Olkiluoto as attractive as ever – another record number of applications to summer jobs

This is an indication of the attractiveness of working in the hub of Finnish nuclear expertise also to the young population. And a good thing that is, too – a large number of long Olkiluoto careers started as a summer job.

Olkiluoto has long been a significant provider of summer jobs, with around one hundred positions available each year. The same approach continues this year as well, and we again expect to welcome approximately 100 enthusiastic summer employees to the island.

Once a stream, now a river

Sanni Tapani, who has been coordinating summer jobs in Olkiluoto, admits that the number of applications received was a surprise, far exceeding what the HR knew would be a high number. She recognises several reasons for this.

-It is commonly known that the situation of summer employment is not very good, but that is still not the only reason for the mass of applications. The nuclear sector is considered really interesting at the moment, and we seem to have a really good reputation as an employer to summer trainees, she sums up.

Tapani knows what she is talking about, having been involved in all the summer recruitment events in which TVO participated. The events, five in total, took place in towns and cities with universities before and after the turn of the year.

- TVO Group took part in the events of Rauma, Tampere, Turku, Helsinki, and Lappeenranta, Sanni Tapani says and adds that there was no doubt about the attraction of Olkiluoto as a summer job opportunity.

-Our previous summer trainees are definitely our best brand ambassadors with respect to this and many of the students pointed out that old summer workers had recommended us for a summer job, Tapani tells.

Unique opportunities with unique tasks

Tapani firmly believes that the work carried out in Olkiluoto is seen as important and meaningful and the positions on offer as unique.

- I’m sure that the the broader public discussion around energy and, for example, electricity prices has for its part built a picture of nuclear power as a reliable and also clean form of production, which is important to Finland as a whole. And that is a big deal, as all the surveys show how the younger generations think that the relevance of work is ever more important, Tapani says.

According to her, many discussions highlighted that work experience gained at Olkiluoto was seen as highly valuable and a significant addition to a CV.

- Quite a few students pointed this out in our conversations and naturally we were delighted to hear it, says Tapani who herself has worked in the HR Department in Olkiluoto for three years.

And when talking to students approaching the end of their studies, the possibility of finding a considerably longer career than just one summer in Olkiluoto was also mentioned.

- It is very typical for a career at TVO to start as a summer job. And of course, our employees seem to be really happy also otherwise to work here, with the average length of employment as much as 11 years, Tapani points out.

All applicants to be informed about results

As per usual, the largest summer employers in terms of numbers are radiation protection roles and the Engineering organisation, with more than 20 summer trainees recruited to each.

The one hundred or so summer positions in Olkiluoto cover as many as 39 different job descriptions. That is a large scale, as there were openings in areas from chemistry experts to software developers, and from assistant services to leaders of science camps for children.

There was certainly no shortage of highly competent applications to every position. The lowest number of applications for a specific job was 30, while more than 200 applications were received to the most attractive position.

Applications to Olkiluoto jobs were sent by university students all around Finland. Geographically speaking, the three cities where most applications were sent from were Pori, Turku and Tampere. There were more male than female applicants, but the number of female applicants has been on the increase over the long tun. This year, 35 percent of the applications were received from female applicants.

The actual selections are made by the line managers in charge of recruiting for each position who started their work at the beginning of February.

-Each applicant will be informed of the decision, and our aim is to complete this mainly during March, promises Sanni Tapani.

Text: Ville Kulmala
Photos: Tapani Karjanlahti and Johanna Innola