What is TET? – Everything you need to know

TET stands for työelämään tutustuminen – work experience (TET). It refers to a period during which a pupil gets to become familiar with a real workplace and see what working life actually looks like. A TET period usually lasts 1–2 weeks and is most often arranged for pupils in years 7–9. It’s not pretend work – during your TET period you’re a genuine part of the workplace’s daily life: you learn new things, do real tasks and see what professionals do every day. For many pupils, TET is the best time of the school year, because you get away from your desk and into the thick of things.

Why does TET exist?

The TET period exists for three important reasons.

First, it helps you see different occupations and sectors up close. Many young people have only a vague idea of what different jobs actually look like. The media and preconceptions only tell a small part of the truth. The TET period gives you the chance to see and experience for yourself what a job is like in practice.

Second, TET helps you make better choices about your future. Once you’ve spent a day riding along with a tanker driver, say, or getting to know how a logistics centre works, you have first-hand knowledge. Your career choice is then based not just on assumptions but on your own experience.

Third, TET teaches you the rules of working life. Getting up early, keeping to a schedule, following instructions and knowing how to behave at a workplace. These skills are valuable no matter which occupation you eventually choose.

How does the TET period work in practice?

The school, the company and the pupil are all involved in arranging the TET period. In practice, it works like this:

The school organises it. Teachers and guidance counsellors coordinate the TET period. They keep in touch with local companies and find out which workplaces take on TET pupils. Many municipalities have long traditions of cooperation with companies.

Pupils often look for their own TET placement. Typically, it’s the pupil who contacts companies and arranges the TET period themselves. This is part of the learning: you learn to take responsibility and show initiative. The school and your guidance counsellor will of course help, but your own activity is key. For example, on the Hyppää kyytiin (Hop on board) website you’ll find TET placements directly from transport and logistics companies.

During the TET period you’re part of everyday working life. You have agreed days and working hours. You go to the workplace like someone in employment, but you’re guided and supported throughout the period.

After the period you go back to school. The TET period often includes a final evaluation or feedback discussion, where you reflect on what you learned and how the experience felt.

The TET period in the transport and logistics sector: what can you experience?

The transport and logistics sector keeps Finland’s wheels turning. Without drivers, shop shelves would empty, medicines wouldn’t get where they’re needed and the post wouldn’t move. The sector also needs new people, and TET is an excellent way to get to know it.

TET placements are available, for example:

• At transport companies, where you see what a day is like for bus drivers, tanker drivers and articulated lorry drivers
• At logistics centres, where you get to know warehousing, sorting and the supply chain
• At distribution companies, where you see how goods and parcels reach customers
• At freight-forwarding companies, where you learn about arranging international transport and documentation

The experience varies depending on the placement. In some places you get to sit next to the driver and follow the working day up close. In others you get to know the behind-the-scenes logistics that keep everything running. What all placements have in common is that you see the sector with your own eyes, not just read about it.

Want to hear what professionals in the sector say about their work themselves? Watch the videos, where young drivers share their experiences.

Tips for a successful TET period

The better you prepare, the more you’ll get out of your TET period. Here are a few tips:

Prepare questions in advance. Write down 5–10 questions you’d like to ask: “What does a typical working day look like?” “How do people end up in this sector?” “What skills does the job require?” Questions show interest and help you learn more.

Arrive on time and ready. The first day might feel nerve-wracking, but that’s normal. Turn up at the agreed time, take the safety instructions seriously and follow the guidance. Your attitude will be noticed and appreciated at the workplace.

Be open to new things. You might not know in advance what will interest you most. Maybe you wanted to see lorries, but discover that logistics planning turns out to be more fascinating. Allow yourself to be surprised.

Keep notes. Write down briefly each day what you saw and what thoughts came to mind. Your notes will be worth their weight in gold later, when you’re thinking about career choices or writing your TET report.

Frequently asked questions

Do you get paid for the TET period?

Not usually. TET is an arrangement between the school and the company in which the pupil becomes familiar with working life. The reward is experience and learning. In some rare cases a company might offer a small payment, but that’s not the norm.

How long does a TET period last?

Usually 1–2 weeks. In some schools the period can be shorter, for example 3–5 days. The length depends on the school and the year group.

Can a TET period lead to a summer job or a permanent position?

Yes, it can. Many employers value young people who make a good impression during their TET period. A good TET experience can open the door to summer work or, later, to a permanent job.

What if the TET placement doesn’t feel like the right fit?

Tell your teacher or guidance counsellor about it. The TET period is for learning, and it’s not meant to be an unpleasant experience. Often the first day feels the strangest, and the following days tend to go more smoothly.

Does the TET placement have to be close to home?

Not necessarily, but in practice most TET placements are within a reasonable distance. The school helps you find a suitable placement. In the transport and logistics sector, TET placements can be found all around Finland.

Find your own route

The TET period is a bridge between school and working life. It’s a chance to see occupations up close, gather experience and make more informed choices about your own future.

The transport and logistics sector needs new people – people with curiosity and a willingness to learn. If the sector interests you, find a TET placement through Hyppää kyytiin and see for yourself what the work is like.

Hyppää kyytiin is a project run by the Finnish Transport and Logistics association SKAL, bringing together young people and companies in the transport and logistics sector. Find your own route into the sector. Start with a TET period.