This guest blog was written by project manager Gunta Ahlfors from Väestöliitto’s Recognizing International Talents -project.
The Recognizing International Talent -initiative was started in 2020 with the aim to improve the Diversity and Inclusion skills of employers and their ability to recognize international talents in the recruitment processes. Finland needs more skilled labour force and the internationals living here need more possibilities to get recruited in their own professional field. An open, inclusive and diverse society creates more well-being and attracts more people to come in the future.
Language and professional identity
Language skills play often a significant role in employment. Professional identity is formed by our conception of work experience, skills and our ability to communicate about them. Our professional identity is also strongly linked to the language we use in work life.
A sudden change in the language environment impacts the capability to communicate convincingly in professional matters. The lack of professional vocabulary creates insecurity in our professional identity – because we cannot communicate to others with the same confidence as before.
This goes both ways. The fear of a weakened professional identity exists also on the employer’s side. And this is understandable.
Leaving the comfort zone
There are many whose professional identity is strongly connected to Finnish language. In some work environments there might be fear of change if everyone is used to communicating and expressing themselves only in Finnish. Recruiting the first international talent does not mean automatically changing the whole team or organization into an English-speaking environment – many of the talents living here already speak or understand Finnish.
When I think of my own professional identity, it is the strongest when using Finnish language. I have built most of my professional career using this language and I feel confident using it at work. Even though Finnish is the fourth language I have learned. When it comes to my professional identity and languages, right after Finnish comes English - and only then my native language. In what language do you feel the most comfortable in professionally?
A diverse and multilingual work environment demands us to be more flexible and brave. To leave our comfort zones, even if it might feel frightening, it is worth it!
Would you like to read about this theme in Finnish? Haluatko lukea tästä aiheesta suomeksi? Käy tutustumassa Väestöliiton blogiin:
Hyppy oman mukavuusalueen ulkopuolelle – Väestöliiton blogi (vaestoliitonblogi.com)
The blog was written by project manager Gunta Ahlfors from Väestöliitto’s Recognizing International Talents -project. Recognizing International Talents is one of MiB International’s partners.
Mothers in Business (MiB) is a nationwide network that supports career-oriented mothers in balancing work and family. Our aim is to provide opportunities for skills development, networking and career advancement. Currently, we have over 4500 members and hundreds of volunteers throughout Finland.
