Alma Developer Program launches for the tenth time

Exactly nine years ago we started looking for participants in the very first Alma Developer Program. Now in 2026, we are searching for new talents for what is already the tenth program. It’s a good moment to pause and look back.

In the first year, there were 150 applicants and ten lucky ones were selected for the program. Since then, the number of applicants has increased significantly, and interest in Alma has grown. Last year, 16 trainees or juniors started in the program.

Over the years, about one hundred early-career developers have participated in the program, and well over half of them are still working at Alma.

The Alma Developer Program and those who have joined us through it have played a significant role in building Alma’s developer community, which now numbers over 200 in Finland. Another couple hundred Alma developers can be found in our teams outside of Finland.

The Alma Developer Program was founded to grow future talent

At the time the program was founded, there were hardly any similar programs available, especially not in product companies like Alma Media. Larger software and consulting firms had been running these types of initiatives for some time, reportedly with good results. So, why not us?

Our strategy, even back then, was to develop our products as much as possible with our own developers. The challenge was that the heated software developer job market did not support this model. Recruiting experienced and skilled professionals seemed difficult.

Two crucial factors had to be in place. First, we needed our own experienced developer community, as it would have been hard to build from scratch. The second key factor was that many of our products had already been built in cloud environments using modern technologies by 2016. Naturally, the skills of young applicants needed to align with the technologies we use, and vice versa.

After careful consideration and study of the subject, we finally decided to establish the program and involved the best people from the very beginning to run it.

Many program participants now hold key roles at Alma

My own experience in hiring young developers was so positive even before the trainee program that I was completely confident the approach would work. And it did.

Thanks to high-quality Finnish software education, motivated and skilled individuals were in “real jobs” sooner than we expected. Many have since risen to important roles at Alma, just as we hoped.

Since then, the entire process has become more professional year after year, and with great cooperation among recruiting managers, we have found several highly talented developers annually.

One of the best aspects of the program has been seeing the amazing and energetic people who join us each year.

Alma’s AI Program accelerates developer growth

This year recent graduates struggle to find their first real jobs. The same applies to internships and summer jobs. At Alma, we want to be one of those companies that offer these valuable opportunities to young talents.

I also believe that the best talents are often found through such programs. I must also make the obligatory AI mention: with the available AI tools, juniors will likely reach a senior level faster than before. Of course, sharp minds and an interest in more than just pure programming are still needed.

As I look back on my nearly ten years at Alma Media, I still consider our Developer Program one of the best things we have accomplished during this time.

The author is the Head of Digital Development for Alma Marketplaces segment, Simo Syrjänen. He got his first software job through a trainee program at another company years ago. According to him, the best things at Alma are the professional colleagues and fantastic products.

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