Meet Johanna and Oskari Trainees at Airbus in Finland
The fear of fitting in as a trainee at Airbus Finland quickly vanished for Johanna and Oskari
Do you remember the time you were taking your first steps in working life? Or maybe you’re taking them right now?
The nerves, the excitement, and sometimes the creeping doubts: “Do I fit in?”
The rollercoaster of emotions is real.
Just over six months ago our Test Automation Trainee Johanna Virkkunen and our Research Trainee Oskari Mattila were in that exact situation.
“I thought everyone here was superhuman”, Oskari says jokingly.
For Johanna, Airbus marked her first experience in the field of Public Safety & Security. She admits that nerves kicked in for her too.
But very quickly after starting, they realized it was all in their heads.
Yes, the people around them are incredibly talented – but they are also approachable, supportive, and eager to help them both grow.
“I still remember my first day and my team’s joy about me joining. It instantly felt like I was part of the team, not just a small addition to it,” Johanna shares.
“I remember our CEO, Juha Laakso, giving me a thumbs up in the office corridor — that small act has stayed with me ever since,” Oskari smiles.
Diving in at your own pace
Naturally, the start of their trainee journey came with an overwhelming flow of information. Johanna and Oskari first had to grasp the bigger picture of the Airbus Public Safety and Security business before diving into their own roles.
Fast forward to today, Johanna focuses on enhancing and fine-tuning test automation, analyzing potential errors, and improving the system. She admits that the volume of tasks felt overwhelming at first, but breaking them down into manageable pieces helped her to gradually take on more.
She emphasizes how supportive her colleagues have been: “Asking for guidance has never felt like a burden.”
Oskari’s role, on the other hand, revolves around joint projects that involve external partners such as other companies and research institutions. His team’s function is to filter what would be strategically ideal projects for Airbus Finland – projects where the company would benefit in 10-15 years’ time.
Oskari points out that he was positively surprised by the time he was given to introduce and learn new things at his own pace. Starting as a part-time trainee along with his studies, that was especially valuable.
"Even though our team is partially split between France and Finland, I’ve received tremendous support, especially from my Finnish colleague Markus Säynevirta," Oskari shares.
Next-level trust from day one
As skills and competencies have been acquired Oskari’s colleague Markus has gently pushed him to take ownership projects that also involve senior management. As someone who enjoys a challenge, Oskari has embraced the opportunity.
"Markus has encouraged me to take the lead — even trusted me to attend client meetings on my own," Oskari says.
Johanna nods in agreement and points out the amount of responsibility she has been given.
"Once I got into the flow of things, I was given the chance to work independently," she says.
"I’ve had a lot of freedom in the technical implementation and been trusted to find the best solutions in my own way", Johanna adds.
+20 other trainees around helped calm the nerves
Together with Johanna and Oskari, 23 new trainees started at Airbus Finland this year across the Helsinki and Jyväskylä offices.
In times when there has been a lot to learn and confusion almost kicks in, Johanna and Oskari both say they were able to lean on their fellow trainees for support.
“My colleague Sofia Sievinen — who started as a trainee at the same time as me — has been a huge support to me”, Johanna says.
Facing limitless possibilities to grow
Johanna says there have been a few moments when tasks felt challenging at first, and she even questioned her skills — or thought she might want to do something “easier.” But she chose to face the challenge anyway.
“At some point, I realized that I had done it successfully. It feels good to see what I’m capable of,” Johanna shares.
"It’s been an amazing feeling to realize that there are no real limits to how much I can grow here. I’m given the freedom to go, do, and learn. I can largely decide how much I take on my plate and explore new things," Oskari adds.
Meeting with Head of Defense and Cyber proved Oskari something valuable
A few months back, Harald Mannheim, Head of Defence Digital and Cyber from Germany, visited Airbus Finland’s Jyväskylä office for an all-hands meeting.
Oskari, together with his colleague Markus, traveled from Helsinki to meet him in person. He describes the experience as one of the highlights of his trainee journey so far.
“Harald was the nicest guy!”, Oskari says.
Beyond the personal impression, the meeting also highlighted something important about Airbus’ leadership and the overall culture.
“The flat hierarchy here makes me feel at ease as a trainee. I feel just as important, no matter the title,” he adds.
What’s been the biggest learnings so far?
Both trainees emphasize how much they’ve learned beyond technical skills.
“At school, I’ve worked on smaller, focused projects,” says Johanna. “Here, I’ve learned to see the bigger picture — how different tools and teams fit together, and how large-scale problem-solving works in a real organization.”
Oskari says that through innovation and development projects, he has learned about many fascinating technologies and their applications – such as satellite communication and the integration of radar technology into mobile network cells.
Trainee programme has given clarity and confidence
Both Johanna and Oskari agree that their initial fear of fitting in has been replaced by a growing sense of confidence.
“In a technical field, it’s easy to compare yourself to others, but I’ve gradually started trusting my own abilities. I’ve been allowed to test out things and when I’ve succeeded, I’ve felt that I’m capable – I can do this” Johanna says.
“Also, before starting as a trainee I was interested in many things, but I’ve really liked test automation and feel like I’ve found my ‘thing’,” she adds.
Having an academic background – and still finishing his studies – Oskari has gained a fresh perspective and new business insight.
“Also, it’s always possible to bring an academic mindset to my job, which is great to know I can have both here,” Oskari says.
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The Airbus Finland Trainee Programme isn’t just about learning the ropes – it’s about discovering what you’re capable of, finding your passion, and building confidence to take on real challenges.
Are you ready to skyrocket your career? Application period for the Trainee Programme 2026 opens in January – maybe this is the start of your own story at Airbus Finland!