To new beginnings

It is rare to come across a position that ticks all the boxes at once: A great fit with your background and skills, allows you to work with like-minded people and something about which you are passionate. When I first came across E2 Research’s vacancy, it almost looked too good to be true. At the end of my interview, however, which lasted almost two hours, I found myself thinking: “I really want to work with these people,” as I had utterly enjoyed our conversation and their demeanor throughout the interview. During our discussion, I recall mentioning that this was a two-way assessment and that as much as they assess me for the position, I assess them as an employer.

Since the first day, there was not a single moment that hindered my eagerness to work here. For that, I feel lucky. Now, a month later, I have met with all my colleagues and my first impression of this place has been vindicated: They are kind people who are passionate about and dedicated to what they are doing. I enjoy being part of this team and the wider community, as every single interaction I have had with my colleagues has been respectful, understanding, and fulfilling. It is rare, very rare indeed, to work with people you like while you work on something you believe in, and at the same time, you make good use of your talent and skills.

At E2 Research, I feel appreciated, autonomous, and welcomed. I believe that inclusivity is an especially principal element of E2 Research’s work culture. I am the only one in the organization who does not speak Finnish; I am “the foreigner,” yet I have never actually felt like an outsider in the company. People have been friendly and helpful and went above and beyond in accommodating me and making me feel like a part of the team.

So, the answer to “What makes this a good place for me to work at?” is simple: colleagues and goals. I have already covered the first, so now let me elaborate on the latter.

If I were a Finn, born and raised in the country, mostly interacting with other Finns from similar backgrounds, I would have a hard time understanding the intricacies of living in Finland as a foreigner. I am glad that awareness regarding this topic has been increasing in the country over the years. Efforts have been made regarding internationalization, diversity, and openness to dialogue to hear from others. This makes me very happy for people like myself, assets and talents for the country, who not only want to live but also thrive in Finland.

There is, however, more to do. It is true that some organizations and sectors have long been working diligently to enhance their understanding of the matter, and some of them have already integrated various solutions to many aspects of the aforementioned issues. But there is still room for improvement.

This brings me to the fact why I wanted to work at E2 Research.

The projects in which I am involved resonated with me to a great extent. I considered this position as an opportunity to connect with foreigners residing in Finland, who share similar traits, and perhaps experiences, with me. I wanted to work on something that I know the results of which would be beneficial for me, an international individual, and others like me. I know firsthand what it is like to try and survive in Finnish society, especially when you do not speak the language and their customs and values are different from what you used to in your home country.

This project will be a wonderful opportunity to bring different voices and perspectives together, let us learn from one another, and gain insight into how others see and experience this. Thanks to previous studies in the field, we do have a great amount of data to study and learn from. I am grateful that many before us have tried to tackle this problem. Reports have been published, op-eds have been written, public forums have been held, which are significant to this project. Some of these efforts have also included international talents in Finland, as well as the local communities.

In this research, we aim at going into the field and connecting with the international community. We are optimistic that by reaching out to and interacting with foreign talents---which also include expat Finns and Finnish returnees in our project---and include their expertise, experiences, and ideas in our work, we can have a holistic and detailed idea of the issue. We believe that we can learn from the efforts of our predecessors and add our own data, expertise, and analysis to them. With the support from our partners and constituents, who represent various sectors of society, we are hopeful that we will be able to bring a lot to the table.

Finland needs international talents. Attracting and retaining them is not an issue that can be resolved overnight. It requires time, energy, resources, and dedication. Unfortunately, none of this happens in a vacuum—or easily. But I do believe in this project, in the people I work with, and the honest approach E2 Research takes on it.

I am motivated and enthralled with this cause, and I know that we will do our best to address it. Hopefully, enough people will hear us, and we will be influential enough to lead the way for an actual change in governmental policy and organizational structures.

Author

Gökhan Depo

MA, Project Assistant

@gokhandepo