Myth 1: The best option for Finnish-/Swedish-speakers is to acquire a profession in Finnish/Swedish.
Truth: Partly true. There are lots of excellent education opportunities in Finnish and Swedish. But around Finland there are also plenty of engineering degrees in English. Studying in English can give improved abilities for taking on international tasks or working in international corporations.
Myth 2: The best option for acquiring an internationally acknowledged degree is to study abroad.
Truth: Partly true. Valuable education and experience can be found in other countries, but Finland too offers more and more opportunities for preparing yourself for an international career. Many universities of applied sciences offer degree programmes in English. In them, your fellow students may be from all around the world, which adds an international flavour to the studies.
Myth 3: An engineer's job is dirty.
Truth: Engineers can take on a multitude of different tasks. The work may be clean indoor work, but there is also something for those hoping for a more hands-on approach.
Myth 4: Engineers work with machines, not people.
Truth: Engineering increasingly consists of working with people. Even if the actual job is to design machine parts, it will involve plenty of human contact. Today's labour market encompasses more and more team work, so even engineers have to have good interpersonal skills.
Myth 5: The technology sector is not for women.
Truth: The technology sector is just as much for women as for men. Today's world should have no limitations as to what jobs men and women can and should do. Even the technology sector has many fields driven mostly by women, including textiles, environmental fields and biotechnology, which could use more masculine perspectives.
Myth 6: Engineering work is formulaic and doesn't allow for self-expression.
Truth: An engineer's work can be highly creative and expressive. Engineers are known as ideators, creators and developers. Bachelors of Engineering find employment in very diverse positions. The membership of the Union of Professional Engineers in Finland comprises more than 3,000 job titles. They are bound to include something for everyone's interests.
Myth 7: Engineers make plenty of money.
Truth: Yes, engineers do all right financially. According to a survey by the Union of Professional Engineers, the average salary earned by a Bachelor of Engineering in Finland was EUR 3,717 per month in 2008. Naturally, longer work experience and more responsibility lead to a higher salary. Even students should aim for an upward career, looking for increasing responsibility in their work placements and summer jobs. That makes it easier to find a challenging position after graduation.
