A young summer employee is an investment, not a risk – how to succeed

The majority of employers would be willing to hire a young person without prior work experience, but still many young people find succeeding in job searching difficult. According to experts, the first job can significantly influence a young person’s perception of working life for a long time.

Nearly 70 percent of employers state they are ready to hire a young person without prior work experience. At the same time, almost half of young people have found the job application process negative and securing their first job difficult. This information comes from the “Nollatilanne” study commissioned by the Finnish Work Association.

“There is a clear gap here. It would be important for employers to take action now and boldly hire young people. An empty CV can be full of potential”, says Hanna Malinen, Head of Communication and Marketing Group at Finnish Work.

She points out that hiring a young person does not require a large financial investment or a long-term commitment. Low-threshold employment opportunities include, for example, internships and summer jobs.

According to Malinen, hiring a young person brings many benefits to a company, such as new perspectives, an enthusiastic attitude, and an innovative approach to digital solutions.

“It is short-sighted to think that onboarding an inexperienced young person would be too troublesome. A young person can bring brilliant ideas that those who have been in the industry for a long time cannot even imagine”, Malinen encourages.

Jobs for young people from kesätyö.fi

Young people’s negative experiences with job searching are often related to the scarcity of jobs and the perceived difficulty of getting a first job without prior experience. The new Kesätyö.fi service addresses these concerns.

“Kesätyö.fi specifically gathers summer job opportunities suitable even for first-timers in one place”, says Heidi Harju, Program Manager at the Children and Youth Foundation.

The service also makes summer job searching more equitable, as positions are openly advertised for everyone to apply, and summer jobs are not only accessible through connections. Harju reminds employers to consider that everyone has at some point been in a ‘zero situation’ and needed their first work experience.

Kesätyö.fi was launched in January 2026, and over 18,500 job positions have already been advertised. According to Harju, both the number and the feedback received from the service are satisfactory. An even larger number is targeted for next year.

Employer, remember these

For many young people, a summer job is their first contact with working life, and the employer bears significant responsibility for what kind of experience it turns out to be.

According to Malinen, young people should be offered clear tasks, sufficient guidance, and treated as equal employees, even if it is only for a short summer job period.

Taija Numminen, leading lawyer at The YTK Unemployment Fund, states that onboarding should cover more than just teaching the job itself: young people should be informed about the general rules of working life, for example, how to act if they fall ill.

“Things that are obvious to an adult can be completely new situations for a young person”, she says.

Both Malinen and Numminen also emphasize the importance of assigning a mentor to the young person.

The lawyer’s 5-point list for employers

• Together with the young person, make a written employment contract that clearly states at least the job tasks, place of work, duration of employment, working hours, and salary. Allow the young person to review the contract at their leisure.
• Explain the workplace’s shift practices. Announced shifts are binding for both the employee and the employer; they cannot be unilaterally canceled on short notice.
• Also, onboard them to the general rules of working life: How to act if one falls ill? How to communicate and behave in the work community? These situations can be new to a young person.
• Appoint a contact person for the young person, from whom they can easily ask for help throughout the summer.
• Give feedback and listen. Young people have a desire to develop and a need to belong to a group.

“Absolutely, the responsibility in these matters lies with the employer, and even more so when it comes to a young employee”, Numminen states.

A good experience goes a long way

The first job remains in memory for a long time, and therefore comprehensive onboarding, encouraging guidance, meaningful tasks, and the way a young person is treated in the work community influence how they perceive working life in the future as well.

Hanna Malinen also sees this as an advantage for the employer. A good experience leaves a lasting impression, and a satisfied young person shares their experience, which builds a positive employer image.

“It is also extremely rewarding to be that first supervisor or colleague. That is something one does not forget”, Malinen says.

The Children and Youth Foundation’s Kesätyö.fi is a new service where young people can apply for and get summer jobs without work experience. The service gathers summer job positions for young people to find and offers principles, developed together with young people, to ensure a successful work experience. During spring 2026, over 18,500 summer job positions were advertised in the service. Kesätyö.fi is the best place for young people to start. Finnish Work Association and YTK Unemployment Fundar are Kesätyö.fi’s main partners, and Alma Media is a partner.

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