant

Who are you and what is your role at Fintraffic?

I am Säde, and I work at Fintraffic as an HR Assistant, supporting a wide range of HR tasks related to the employee lifecycle. Previously, I worked in psychological assessments, and I wanted to broaden my expertise across different areas of HR and move into a more diverse role. I believed that a large state-owned special assignment company like Fintraffic would provide great opportunities to develop my HR skills, so I decided to apply for a summer position.

I started as an HR trainee in the spring of 2025 and continued working here after the summer. Now I have been at Fintraffic for over a year, and my workdays consist of a wide variety of HR responsibilities, including managing employee benefits, recruitment, maintaining HR data, handling day-to-day employment matters, onboarding, developing organizational culture, working on employee wellbeing and employer branding, HR communications – and the list goes on!

What have you studied? How have you been able to apply your learning at Fintraffic?

I graduated with a Master’s degree in General and Adult Education in the summer of 2025. I also studied work and organizational psychology, management, and communications as my minors.

During my studies, I focused extensively on HR-related topics, with a particular emphasis on employee wellbeing. I wrote both of my theses on wel-being-related topics, with my master’s thesis specifically focusing on the connection between HR and employee wellbeing. In my current role, I have been able to apply a lot of this theoretical knowledge in practice and further develop my expertise in the field.

What kind of employer has Fintraffic been? What have you learned here?

Fintraffic has been an excellent employer. The culture here is inclusive and supportive. I would especially like to thank my own HR team, that has given me the opportunity to work on a wide range of HR tasks, truly develop my skills in the field, and build a strong foundation for the future.

One of the things I particularly enjoy at Fintraffic is that no two days are the same, and I am able to develop my skills continuously in my daily work.

What other plans do you have for the summer besides your work?

I have been working at Fintraffic since last spring, so for me, this role has extended beyond just a summer job. This summer, however, I am also planning to take some time off and travel. I am hoping to spend as much time as possible at my summer cottage and relax in the peaceful countryside, away from the city.

Julia Pulkkinen, Finance Trainee

Who are you and what is your role at Fintraffic?

I am Julia Pulkkinen, and I work at Fintraffic as a finance trainee. I was looking for a summer job last year and came across an opening at Fintraffic, so I decided to apply for a position in finance. The field of traffic management was completely new to me, but it sounded like an interesting and meaningful place to work. Now I am working at Fintraffic for my second summer, and I have really enjoyed my time here.

My responsibilities include, for example, tasks related to purchase invoice processing, sales invoicing, as well as various controls and checks. In addition, I assist with other finance-related tasks. The role is very diverse, and I have had the opportunity to work on many different types of assignments.

What are you studying? How have you been able to apply your learning at Fintraffic?

I am currently in my third year studying administrative sciences at Tampere University and am about to complete my bachelor’s degree. My major is public financial management, and I have also studied accounting as a minor.

Through my studies, I have gained a theoretical understanding of financial matters, and through my work tasks, I have been able to apply this knowledge in practice. I have also learned a lot of new things through my work that were not covered in my studies.

What kind of employer has Fintraffic been? What have you learned here?

Fintraffic has been a very good employer, and I have really enjoyed working here. Because of my positive experience, I am now here for my second summer. From the very first day, I felt that I became part of the team and that my contribution was valued.

The team has a supportive atmosphere, it is always easy to ask for help, and everyone is willing to assist. This has created a safe environment for learning new things and developing my skills.

I also feel that I have been warmly welcomed into the work community. I have been given responsibility as well as opportunities to grow in my role. I have appreciated receiving feedback on my work. During my time here, I have learned a lot about finance and strengthened my existing knowledge and skills.

What other plans do you have for the summer besides your summer job?

In addition to work, my goal is to enjoy the summer and hopefully make the most of good weather. I have plans for several weekend trips within Finland. I intend to spend time at a summer cottage and attend a festival.

Jesper Setälä, Summer Trainee

”A summer jobs gives you a good overview of traffic”

Jesper Setälä, who is studying to become a traffic engineer for the first year, worked as a summer traffic operator in Fintraffic’s Road Traffic Management. How did Jesper find Fintraffic summer jobs right after his first year of study? How was his experience of summer work as a transport operator? How did the summer work benefit him from the perspective of a student in the traffic sector?

After completing his matriculation examination and the qualification of a articulated vehicle driver, Jesper worked as a driver for three years. The work as a professional driver inspired him to apply to a university of applied sciences to become a traffic engineer. Jesper ended up working at Fintraffic for the summer thanks to a presentation on the school campus.

”I had already noticed an online ad looking for summer workers for Fintraffic. But I decided to apply only when I saw the presentation on our campus emphasising that summer jobs are also available for first-year students. I sent in an application and was accepted as a traffic operator at the Traffic Management Centre”, Jesper remembers.

Meaningful summer job that ensures smooth and safe road traffic

Jesper is pleased that he applied for a summer job at Fintraffic, as summer work as a traffic operator has given him a comprehensive idea of the state-owned road network and the amount of technology being used, especially in the Uusimaa road network.

“In this work, you get a good general idea of traffic, which is very valuable for a traffic engineering student. I have also gained a good overall picture of what maintaining the road network requires, especially for the maintenance and inspection of tunnel areas”, Jesper says.

As a traffic operator, Jesper’s tasks during the summer have included, for example, the management of variable signs and speed limits, cooperation with the police and rescue authorities, informing contractors of defects reported by road users, and responding to congestions, accidents and other traffic problems.

“The work done by Fintraffic is very important, although it may not always be visible to the road user. However, the work affects every user of state-owned roads, the traffic safety and the everyday traffic flow. Summer work at Fintraffic has been a positive experience. I will have especially fond memories of the nice colleagues and supervisors. The work community has treated me fairly, and it has been very easy to ask for help in anything. I hope that, after the summer, I will be able to continue working at Fintraffic alongside my studies”, Jesper continues.