4 Professional Competence and competence development

In this module, you will get information about professional competence and their development

Employees in Finland highly appreciate professional competence. You will gain competence by education and learning (knowledge) as well as by work experience (skills). In addition to this, all everyday life (e.g. hobbies, participation in different associations) will give us potential to manage in work life.

The following principals are important and good to know if you are planning to work in Finland:

• In all professions competence is needed in order to work successfully

• Competence are comprehensive including different issues

• Developing competence are based on learning

• We usually develop our competence during the whole work and life time

Having competence means that the person has knowledge about the work as well as skills to manage the work.

Having a certain type of skills means that you are able to apply the knowledge to the certain work situation.

Competence includes attitudes too. It means how you relate yourself to your work as well as to the co-workers.

• Competence is based on learning. You will learn constantly from other people, different groups and being part of the society.

• Connecting with other people informs that you are capable to co-work and able to be co-operative.

Having competence is based on

• what kind of person you are,

• how you think and act,

• how you resolve problems,

• what you value,

• what are your aims.