FINLAND | Internship: At work | Recognition
References play an important role in Finland. They are seen as verification for the level of performance, qualifications gained and provide information about the applicant’s personality. It is therefore not common practice to name other people as referees. You should always ask for a reference after completion of your internship. This should include: 1) the time period, your name and the company 2) description of the tasks 3) assessment of the performance and the person.
In Finland the employer usually does not write a negative reference. If there is something to criticise about a person’s behaviour the employer usually writes it in a neutral way or leaves it totally out. If the employer considers to take the applicant for the job, he usually contacts the previous employers.
Due to employment laws, every reference sounds good even if it actually mirrors a poor result. This means that a special register is used in references – a code which only personnel managers understand.