Last autumn Veikkaus entered a new era, when the Finnish government decided to open the gambling market with a licensing system. Given this new situation, Veikkaus decided to reassess its organisation and ensure that the entire company's activities are sustainable and, above all, profitable. Veikkaus had to make some difficult decisions, which brought significant changes to the company's operations.
The importance of career coaching during times of change
Legislation on transition security stipulates that companies making collective redundancies must offer support, guaranteeing those with at least five years of employment the right to receive employment-promoting training or coaching funded by the company. Through career coaching, individuals can develop their professional self-awareness, work-life and job-seeking skills, as well as find a new meaningful professional solution.
However, Veikkaus did not limit support measures only to those legally entitled to change security but extended it to all laid-off employees. The support offered was also broader than the statutory change security and included, among other things, support for studying and entrepreneurship.
A supervisor's quick return to employment
We sat down with two individuals who had been made redundant to discuss their career coaching experiences. The first one, Nina Talikka, worked for Veikkaus for nearly two decades before being laid off. Faced with the daunting task of job hunting after such a lengthy employment, Nina opted for career coaching to navigate the unfamiliar waters of the job application process. “It's common knowledge that you need to write an application and a CV, but I wanted to understand what the application should be like right now and how best to highlight my strengths and skills,” Nina explains.
Nina's coaching experience was encouraging, and she feels that she received help from her coach in identifying her skills and strengths, as well as understanding and clarifying her professional identity. “The coaching focused on what I'm good at, and it gave me the courage to believe that I can handle anything,” Nina states. She continues, “My coach encouraged me to craft a unique application that truly reflects who I am, something I can take pride in. It's tailored to my style, and together we achieved that.”
The coaching focused on what I'm good at, and it gave me the courage to believe that I can handle anything.
The relationship between the coach and the coachee is crucial, as coaching sessions often delve into personal issues and fears. “The cycle of unsuccessful job applications led me to question my own worth and employability,” Nina reflects. Nevertheless, she believes that her coach played a pivotal role in empowering her to pursue new opportunities and to confront her fears and uncertainties. “We focused on finding the courage to believe that I can handle anything,” she says.
The collaboration with the coach was smooth from the beginning. Nina valued that the coach didn't provide ready-made answers but encouraged her own reflection and development. “I believe that if this were easy, I would already have the answers, but to grow, I need to challenge myself. If everything is laid out for me, I don't evolve,” Nina asserts.
Nina's story has the wished outcome, as career coaching helped her find a new job. At Veikkaus, she worked in a supervisory role, and she was determined to seek a new supervisory position. Nina found a new role relatively quickly, within just two months of starting the career coaching programme. The average time to find employment after coaching is 3–4 months, so Nina secured employment faster than average. She wants to encourage others in the same situation: “Life goes on. Accept the help that is offered.”
Turning passion into a new profession
The other individual we spoke with, Niina Koljonen, decided to take a new direction in her life after being made redundant and become an entrepreneur. Massaging horses has always been her passion, and previously she did it as a hobby alongside her day-to-day job. After being laid off, she decided to turn her hobby into her main occupation. Niina shares that the transition process was not easy, and she is still searching for the right way to define herself as an entrepreneur: “The change didn't happen at the push of a button,” she states, continuing, “I'm still coming to terms with the label 'entrepreneur'.”
As an entrepreneur, Niina sets her own work boundaries, which brings freedom and allows her to fully concentrate on what she loves to do. "Previously, there were frameworks within which I worked, but now in my own business, I set those frameworks myself," she reflects, and continues, "I now have all doors open!" With the help of her coach, she has learned to balance work and personal life so that passion does not turn into exhaustion. "This work that I now do is what I have always dreamed of," she shares. "As an employee, tasks were predetermined, but as an entrepreneur, I get to plan and decide what I do and when."
As an employee, tasks were predetermined, but as an entrepreneur, I get to plan and decide what I do and when.
Niina feels that the collaboration with her coach was successful. She has gained new ways of thinking that have helped her see opportunities differently and encouraged her to develop her business in her own way. “The coach gave me new ideas on how to develop my own business,” Niina says. Niina received help from her coach, for example, in promoting her business. Together, they created a plan that utilizes different marketing channels, such as websites, Facebook, and Instagram.
The coach has been an invaluable support for Niina, aiding her in self-reflection and challenging her beliefs, enabling her to see her own opportunities in a new light. The trust in the coach deepened, and Niina was able to share her feelings and uncertainties openly: “I showed her my feelings very honestly, the uncertainty, that this is not easy for me,” she shares.
Niina's story is an inspiring example of how one can face obstacles and turn them into new opportunities. She has taken control of her destiny and carved out a new path for herself, one that is brimming with possibilities and learning. She encourages others in similar situations not to worry too much in advance and to remember that help is available: “Boldly seek support from those close to you!”
Finding new beginnings through career coaching
Nina's and Niina's experiences show that career coaching can help find new paths and beginnings, even during tough times. Being made redundant is hard, but the right help can give you hope and confidence for the future. Veikkaus' wide-ranging support has helped many laid-off workers turn over a new leaf in their lives. Whether it's getting a job quickly or chasing a dream of starting a business, career coaching can be the key to a new start.
Read more about career coaching