A trainee period can be so much more than an internship for a recent graduate. At its best, it’s a time of growth that equips you with valuable tools for the future. Laura’s experience at Mylab has been just that. In this blog post, she shares her key takeaways from the past spring and summer!
Laura Pihlajasaari, HR Trainee, Mylab
“I’ve had such a good feeling throughout – this was exactly the right place for me at this moment!”
When Laura started as an HR Trainee in April, five months felt like a long time. Now, in August, as the trainee period comes to an end, it’s hard to believe how quickly the time has passed. The weeks have been filled with a wide variety of tasks, projects, learning – and above all, an experience that turned out to be much more than “just an internship.”
“I’ve been deeply involved in the work. I haven’t been seen as just a trainee, but as a full member of the team.”
Responsibility, trust, and the chance to make an impact
From the very beginning, Laura felt that she was given real responsibility and the opportunity to work independently.
“I wasn’t assigned only supporting tasks – I was empowered to think, suggest, and implement. I could genuinely feel that I was trusted. That kind of appreciation is powerful, and it really helped me grow.”
Her work focused on a combination of day-to-day HR operations and development initiatives within the People & Culture team. Alongside daily HR tasks, Laura participated in several projects – and even led some of them – such as the renewal of the company’s internal intranet and the analysis of employee surveys.
While her university studies had provided a theoretical understanding of HR through legal, financial, and administrative perspectives, her time at Mylab has brought this knowledge to life. Wellbeing at work is no longer an abstract concept – it has become visible through daily actions that shape people’s experiences at work.
A learning journey – into HR and herself
Laura’s time at Mylab strengthened her sense of the kind of work she enjoys and what she wants to pursue in the future. A development-oriented mindset and strategic thinking emerged as her strengths, especially in projects that required a broader perspective.
“I realized that I do my best thinking when I get to explore bigger concepts. I’m not at my strongest when focusing purely on tiny details. This trainee period has really clarified where my potential lies.”
Being a trainee also offered insight into the everyday realities of working life: how to manage time, organize your workdays and weeks, and how to collaborate effectively in a hybrid team. These are things you don’t necessarily learn in lectures – you learn them by doing.
“I’ve learned to accept imperfection and unfinished work. In school, there’s often a habit of doing everything quickly and perfectly – but in working life, you need to be able to move forward step by step and direct your energy.”
Contributing to development and leaving a personal mark
Two projects stand out in Laura’s trainee period: developing the company intranet and analyzing the results of the spring employee survey. In both, she was able to influence the content, make concrete suggestions, and see the work through to completion.
“The intranet was a large project where I have been able to use my visual skills and think about user experience. It was great to have it go live before my trainee period ended.”
The analysis of the employee survey also gave Laura the chance to work independently and showed how data can support HR development in practice.
“I got to manage the process from start to finish and even received compliments on how clear and usable my analysis was. It felt like I really contributed something valuable.”
Opening the door to the HR world – at just the right time
During the summer, Laura also completed her Master of Arts degree in lifelong learning and education. Her trainee period at Mylab came at the perfect time – and aligned beautifully with her hopes for entering working life.
“This has been an excellent place to discover what HR work is really about. I’ve gained a broad perspective – not just a narrow view of one area. Most importantly, I will continue my journey with valuable tools I’ll carry with me into the future.”
When asked what made Mylab a great place to do an HR trainee period, Laura answers without hesitation:
“Everything. This has been the right environment for this stage in my life – for learning, growing, and finding my own direction.”
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