Melania Donzellini’s story: from international jobseeker to HR Consultant 

A front-row seat in recruiting international talent 

Melania Donzellini refers to herself as Italian Finnish. She was born, raised, and studied at university in Italy. Her mother is originally from Finland. Previously, Finland was merely a familiar holiday destination from childhood. 

Today, she works as an HR Consultant at Kouvolan Henkilöstöpalvelu Oy, part of the Eezy Group. Her duties include assisting both private individuals and corporate clients with recruitment and job search matters related to human resources.

Her role constantly offers opportunities to meet new people from diverse cultural backgrounds, to learn, and to develop professionally. She describes her employers as visionaries who recognise the potential in every jobseeker. This aligns with Donzellini’s own approach and her desire to meet people as individuals. 

Working her way home

Six years ago, Donzellini decided to build her life in Finland. A gentle transition and introduction to everyday life came through working as an au pair for a Finnish family. 

In Italy, Donzellini worked in the restaurant sector at various events and establishments. During her time as an au pair, she carefully familiarised herself with the requirements of the industry in Finland as well. She actively sought information online and from libraries, gathered references from previous employers, and wrote a cover letter to support her employment efforts. This preparation enabled her to begin job hunting immediately after moving, acquiring necessary certifications such as the hygiene passport and alcohol serving licence. 

“I wanted to succeed. I didn’t want to end up in a situation where my employment would be hindered by something left undone,” Donzellini explains. 

Her first job in Finland was at an ice cream kiosk. She then continued with various short-term roles through Eezy, including restaurant work and seasonal jobs in Lapland. These experiences naturally led to her current employer. 

Donzellini feels that her positive attitude and proactive approach to different tasks have guided her towards her current expert role: “You never know what might happen – it’s worth taking on all kinds of work, even short-term offers.” 

Today, her previous experience in various roles helps her understand both the jobseeker’s and the client company’s needs and perspectives. 

A diverse working life is built through collaboration 

Xamk aims to highlight inspiring stories of international professionals and strengthen its role in regional internationalisation. The goal is to triple the number of international degree students by offering more study options in English. 

Collaboration with Eezy has been developed through activities such as introducing international students to Finnish working life, identifying shared challenges, and planning various operational models. The aim is to promote the employment of international professionals and to develop solutions to the challenges identified. 

“Collaboration with Eezy has been valuable. Their experience with the challenges and opportunities faced by international jobseekers has been an important part of our joint development work, such as considering the expansion of seasonal job opportunities. We appreciate this partnership and hope it continues to deepen,” says Heta Vilén, Stakeholder Manager at Xamk. 

Preparation and interaction as support in job seeking

One of the key challenges for international jobseekers is language proficiency. Finnish is often required for roles where it may not be essential. Additionally, job hunting becomes more difficult if background research is not done before moving to Finland: local employment opportunities, the relevance of one’s skills, and recognition of qualifications may remain unclear. This can significantly slow down the employment process. 

Donzellini emphasises the importance of mutual courage in using language. Those learning Finnish should use it boldly, and Finnish speakers should be encouraged to use English. She hopes companies will keep an open mind about hiring international professionals. If a trial doesn’t work, the approach can always be adjusted. At Eezy, both jobseekers and client companies are supported, for example, in building English-language onboarding processes. 

Donzellini sees Xamk as a key player in addressing these challenges. When challenges are voiced together, they remain part of the conversation and solutions can be found. International students have made a significant decision to change their lives and are ready to seize opportunities. Companies should respond with openness and clearly communicated staffing needs. 

Eezy Oyj

Eezy Oyj’s vision is to be Finland’s most significant reformer of working life, creating successful work experiences by offering staffing services, light entrepreneurship, and a wide range of expert services for working life. Eezy is nationally local. The company employs over 20,000 people annually and serves thousands of clients. Its shares are listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange. The chain’s turnover in 2024 was €257.4 million, and the goal is to become the market leader in the sector. 

Eezy Oyj’s local service portfolio includes: Eezy Henkilöstöpalvelut, Eezy Asiantuntijapalvelut (offering recruitment, executive search, personal assessments, and outplacement services), Eezy Flow and Laidenshaft (focusing on research and organisational development), Eezy Valmennuskeskus, and Kevytyrittäjät, which supports light entrepreneurs with its services. 

Read more about Eezy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/eezy-kouvola-ja-lahti/?viewAsMember=true