PhD Pathways: “Finland got me excited about research”

PhDs are in high demand in Finland. To boost research and innovation, the Finnish government has decided to invest 255 million in a pilot that will enable the employment and research of 1000 new PhDs over three years. It is also anticipated that the need to hire more PhDs will grow in both the public and private sectors in the following years.

At the same time, the number of international PhD graduates is rapidly increasing. It’s more important than ever for the Finnish corporate world to make sure it’s open to hiring international talent – and for Finland to make sure they want to stay in the country.

Although the labour market position of immigrants is weaker than that of people with a Finnish background, the employment rate of foreigners is nevertheless higher in Finland than in other EU countries on average.

Apramey Dube, a PhD graduate from Hanken School of Economics, has been working in the consumer research field in Finland for several years. He wants to encourage international students and job seekers to network and find their happy place in the world’s happiest country.

First steps in research

Hailing from India, Dube first did a bachelor’s degree in engineering in his native country but decided to pursue a master’s in international business and consequently transferred to a business school.

– My college had ties with Hanken and when the time came to apply for exchange studies, I put Hanken on my list. When the word came that I was selected, I realized I had no idea where Finland was, Dube says smiling.

The trip to Finland was Dube’s first time outside of India. Luckily, there was a direct flight from Delhi to Helsinki. He landed in snowy Helsinki-Vantaa first time in January 2008.

Dube got acquainted with research already during his master’s degree since he ended up working on a project to get extra income.

– Since the student visa allows you to work for a few hours on student-related activities, I contacted Dr. Kirsti Lindberg-Repo who I knew needed help with a project. That’s how I learned how research works in Finland and got motivated to do a PhD. The project ended on a very good note: a book titled Titans of Branding was published and I got credit as a contributor, Dube says.

After completing his exchange studies, Dube returned to India but applied for a PhD position in marketing and returned to Finland in 2010.

– It was refreshing to notice that in Finland, you are encouraged to think outside the box. In India, research is more about performance. That was one of the factors that got me excited about research.

How to land the first job as an international student

Landing your first job as an international student is the hardest step. How did Dube do it?

To kick off his research, he first received a four-year funding for his PhD. When the funding ended, he started looking for a part-time job.

– The ending of funding made my PhD process a bit longer. However, the teacher I helped co-author Titans of Branding had started a consulting company, and I ended up working for her. This allowed me to build more connections in Finland.

During his studies, Dube made sure to show his face in several student events at Hanken to get to know more people and become familiar with the culture and working life.

– One strong advice I can give is to be active at events and always ask a clever question. This will help people to remember your face, Dube says.

Building a life in Finland

Currently, Dube is a Senior Research Manager at Cambri, a company designing concept testing tools for gathering consumer insights.

– It’s very difficult to get a job if you’re not a Finnish speaker. I learned this the hard way, but I also learned that networking while doing your PhD is crucial. I became acquainted with another PhD from Hanken, Dr. Heli Holttinen, during my studies, and later she ended up founding Cambri. My skillset ended up being a good fit for Cambri’s requirements and I got recruited, Dube explains.

Connections matter, but Dube wants to point out that it is possible to get hired through the ordinary recruitment process, even as a foreigner.

– My first full-time position in Finland was with F-Secure. I landed a maternity leave position and then got a permanent job. The atmosphere at F-Secure is very international, and they are one of the few companies that understand the value of international talent in Finland, Dube says.

The Finnish job market can be tough for foreigners, but Dube managed to beat the hurdles and has decided to stay in Finland. He thinks that if you haven’t lived in Finland, you might not understand the charm. But it’s no coincidence Finland is ranked the happiest country in the world.

– Me and my Estonian wife have built a life here. I think Finland brings the best out of a person. You don’t have to worry about things like pollution and overpopulation. With fewer worries, there’s more space for happiness, Dube concludes.