Record number of trainee places in the City of Tampere’s Trainee Programme
The City of Tampere’s Trainee Programme attracted significant interest this year, and next autumn’s programme will offer a total of 34 trainee places across the city organisation. Last year, there were 21 places.
French teacher Maria Pälviranta and Slovak trainee Jakub Juhás worked together at Pispala School last autumn.
The 2026 Trainee Programme will run from 17 August–18 December 2026. The programme’s roles are based in Employment and Growth Services, Tampere Vocational College Tredu, Environmental Health, early childhood education and pre-primary education, the Tampere For All (Kaikkien Tampere) development programme, General Upper Secondary Education, the Culture Service Group and the Service Group for Economic Development and Innovation Policy.
The Trainee Programme also attracted exceptionally strong interest among applicants: a record 3,169 applications were submitted for the roles. Applications have now closed, and the aim is to make the selections by the end of May.
International trainee programme included for the third year running
The international Trainee Programme – now being run for the third time – is also included. It is aimed at international talents studying at Finnish higher education institutions. In the 2026 recruitment round, nine trainee places are intended for international applicants.
The international trainees’ work will be carried out in English, and the programme also includes support for strengthening and studying Finnish. Through the international Trainee Programme, the City of Tampere develops its operations as an international employer and supports diversity, internationalisation, and the integration of international talent into Tampere.
The Trainee Programme benefits all parties
The Trainee Programme offers higher education students and recent graduates a four-month paid traineeship, during which trainees can learn, build networks, familiarise themselves with the city’s work tasks, and work as part of expert teams.
The traineeship supports a smooth transition from studies to working life and provides practical experience in roles within one’s own field. Each trainee is assigned a dedicated supervisor, and induction is prioritised as part of a high-quality trainee experience.
Many of the city’s units have also found capable staff through the Trainee Programme for longer-term employment. At the same time, trainees bring fresh perspectives, up-to-date expertise and development ideas to work communities, supporting the renewal of the city’s operations.
In 2025, the NPS score measuring participants’ willingness to recommend the Trainee Programme was 92. The maximum value on the NPS scale is 100.
The programme has received particular praise for, among other things, the overall experience, networking at joint meetings, gaining insight into the city’s roles and career stories, and accumulating valuable work experience. The Trainee Programme is developed annually based on feedback received from participants.
