Interest in internationality led to coordinator roles
Aini Laakso and Isra Mohamed Hussein work at CSC as coordinators in the Strategic European Engagement and Coordination team. Both joined CSC through summer internships and initially worried unnecessarily about whether they could succeed at CSC without a technical background.
From different backgrounds to summer trainees
Aini’s career at CSC began in summer 2024 when she joined as a trainee, but initially in a different team responsible for administrative tasks related to the LUMI supercomputer. After the internship, her CSC journey continued in her current team as a coordinator. Aini studied political science at the University of Turku, focusing on international relations. Before CSC, she gained experience as a trainee in various ministries, working on international assignments.
Isra started at CSC in summer 2025 as a coordinator trainee. Her educational background is in business studies at Aalto University, where her studies also emphasized internationality. Exchange periods abroad during her studies further strengthened her feeling that an international career was the right path for her. Before CSC, Isra worked in various fields, but after getting to know the startup world, she became interested in the technology sector.
I remember well how new CSC felt when I started. It’s been nice to share the tips I received at the beginning of my own internship.
Aini Laakso, CSC
Both Aini and Isra participated in CSC’s Summer Xperience trainee program during their respective summers. The program aims to support networking among trainees, build professional connections, and enrich the summer trainee experience. Isra found the program a great addition:
“I got to meet other CSC trainees through different shared activities and at the same time learned more about the tasks and operations of different units.”
Starting as trainees just a year apart has proven to be a strength when working in the same team, according to Aini:
“I remember well how new CSC felt when I started. It’s been nice to share with Isra the tips I received at the beginning of my own internship.”
Technology sector offered new opportunities
In addition to internationality, both Aini and Isra were drawn to the technology sector because of its future potential and societal impact. Responsibility was one of the reasons Isra decided to apply to CSC:
“Technology and sustainable development can go hand in hand, and combining them also has a positive impact on society.”
At the start of their internships, both wondered how they would manage in the IT field without technical training. They quickly realized that you don’t need to know everything and that new things are learned fast.
“When you work with technical topics, your understanding grows all the time,” Isra summarizes.
“And as a coordinator, your contribution is in making collaboration smooth, not in technical expertise”, Aini adds.
Working at CSC is versatile and flexible
The variety of coordinator tasks makes every workweek different. For Isra, it has been rewarding to get involved in different projects right from the start.
“Projects bring variety because you get to do different tasks and learn, for example, to use new systems. That way, you don’t get bored with the work.”
Although the weeks can differ, Aini and Isra feel the work is still flexible. At the office, you see colleagues, but you can also work remotely even from a cottage. According to Aini, it’s easy to organize work in a way that suits you best:
“Here you have good opportunities to arrange work so that there’s time for yourself too. You need downtime, even if the work is fun.”
Aini and Isra recommend CSC as a workplace for anyone who wants to learn and grow.
“You don’t need to know everything. What matters most is curiosity for new things.”
Photo: Mikael Kanerva
Aini and Isra’s tips for new CSC employees
- Don’t worry if the job isn’t exactly what you studied or did before. CSC is a unique organization where you get to do things you won’t find anywhere else.
- Be curious and open-minded and get to know other CSC employees. You can learn a lot.
- Don’t hesitate to ask for help. Everyone was new once, and at CSC new things come up all the time.
