What does a summer traineeship look like when you're trusted to work on real business challenges from day one?
We sat down with two of this summer's Data Team trainees, Jonathan Kivimäki and Arttu Isosaari, to hear about their experiences firsthand. Coming from different academic backgrounds and at different stages of their studies, both were given the opportunity to contribute to real business projects from the very beginning.
Jonathan, a Master's student in Artificial Intelligence and Data Engineering at the University of Vaasa, and Arttu, a Statistics student at the University of Helsinki, share a common takeaway from their summer at Telko: meaningful responsibility, continuous learning, and a supportive team that made them feel like valued colleagues rather than just trainees.
More Than a Typical Summer Job
Like many students starting a new role, both Jonathan and Arttu arrived with a mix of excitement and uncertainty.
For Jonathan, the opportunity came through a friend who noticed a position that perfectly matched his interests and skills. For Arttu, what stood out was Telko's willingness to look beyond years of experience and focus on curiosity, learning potential, and personal initiative.
The initial nerves didn't last long.
From their very first days, both trainees found themselves contributing to real projects that supported the business. Instead of spending weeks observing from the sidelines, they were trusted to apply their knowledge, solve problems, and bring new ideas to the table.
In fact, one of the biggest surprises for both was just how much responsibility they were given.
"I never expected to get as much responsibility."
Learning Through Real Business Challenges
The summer offered opportunities to work with technologies, systems, and challenges that extended well beyond the classroom.
Jonathan focused on improving database solutions and helping make data easier to use across the organization. Along the way, he deepened his understanding of enterprise database environments and expanded his experience with both low-code and high-code development tools.
Arttu's work centered around data analytics and AI. One of the projects Arttu is most proud of this summer has been developing an AI agent using Copilot Studio to help users explore and understand business data through Power BI.
For both trainees, the experience highlighted something that every student eventually discovers: there is a significant difference between learning concepts in a classroom and solving real-world business problems.
Trusted From Day One
One of the strongest takeaways from both interviews was the level of trust they received throughout the summer.
Jonathan was involved in improving database environments and contributing to projects that impacted everyday operations. Arttu was given ownership of his own project from an early stage and quickly found himself troubleshooting issues that directly affected colleagues across the business.
Having that responsibility created a strong sense of purpose and ownership.
"Knowing that people were relying on what I built or fixed, and that it actually mattered, felt genuinely motivating."
The experience gave both trainees the confidence to grow faster than they expected, while helping them better understand how their studies connect to real business needs.
It's the People Who Make the Difference
While the projects were rewarding, both Jonathan and Arttu repeatedly returned to the same theme when reflecting on their summer: the people.
The Data Team created an environment where asking questions was encouraged and support was always available. Whether facing a technical challenge or simply trying to understand how something worked, help was never far away.
The team culture also made room for humour and human moments. Jonathan recalls how the team could still laugh together even during busy periods when everyone was working to solve urgent challenges. Arttu's favourite memory came from confusing "Laituri", the name of Telko's staff lounge, with the actual pier outside the office. It's the kind of story that still brings laughs around the team today.
Those everyday interactions helped transform a summer job into a genuine sense of belonging.
Skills, Confidence and a Clearer Career Direction
Beyond the technical skills they developed, both trainees leave the summer with something equally valuable: a clearer picture of their future.
Jonathan strengthened his expertise in database engineering and gained valuable insight into enterprise data environments. For Arttu, the experience provided an early glimpse into what a career in data and analytics can look like in practice.
Perhaps most importantly, both left with greater confidence in their own abilities and the knowledge that they can contribute meaningfully, even while still studying.
Thinking About Applying?
If there's one message both trainees would share with future applicants, it's simple: don't wait until you feel completely ready.
At Telko, trainees are trusted with meaningful work, encouraged to learn through experience, and surrounded by colleagues who genuinely want to help them succeed.
As Arttu puts it:
"You don't need to be a finished product yet. This is a great place to actually learn and use your skills."
Whether you're at the beginning of your studies or preparing for the next step in your career, a traineeship at Telko offers more than work experience. It offers the opportunity to grow, contribute, and discover what you're capable of achieving.
Want to see the real conversation behind these words? We caught it all on video! head over to @TelkoGlobal on Instagram to watch Jonathan and Arttu tell their summer story in their own words.