National career counselling service will be transferred to the employment areas at the turn of the year
The national vocational guidance and career planning service of TE Services has operated for 14 years, and its goal is to help customers make decisions related to education and careers. The service will end at the end of 2024, and the vocational guidance psychologists who provided the service will be transferred to the employment areas at the beginning of next year.
Vocational guidance and career planning is a service that connects customers with a psychologist who can advise them on choosing and changing their career paths. In addition to TE Offices and local government pilot offices, the service is available by appointment online and by phone. Both job seekers and employed people can apply for career counselling. The service is personal, free of charge, and confidential. Career counselling is still available until the end of 2024.
The career guidance experts are trained psychologists. They specialise in education and career transitions, so they have information about changing working life and educational opportunities and an understanding of which steps will help towards a meaningful study and career path. Customers appreciate the competence of career counselling psychologists: in the 2024 feedback survey, customers rated the service at 4.8 on a scale of 1–5.
History of career counselling at the TE Customer Service Centre
In 2010, a career guidance pilot was launched at the TE Customer Service Centre, in which the service was provided by phone. At first, the service was provided by one expert, who was supported by a group of psychologists from TE Offices. In 2013, the service was established as part of the TE Customer Service Centre, then known as Työlinja.
In addition to telephone counselling, since 2015 the service has also been available online. In 2020, TE Offices had to convert their services into remote services due to the coronavirus pandemic. Career guidance experts helped the psychologists at TE Offices in the transition. Currently, four psychologists are working in the national career counselling service.
The future of vocational guidance and career planning through the eyes of experts
Career guidance customers reflect on their future and professional identity, and their self-confidence often increases with discussions. The sense of meaningfulness is important to them. Working life is undergoing a transformation, and there have been major, sudden changes in many sectors. The requirements for competence development will increase further in the future.
“National career counselling is socially responsible and takes into account current important themes. The aim is to support smooth transitions in education and working life and consider customers’ potential. A reflective discussion on the customer's competence is at the core of counselling. Career planning skills will also be needed in the future,” says career counselling psychologist Johanna Viheräkoski.
Early support for changes in work and career development guidance for employed people are preventive work and they both help people and save society’s resources.
“Similar services will also be important in the future, as the competence of vocational guidance psychologists is needed and people need genuine encounters. Artificial intelligence cannot do everything. Career planning and guidance are also offered in schools and trade unions, and companies play an important role too. Remote services will increase, and remote counselling is already available in the regions. Speed and effortlessness have been the key assets of the national service. Hopefully, customers can also find their way to local services. At the moment, they may have slightly longer waiting times. Different employment areas have different solutions, but customers can expect vocational guidance and career planning services to be available in the future as well,” career counselling psychologist Heli Pakonen says.
Where can I get career counselling in 2025?
The national career counselling service will end at the end of 2024. The service can still be used during the autumn, and new available appointments will be added to the booking calendar at regular intervals. If you don't see any available times in the booking calendar, try again later.
The responsibility for organising public employment services will be transferred from TE Offices to municipalities and employment areas formed by municipalities on 1 January 2025. You can find the services in your region at Job Market Finland and on your employment area’s website.