The winter season in Lapland leaves no room for chance. When the environment is unique, the season is intense, and the needs are diverse, recruitments must be spot on. This is well understood at Visit Inari , which is why the collaboration with KeyStaff began with an open mind.
"We are usually quite open to new options, as we have diverse needs in different operations. Some partners focus on the restaurant side, others on sales or the guide side. We wanted to see what KeyStaff had to offer," says Petri Saastamoinen, Sales Director at Visit Inari, about the start of the cooperation.
The cooperation started without big expectations, more out of a desire to try and feel out whether a new partner could bring something new to the table.
Speed, Effortlessness, and Quality
Already at an early stage, KeyStaff managed to convince with two things that are in the centre of recruitment: speed and functionality.
“Especially the punctuality of the service and the fact that after just a few interviews, it became clear that the collaboration works. It quickly gave us confidence,” Saastamoinen describes the first impressions. Saastamoinen kuvaa ensivaikutelmia.
When comparing KeyStaff's operating model to others or to their own recruitment, the description is succinct:
“Fast, effortless, and high-quality.”
Positive surprises – also in terms of language skills
One of the challenges of winter season recruitment is language skills, particularly Finnish language proficiency. Visit Inari set a cautious internal goal:
“For the sales department, we had the cautious hope of getting seasonal employees for this season who also speak Finnish. That doesn’t happen every year, but with KeyStaff, we succeeded in this goal,” Saastamoinen praises., Saastamoinen kiittelee.
However, recruitment is not just about a resume or language skills, but about how people fit into the environment, the team, and the culture.
A total of five KeyStaff employees started at the start of October and November, and the quality and suitability of the employees have been convincing.
“The first impression has been good. The interviews already showed that there were qualified candidates available. It has been a pleasure to see how cheerful and open-minded people have joined us.”
The Key: Genuine Understanding and Presence
When Saastamoinen is asked to summarize the cooperation with KeyStaff in one thought, he returns to the same theme where it all began.
“The desire to understand each other is really important. We have many different operations, and our operating environment is quite unique. It has been great to see that KeyStaff has a genuine desire to look at what this environment is like and to understand what we need and what we want.”
What becomes particularly significant is that KeyStaff did not remain a distant partner.
“This is the first time a staffing services company actually came on site to see how things are – both with their own employees and to see what we do and how we do it. It helps to understand our needs better.”
Trust is formed between people, just like in the tourism industry.
“This industry is very much tied to personal relationships and trust in the work being done. When that’s in order, everything becomes easier,” Saastamoinen concludes. Saastamoinen summaa.
A Partner for Multi-Sector Operators
Who would you recommend KeyStaff to?
“At least to operators similar to us: multi-sector companies that need to quickly find specific employees. To those, I would say it’s worth trying.”
And perhaps that very courage to try, openness, and desire to understand each other best summarises this partnership. When Lapland's unique operating environment meets a recruitment partner who truly listens, a cooperation is born that lasts– from one season to the next.
KeyStaff & Dream Jobs
Are you looking for a recruitment partner who truly understands your operating environment? Contact us – let’s talk about your needs.
English 
Finnish