Beyond Skills: The Positive Psychology Approach to Enhance Your Career in Finland
Imagine a job search where every challenge becomes an opportunity to grow—this is the power of Positive Psychology!
The Strength of Being an Immigrant
Immigrant Identity as Strength
Being an immigrant may be just one word, but it holds a world of meaning. It’s a testament to courage, resilience, and adaptability—you bring countless qualities to both your career journey and life journey.
Reframing Challenges as Strengths
Warrior: Courage to settle and adapt in a new culture.
Lifelong Learner: Constantly evolving and open to new skills and perspectives.
Wide Perspective: Embracing diverse beliefs, meeting people from varied backgrounds, and integrating new ideas.
Jan Koum: From immigrant struggles to tech giant story: Jan Koum, co-founder of WhatsApp, immigrated to the United States from Ukraine at the age of 16. Coming from a low- income family, he struggled financially and often faced language and cultural barriers. Initially working as a janitor, he taught himself programming and worked his way up. Koum faced multiple rejections and struggled to find a stable job in tech. Eventually, he was hired by Yahoo!, where he worked for nine years before creating WhatsApp, later acquired by Facebook for $19 billion.
Takeaway: Koum’s journey highlights the resilience needed to overcome financial and cultural barriers. His success came from perseverance, skill-building, and believing in his vision. He saw opportunities where others saw challenges, which made all the difference.
Embracing Self-Worth
Are you already aware of your qualities and skills? How are you presenting them? Here is where the magic of self-confidence and self-compassion comes into life.
Recognizing Your Value
Before applying for any job, remember that you bring value. Beyond your qualifications, you embody resilience, adaptability, and courage. Seek workplaces that recognize and respect these qualities.
Building Supportive Surroundings
Surround yourself with people who value your skills. Don’t settle for environments that undervalue your contributions based on language or nationality.
“Stand tall, trust your vision, and let your confidence inspire others to believe in you too!” — Angela Boyajian Adjounian
Embracing Self-Confidence and Self-Compassion
Are you aware of the unique qualities you bring?
Projecting Your Qualities Confidently
Your self-confidence and self-compassion shape how you present these strengths, setting the tone for how others perceive you.
Aligning with the Right Roles
Avoid roles that drain your well-being, even if they offer financial stability. Remember, you are valuable. Apply this energy in every interaction to get respect.
Sergey Brin: From Refugee to Google Co-Founder Story: Sergey Brin’s family emigrated from the Soviet Union to escape anti-Semitic persecution. Facing the challenges of adjusting to a new culture and language, Brin focused on his education and excelled in mathematics and computer science. Later, alongside Larry Page, he co-founded Google, transforming the internet and becoming one of the most influential entrepreneurs in tech.
Takeaway: Brin’s journey from refugee to tech pioneer shows how embracing one’s background and focusing on education can lead to transformative success. His story inspires others to usetheir experiences as fuel for innovation and growth.
Crafting a Career Vision with Ikigai
Reflecting on Values and Strengths
Before sending job applications, take time to align your goals, values, and strengths with potential roles. Ikigai, the Japanese concept of purpose, can guide you to pursue a career that fulfills you on a deeper level.
Viewing Rejections as Growth Opportunities
If you receive a job rejection, don’t let it define your worth. Instead, view it as an opportunity for alignment—perhaps the role wasn’t the best fit for your values and strengths.
Before feeling disappointed, giving up, or feeling tired, remember these feelings are universal— you are not the only one facing rejection in job applications. I've gathered inspiring stories that helped me during my own struggles, and I hope they will encourage you, too.
Mindy Kaling: Breaking into Hollywood as a Woman of Color Story: Born to immigrant parents from India, Mindy Kaling faced an uphill battle in the entertainment industry, where there were few opportunities for women of color. She struggled for years to find meaningful work, experiencing rejection and even being told that her background would limit her success. Instead of giving up, she created her own path, writing her breakout play “Matt & Ben” and later becoming a writer, producer, and actor on The Office. Today, she’s a celebrated creator known for her unique perspective and humor.
Takeaway: Kaling’s story demonstrates the power of persistence and self-belief. She didn’t wait for opportunities but created her own, using her distinct identity as a strength rather than a limitation.
What Does Success Mean to You?
True success isn’t solely about achieving a result; it’s about finding fulfillment in the journey. Celebrate each small win—every new skill learned, each interview attended—because these moments shape your growth. Celebrate your progress, big or small. Each step forward is a victory. By focusing on the process, you acknowledge the true essence of success: resilience, growth, and self-belief. Don’t forget, YOU ARE VALUABLE!
Practices
Visualization for Confidence Building
Practice: Before an interview or networking event, take a few minutes to visualize yourself feeling confident, calm, and succeeding in the situation. Imagine how it will feel to walk in, speak clearly, and make a good impression. Application: This practice can be done before any important career-related event to set a positive mental tone. Purpose: Visualization increases self-confidence by priming the mind for success, making you more likely to perform well.
Self-Compassion Check-In
Application: If a job application doesn’t go as planned, practice self-kindness instead of self-criticism. Remind yourself that setbacks are part of the journey. Purpose: Self-compassion improves resilience and reduces the tendency toward self-doubt, helping readers stay motivated.
Ikigai Reflection: Aligning Values and Career Goals
Practice: Draw the four circles of Ikigai: What you love, What you’re good at, What the world needs, and What you can be paid for. Reflect on where these overlap for you, writing down roles or tasks that resonate with these elements.
Application: Use this exercise to evaluate potential jobs, choosing those that align most closely with your values and strengths. Purpose: Clarifies a sense of purpose and direction, helping readers target career paths that are personally fulfilling and sustainable.
Affirmation Practice for Self-Value
Practice: Choose or create an affirmation that resonates with you, such as “I am valuable and bring unique strengths to any role I pursue.” Repeat it daily, ideally in front of a mirror.
Application: Affirmations can reinforce self-worth and positivity, particularly before job interviews or networking events. Purpose: Boosts self-esteem and confidence, helping readers approach their career journey with a stronger sense of self-worth.
Your journey as an immigrant brings unique strengths to Finland’s job market. Embrace them. With Positive Psychology, each step becomes a pathway to growth, resilience, and a career that aligns with who you truly are.
“Your vision is the bridge between where you've been and the incredible places you're meant to go. Trust your vision.” Angela Boyajian Adjounian
