Hanne-Mari Seppänen, who is studying for a Bachelor’s degree in Business Information Technology, is Fluent’s newest software development intern. For her, it’s important that work feels meaningful and that she can see the tangible results of her efforts — and that’s exactly what she’s found at Fluent.
Hanne-Mari Seppänen started her internship in software development at Fluent in August. She’s currently in her final year at Karelia University of Applied Sciences. Her thesis is already complete, and her diploma as an IT business professional is just around the corner.
She recalls first encountering Fluent at an event hosted by Karelia, where the company was presenting its work.
“My thesis was about REST APIs, and my thesis advisor suggested that I might be a good fit for Fluent. I got a good and relaxed impression of the company, so I decided to apply”, Seppänen says.
Seppänen originally trained as a hairdresser, but she only worked in the field for one summer.
“Even back when I was doing my dual qualification, I already knew that hairdressing wouldn’t be my final career.”
Drawn to problem-solving in IT
When Seppänen became pregnant with her first child, she left the hairdressing profession behind. Eventually, she stayed at home with her children for six years and now also serves as a caregiver for her son.
“I’ve always enjoyed studying, so I knew I wanted to go back to school at some point. One of my key criteria was flexibility — I didn’t want to fall behind in my studies just because I had to be home every now and then”, she explains.
One of my key criteria was flexibility — I didn’t want to fall behind in my studies just because I had to be home every now and then.
She discovered that Karelia’s IT program offered a fully remote study option. In addition, she was drawn to the field because of its focus on problem-solving and its wide range of career paths.
“At first, I also considered becoming a speech therapist, because I wanted a job where I could help people. But caregiving already involves a lot of care work, so I felt a different kind of job might actually be good for me,” Seppänen reflects.
Team programming makes a difference
Seppänen says she was able to jump straight into practical tasks at Fluent, something she greatly appreciates. The team-based approach to programming at Fluent has felt like a great fit.
“Especially as an intern, it’s a great setup. I can immediately ask questions if something is unclear, and people explain things as they work.”
Infrastructure maintenance and the sports and outdoor recreation sectors are new areas for her.
“It’s been interesting to explore the maintenance industry from the perspective of IT. After all, software is always built for people, so it’s been nice to see the real-world impact of my work.”
After all, software is always built for people, so it’s been nice to see the real-world impact of my work.
So far, balancing work and family life has gone well, according to Seppänen.
“One of my internship criteria was that I wanted to work on-site and actually meet people in person. That was a big change after studying remotely, but I’ve adjusted well.”
In her free time, Seppänen enjoys reading, hiking with her family, and spending time in nature. She’s also into creative hobbies like knitting and crocheting.
“Most recently, I started playing piano a year ago. I like working with my hands — it’s a way to relieve stress and express creativity”, she sums up.
