Taite coaching (JOBS©) is a peer group method aimed at jobseekers who are looking to enter the labour market. It strengthens job search skills, supports mental well-being and improves opportunities for employment.
Over the past two years, Taite instructors Petra Komulainen and Tiina Harjupatana have led a total of 15 Taite coaching groups with the employment services of the City of Kokkola.
The coaching is in high demand and welcomes jobseekers of all ages, mainly those who have been unemployed for a longer time, but also recent graduates. During the coaching week, the team spirit develops quickly and naturally.
"The best part is seeing the participants’ confidence and enthusiasm grow. For some participants, it's the first time they have received positive feedback in their lives. The method does not provide ready-made answers but helps people find the answers themselves. That’s the strength of this coaching," say Komulainen and Harjupatana.
The results speak for themselves
Incorporating the new coaching into the operations of the employment services has required the support of the management of employment services as well as colleagues who promote the coaching to their clients. Support has been found because the results have been convincing.
“We have succeeded in our most important task, which is helping our clients find employment or access to education or training, work trials or other services promoting employment,” say Komulainen and Harjupatana.
At the end of the intensive coaching weeks, the instructors find joy in the feedback received from the clients. For some, the coaching gave them confidence to apply for the job they wanted, which led to employment. Some people gained a much-needed refresh of their skills or new ideas, while others found peer support through conversations with others encouraging and comforting.
Aiming for sustainable service
In addition to the employment services, the Finnish Red Cross has organised Taite coaching in Kokkola. The coaching is also expanding to other municipalities in Central Ostrobothnia as part of the Taite+ project. The project, launched in early 2026, will further develop the coaching method to better meet the needs of those in the most difficult labour market positions.
"Taite coaching has been shown to be an effective method. In the project that has now begun, we can support new parties and organizations promoting employment in the implementation of Taite coaching," says Researcher Miia Wikström from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.
The Taite coaching activities were launched in Kokkola as part of the Synclusive project in 2024.
"One of the key ideas behind the project was to accelerate regional collaboration in promoting employment across organizational boundaries. It is great to see that this has come to fruition in Kokkola and that the Taite coaching has become an established part of the services," says Senior Specialist Mervi Ruokolainen from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.
Learn more about Taite coaching
- The Taite+ project’s website: more information on coaching and the new instructor training
- The Taite+ project is co-funded by the European Union.
See also
- The SYNCLUSIVE project site
- The Synclusive project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme (grant agreement number: 101094526).
Further information
- Taite coaching: Researcher Miia Wikström, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, +358 30 474 2164, Miia.Wikstrom [at] ttl.fi
- Synclusive project: Senior Specialist Mervi Ruokolainen, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, +358 30 474 2106, Mervi.Ruokolainen [at] ttl.fi
