Secretary Nathalie Alt-Antskog
French-born Nathalie Alt-Antskog came to Finland nine years ago as an au pair. Now she works as a PA at the European Chemicals Agency. Being a sociable person, she enjoys her multicultural working environment and loves organising things.
When the European Chemicals Agency was established in Finland, staff recruitment began. Some of the personnel employed were Finnish, some foreigners. Nathalie Alt-Antskog, 32, from Normandy, in France, got a job as a PA there. Secretarial work is largely about organising.
“I plan the timetables for the management meetings, I look after the travel arrangements, and I attend to practical matters. Many of our Finnish employees have worked for years abroad. My job is to help them readjust to Finland.”
Alt-Antskog’s advantage is her French background and the fact that she has been in Finland for a long time. She studied mathematics and psychology in Paris, but her university studies were too theoretical for her. She dropped out after three years, worked for a year as a nanny and came to Finland to work as an au pair. After her year as an au pair she got work in a French school, and later at a day-care centre.
“Foreigners are expected to know Finnish well, although not all Finns speak Finnish perfectly.”
When the Belgian embassy was looking for a secretary, Alt-Antskog applied. She worked there for six years and after that had a brief spell in a French-speaking day-care centre before going to work at the Chemicals Agency. Alt-Antskog speaks French, fluent English, reasonable Finnish and some Swedish too.
“At work we try to learn each other’s language. One say we’ll speak French, the next day just Finnish. I have also studied Finnish on intensive courses.”
Alt-Antskog lives with her family in Kirkkonummi and goes into the city to work. My husband’s native language is Swedish. Despite her knowledge of Finnish and Finland she finds Finnish culture a bit odd.
“The Finns recognise injustice, but they don’t do anything about it. Here they don’t do anything about anything. The French are aware of their rights and show what they think, a bit too readily perhaps. Unfortunately, the French consider their personal rights without seeing the whole picture.”
Finnish culture and local customs are also on the agenda in the employee training sessions organised by the Agency. Alt-Antskog enjoys being part of a multicultural, European staff.
“I’m not awfully fond of filing and photocopying, but they are part of a secretary’s job.”
Alt-Antskog loves organising, and it is particularly agreeable to organise celebrations. She might even take it up as a profession. Three years ago she got married in France, and the wedding guests arrived from several different countries. Alt-Antskog planned the wedding day and coordinated the guests’ travel arrangements to France.
“I like to organise parties and invite guests to dinner. Of course it takes an effort, but it is rewarding to see others enjoying themselves and relaxing.”
Text and photograph: Anu Likonen, Jukka Vuolle and Nanni Akkola
The Ministry of Employment and the Economy