One conversation with Business Specialist can change a business

The city’s services go beyond simply matching unemployed job seekers with businesses; they provide support for every stage of a business’s life cycle, including financing, operational development, and growth.

Many businesses may not be aware of the full range of services the city offers. These services are strongly geared toward supporting businesses in their day-to-day operations and enabling their growth.

"Entrepreneurs were surprised when I told them that as many as 30% of job seekers are currently employed people looking for new, interesting opportunities," says Tarja Hyvönen, a familiar face to many entrepreneurs in Jyväskylä.

With a long career in employer and business services, Tarja is known for her relaxed and approachable manner when interacting with people. Her decades-long passion for Finnish baseball and her team spirit shine through when asked about her experiences as a business consultant:

“I always strived to present myself not as a bureaucrat but as a human being in my work,” she summarizes her approach.

Save time and find the right experts with the help of Business Services

The City of Jyväskylä’s Employment and Business Services offer local companies free and confidential support for a wide range of situations. Companies often seek support for financing and recruitment, but common topics of discussion also include skills development and strategic planning.

Business experts help finding suitable employees, identifying training solutions, and understanding various grants and financing options, for example. According to Tarja, companies are interested in the ease of use and fact that the services are free of charge.

“Take recruitment, for example: small businesses don’t always have the time or resources to handle large volumes of applications. A business consultant can handle most of the recruitment-related aspects on the company’s behalf.”

Listening helps identify what companies need

The purpose of company visits is to assess the situation of businesses and identify ways in which business services could support their growth and success. Often, an entrepreneur’s needs only come to light as the conversation progresses.

In Tarja’s view, the most important things are listening and building trust. When talking with entrepreneurs, she has genuinely wanted to hear how they are doing, rather than simply listing services for them.

Trust is the foundation for successful collaboration and achieving results. Tarja’s greatest experiences of success have come from receiving positive feedback from clients.

“The best moments have been when I’ve been able to help an entrepreneur believe that ‘yes, this will work.’”

The first step is to contact the Business and Employer Services

Entrepreneurs benefit from reaching out even when things are still going well. A proactive conversation can help steer operations before challenges escalate. Tarja emphasizes that there doesn’t need to be a specific problem or a precise question to reach out.

"Often, it’s only during the conversation that we discover where we can truly help.”

Tarja encourages people to call and discuss their situation: calling the helpline doesn’t commit you to anything, but it can save you significant time, money, and worry:

“Rarely does anyone regret calling too early, but many wish afterward that they had called sooner.”

Business and Employer Services can be reached on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at +358 14 569 1332