Alumni Ambassador Eero Nummela: You can develop your professional skills and find new job opportunities through networks

When and what did you study at Aalto University School of Business?

I completed my Bachelor’s degree in the School of Business Mikkeli unit in 2010–2013, majoring in international business. Afterwards, I started my Master’s degree on Töölö campus in 2014, majoring in information and service management. I graduated in the summer 2017.

What jobs have you held since graduation?

After graduating from Mikkeli, I have worked alongside my master’s studies in various tasks. Right in the beginning of my master’s studies, I did a three-month internship at the Embassy of Finland in Santiago, Chile. After returning to Finland, I worked almost a year in logistics, and the last two years I have worked in the banking sector, focusing especially on the development of services and products.

Last September I started in the graduate program at Danske Bank, which includes three rotations within different units, including one abroad. My second rotation will begin in March in Copenhagen, after which I return to Helsinki in August.

In what ways have the studies been useful for your career?

Studies in Mikkeli and Helsinki have formed an excellent basis for my career. The studies have given me inspiration and increased my self-confidence.

Especially the Mikkeli studies offered excellent opportunities to learn English, as that was the language used in all courses. Moreover, the whole community in Mikkeli was very international. In Mikkeli, the courses are completed in three-week modules, making the study pace fast. In addition to this, working in groups and presentations skills are emphasized, all of which have proved to be very useful in the working life.

My major in Mikkeli, international business, built a good basis for the master’s studies, even though I decided to change my major in the master’s degree.

As an individual, you can develop your professional skills and find new job opportunities through the networks. From the point of view of a company, an employee who possesses an extensive network can bring great value to the company, in the form of new customers or skills.

Your advice for the students who reflect on their studies and your advice for their career?

Business studies are an excellent option, even if you do not exactly know what you want to do afterwards. You should be curious and open to new experiences, and go outside your comfort zone, for that is how you learn the most.

Aalto University offers a wide range of possibilities, and even though I tried to benefit from this, I feel that I could have been even more active. This is why I strongly encourage current and new students to familiarize with all the opportunities available. You can complete multidisciplinary courses, and go along to the various student union activities, where you can try new things and challenge yourself.

It is good to graduate within reasonable time, although I do believe that employers also appreciate variable study modules and the activities in different communities alongside the studies.

What do networks mean to you?

Networking is important during your studies, and its importance is even more emphasized in the working life. Having a comprehensive and versatile network is an asset for an employee, but also the employers appreciate it. As an individual, you can develop your professional skills and find new job opportunities through the networks. From the point of view of a company, an employee who possesses an extensive network can bring great value to the company, in the form of new customers or skills.

You will get many good opportunities to grow your networks during the studies. You can network within your own School, but also with the students in other fields. Although my career is not yet very long, I have already found some interesting job opportunities through my networks.

Being an alumnus is being proud of my School.

You act as an Alumni Ambassador at the School of Business. What does being an alumnus mean to you?

Being an alumnus is being proud of my School. At the same time, it enables the development of your skills and offers possibilities to help current students, who very likely are struggling with the same questions than you were during your studies.

Being an alumnus also means being able to attend School’s alumni events, which make it possible to meet fellow alumni and get to know new people!

The past year as an Alumni Ambassador has offered a great chance to be active in the development of the School’s alumni activities and bring along the viewpoint of Mikkeli graduates.

Further information:

Currently, Nummela is working as a Senior Consultant at Danske Bank. (2020)

Get to know Eero Nummela’s career path more closely on LinkedIn!

Read more about the School of Business alumni cooperation and about the other Alumni Ambassadors who, like Eero Nummela, are involved in developing the School’s alumni activities: www.aalto.fi/school-of-business/school-of-business-alumni-ambassadors