Miikka Kaihovaara kickstarted his career at the OP Financial Group through the Kiitorata trainee programme. We had the chance to hear about a former Credit Risk Analyst trainee´s experiences. 

Hello, Miikka! Please tell us about your educational background and what you expected from the Kiitorata programme. 

I'm about to finish my Master's in Business Administration from LUT University, focusing on Strategic Finance and Analytics. While I was already familiar with risk management, working in credit risk management was a bit intimidating at first because I had no prior experience in it. However, I was highly interested in the subject, so I believed I could learn quickly. 

What was your Kiitorata experience like? 

Kiitorata was a great experience. In the beginning, there were a lot of new concepts and terms to learn, but luckily, I had helpful colleagues to guide me. My team welcomed me warmly, and I felt like an equal team member right from the start. I also gained confidence after a few weeks as the tasks became more familiar. At the end of the trainee period, I was pleased to be asked to stay on the team in the same role. 

What lessons did you take away from Kiitorata? 

I gained a comprehensive understanding of credit risk management in the bank, as I was responsible for a wide range of tasks. I worked independently and collaborated with others. I learned a lot from more experienced colleagues, but I was also encouraged to question and express my viewpoints without hesitation. I conducted analyses on various topics, searched for necessary data in databases, wrote code, visualized results, and presented them to others. My technical skills also improved significantly. These lessons would have been valuable even if I hadn't continued in the same role. 

Besides you, many other Kiitorata trainees began their journeys at OP Group in various roles. How did this impact your experience? 

I appreciate the fact that many Kiitorata trainees start at the same time. Especially in the early days of the trainee programme, some group activities made it easier to get to know other trainees. We even set up a Telegram group for trainees who were into bouldering within the first few days. The group is still active, and more people have joined it. Thanks to Kiitorata, I now have acquaintances from all over the company, which is fun and potentially beneficial. 

What advice would you give to someone considering applying for Kiitorata? 

I encourage you to apply for positions that interest you without hesitation. Don't stress too much about Kiitorata because you'll learn as you go. There's a lot of information to absorb, and you won't know everything in the first few weeks. However, you'll become more familiar with everything over the six-month programme. I recommend Kiitorata to any recent or soon-to-be graduate with a relevant education. The most important thing is to have a curiosity to learn something new! 

Thank you, Miikka, for the interview! We wish you good luck in your career.