FAQ

What is Vaisala Group?
Vaisala is a global leader in environmental and industrial measurement, contributing to better quality of life by providing a comprehensive range of products, solutions and services for meteorology, weather critical operations and controlled environments. We employ 1200 people worldwide. Our major customer groups are meteorological and hydrological institutes, airports, defense forces, road organizations, wind energy and industry worldwide.

What kind of projects does Vaisala offer?
Please refer to the Projects section.

Can I choose the projects I will work on?
The contents of the project will be primarily determined by Vaisala's business needs, but all fresh and innovative ideas from the program participants are highly valued.

Will I be working in Finland or USA?
Students with a work permit for Finland will be working in Vantaa, Finland. To be considered for the program in the United States, you must currently be eligible to work in the U.S. as Vaisala does not provide sponsorship for immigration in the context of this program.

When should I apply?
The application period runs from January 14 until February 14, 2010.

What kind of educational background should I have to be eligible to the program?
Motivation, proactiveness and intellectual curiosity are the most important selection criteria for us. However, if a project involves deeper scientific, technical or financial skills and knowledge, then students with that kind of background are preferred.

How many interns do you hire?
We will hire up to 20 students, based on actual business needs.

Does Vaisala offer long-term career prospects?
Many of our employees began their careers at Vaisala as interns. An internship program is a good way of getting to know the company, its customers and business. We do not, however, automatically offer our interns permanent employment.

What are the selection events like?
The selection events will involve  individual interviews with the project owner and HR, as well as discussions around the program and projects. Candidates will also be provided with a presentation of Vaisala and our activities and customers.

Do you reimburse traveling and accommodation expenses related to the interviews?
Vaisala will reimburse travel costs inside Finland (bus or rail, flights are not reimbursed). In the United States, Vaisala reimburses all travel costs, including flights.
Accommodation costs are not covered.

When can I start working?
The program starts in May-June 2010, depending on the selected interns' schedules

Does Vaisala offer traditional summer jobs?
Yes, we do. The Vaisala Giant Leap internship program complements the traditional summer jobs we offer every summer. If you wish to apply for a summer job with a different focus, please submit your application in Finnish here, or in English here.