I am Arman Haghseresht, an Intercultural Communication Trainer and Consultant. I am originally from Iran. I have been living in Finland since 1990.

Career:

I was a shopkeeper (toy and children clothes) in my country of origin. Before coming to Finland, I was an UN employee working in a challenging multicultural work atmosphere. In Finland I was an employee of early childhood education, social science researcher (research on issues and phenomena related to immigrants). Academic books based on them are available. I was an exam administrator in the UK. I worked as a job planner and personal coach. Finally since 2015 I have been an intercultural consultant / trainer in Finland.

Volunteer work:

I have been a volunteer in Pakistan at the UN Office. In addition I have volunteered for immigrant services (e.g. in the “Migrant Helpline” office in Dover city in the UK and at an Asylum Reception Center in Finland). I have also supervised foreign students in Finland. 

Education:                                                  

I have received “social educator” education and a master’s degree in social sciences in Finland, majoring in sociology; and social work plus Intercultural Communication Studies as minor subjects.

I was an exchange student in the UK at the University of Kent.

With the following links you will be able to read my CV in Finnish and English, and enter my Linkedln profile.

More information about me:

From Individual Welfare to Community Welfare

In Iran:

In Iran, at the age of 17 while working in a shop, I studied the last year of high school. Although many stores did poorly due to the war and economic sanctions, our small business did well. This was partly due to changes I made in the direction of development (e.g., more time in search of quality and affordable goods). However, the joy of this matter did not last long because; I saw how the financial situation of customers worsened. That is when the well-being of society became more important to me than before.  Although, until I left Iran, I did the same job in the trade, I decided that in the future I would build my career in the social field.

Migration by caravan on the Silk Road

When it was my turn to leave Iran, I had no choice but to travel by camel in a caravan. Even though the caravan partially went through the Silk Road; it did not carry goods but people.

In Pakistan:

In Pakistan, the beginning was tough. I soon realized that my life was not going according to plan and I had to wait a long time before I finding a permanent place to stay, and I did not know how long. Soon I used that bad time to increase my self-awareness and develop myself. Bad time became a good time, even though I did not realize it at first! There I took a series of English courses. After that, as a volunteer for the UN office, and later in paid work, I started arranging education for refugee children who did not have study opportunities because they came to the country after the school year had started. I started with three students and there were 45 of them when I was leaving Pakistan for Finland. Furthermore, hiring additional teachers, using volunteers, picking up more children from a nearby town, buying extra materials and playground equipment developed this service. I was also an English teacher for adults who did not have any skills in this language, to prepare them for a class that only spoke English. We also received toys for children from Finland, Thanks to the Finns.

In Finland:

When I came to Finland, it was clear to me from the beginning that I would like to study in the social field, in early childhood education. It was because, even the employer was satisfied with my service in the UN, but I personally found that I needed training. In Finland, after attending three language courses, I studied to be a social educator. After graduation, the same year I started doing substitute work in the field of early childhood education. A year later, I was a permanent employee. As an Iranian man, I still had a lot to learn to do that kind of work. It also required a lot of flexibility. I later decided to continue my studies in sociology at university. During my bachelor’s education, in addition to studying, I did two researches and taught lectures.More information is available on Enlish CV

In Britain:

As an exchange student, I went to Kent University in the UK and at the same time worked as an examiner and volunteered for the “Migrant Helpline” organization.

Back to Finland:

When returning to Finland, I continued my studies and did volunteer tutoring until I graduated. I made an academic book from my master’s degree thesis. After that, since 2015 I have been working as a trainer and consultant. I also worked as a job planner and personal coach.

* You will find a few English sentences at the end of my two minute video CV (the video is from 2015 before starting my training and consulting services):