Work try-out for young persons – see which industry or job suits you

Are you looking for a suitable job or studies? During a work try-out, you get to try out in practice what kind of work is suitable for you. Work try-outs are intended for young persons aged 16–29.

A work try-out is one of the many vocational rehabilitation services Kela can offer to young persons. If your functional capacity has declined due to a medical condition, vocational rehabilitation services may be the right option for you.

What is a work try-out?

When you participate in a work try-out, you get support from a mentor while you try out a specific job. You will work together with your mentor to see which industry or job feels right for you and supports your wellbeing and plans for the future. Your mentor will help you find a workplace where you can try out work that is suitable for you.

The work try-out is free of charge for you.

Who can participate in a work try-out?

A work try-out may be a good option for you if

• you have little work experience or you have not worked in recent years
• you are not sure what kind of work is suitable for you in practice
• you want to ensure that you have enough functional capacity to work in your chosen industry or job
• you have a degree but you need help with finding a suitable job in your industry.

What is a work try-out like?

A work try-out consists of up to 15 meetings with your coach and a maximum of 45 days of work. During the try-out, you will work together with your coach to make a plan for starting your studies or finding work.

The work try-out can last for up to 5 months.

Your job coach will also help you get support from other actors, such as

• social services
• employment services
• youth services.

How to apply

1. Fill in the form Vocational rehabilitation for young persons (KU 143e, PDF).

   • Save the blank form to your device. Do not fill in the form directly in the browser because some of the information may not be saved that way.
   • Open the form with Adobe Reader and fill it in.
   • Tell us in the application which service provider’s rehabilitation you want to participate in. Use Kela’s service provider search to look up rehabilitation service providers (available in Finnish and Swedish).
   • Save the completed application form on your device. Note that the application must be in PDF format.
2. Send the application in the OmaKela e-service (available in Finnish and Swedish).

   • Log in to OmaKela and select Tee hakemus (Submit an application). If you want to apply for rehabilitation on behalf of someone else, go to Asioi toisen henkilön puolesta (Act on behalf of another person). Read more about acting on behalf of another person.
   • First select Sairastaminen ja kuntoutus (Sickness and rehabilitation). Then select Kuntoutus – tee hakemus (Rehabilitation – Submit an application). Finally, select Ammatillinen kuntoutus (Vocational rehabilitation).
   • If you send your application in OmaKela, you do not need to sign it.
3. Visit OmaKela to see if Kela has made a decision on your application. We will also send the decision notice to the rehabilitation service provider. This tells the service provider that Kela will pay for your rehabilitation, and the service provider will reserve a place for you on the rehabilitation course.

If you cannot use OmaKela, mail your application to Kela. Save the form to your device and fill it in after saving it. Print out the completed form and send it and any supporting documents to Kela, PL 10, 00056 KELA.

Let us know if you cannot attend your work try-out

Remember to tell Kela immediately if you cannot participate in the work try-out. Let us know that you have to cancel by sending a message to us in the OmaKela e-service or by calling our customer service number for rehabilitation clients.

We recommend that you also contact the service provider to let them know you have to cancel.

Check if you can get rehabilitation allowance and travel cost reimbursements

Kela pays rehabilitation allowance to give you financial security during rehabilitation. Kela may also reimburse you for rehabilitation-related travel costs.